Jason Ricci interviews Rick Estrin at the 2018 Jason Ricci / Winslow Yerxa Harmonica Collective in New Orleans, November 3, 2018. Copyright Tom Watson, all rights reserved.
Nearly 50 years ago at a blues/art festival in West Toledo, Ohio a man sat down at the picnic table where I was and asked me if he could play his harmonica. For over an hour Little Walter played his “mouth organ” like nothing I have ever heard before or since. A master musician. My favorite concert of all time. When finished, he got up and thanked me for “taking the time to listen!” A perfect gentleman.
What a lovely guy. I enjoyed his honesty, his humble approach to performing and songwriting. A great harmonica player! He is proof that, at the end of the day, if you just be yourself, you'll have the audience on your side!
What a great interview, I'm gonna have to go back to driving my car practicing my tongue side swipe! it ain't natural to me either and it sounds so cool. Gotta work on that. Magic stuff, thanks guys
So cool hearing Jason talk about getting to read Alan's writings on Skip James' microtone usage! Wish he spoke more on that, such cool stuff! Great Interview!
My first teacher - in the 70’s - was Pierre Beauregard. He took me beyond chord chugging and constant bending the 3rd whole. He taught tongue blocking, and I sometimes use it to this day.
I have only met and chatted with Rick and Jason once each however, I have played harmonica since 1974 (48 years now) and was playing full-time by age 20. I stared in Bluegrass music (for harp players that would be Charlie McCoy style) in band and at festivals, then when full-time was a country honky-tonk band. I practiced 4 hrs. per day in those days. I had Little Walter's "Boss Blues Harmonica" but had no idea how he got his tone. I did much better in style with Paul Butterfield and Norton Buffalo single note style. It was not until I had been playing about 23 years that I was talking with Dennis Gruenling on the phone one day (before he had any albums out) and playing "Juke" through a cool little amp I had found. Dennis asked me about tongue blocking and shared that was how Little Walter got the sounds/tone he did and did a little demo and I could here it. That kicked in as these gentleman just shared.....I went at it for 3 hrs per day for a couple year to get it incorporated...ugh. but now 25 years later so glad I did. Great conversation video and sharing with Rick & Jason.
"I only played with Jimmy Rogers once at Ma Bee's...." What a place to cut off the interview! How about posting the rest of it? This is a wellspring of knowledge. Very few have the passion for the instrument than Jason and Rick. And what a history lesson. There is no bs residing in Rick Estrin. He is as real as it gets.
My band opened for Little Charlie & the Night Cats back in the day. Honolulu. Nice guys. They switch off for a song. Charlie on harp (I think he started out as a harp player) Eric on guitar. Opening for them was a privilege to say the least. 🌴😎🌈Aloha 🤙🏼
Tom, do you think I could make an Italian translation to feature as subtitles so Italian audience (who is really hard headed about English language in too many cases) can enjoy this awesome moment?
Nearly 50 years ago at a blues/art festival in West Toledo, Ohio a man sat down at the picnic table where I was and asked me if he could play his harmonica. For over an hour Little Walter played his “mouth organ” like nothing I have ever heard before or since. A master musician. My favorite concert of all time. When finished, he got up and thanked me for “taking the time to listen!” A perfect gentleman.
What a lovely guy. I enjoyed his honesty, his humble approach to performing and songwriting. A great harmonica player! He is proof that, at the end of the day, if you just be yourself, you'll have the audience on your side!
One of the best interviews I've ran into for years!
Estrins, hard to find, rendition of getting out of town helped
form me as a tongue blocker.
Jason is a gifted performer and artist and authentic human being.
What a great interview, I'm gonna have to go back to driving my car practicing my tongue side swipe! it ain't natural to me either and it sounds so cool. Gotta work on that. Magic stuff, thanks guys
Be yourself that's what grabbed me Mr. Estrin and Jason thanks!
So cool hearing Jason talk about getting to read Alan's writings on Skip James' microtone usage! Wish he spoke more on that, such cool stuff! Great Interview!
Glenn, see my post about this
My first teacher - in the 70’s - was Pierre Beauregard. He took me beyond chord chugging and constant bending the 3rd whole. He taught tongue blocking, and I sometimes use it to this day.
I have only met and chatted with Rick and Jason once each however, I have played harmonica since 1974 (48 years now) and was playing full-time by age 20. I stared in Bluegrass music (for harp players that would be Charlie McCoy style) in band and at festivals, then when full-time was a country honky-tonk band. I practiced 4 hrs. per day in those days. I had Little Walter's "Boss Blues Harmonica" but had no idea how he got his tone. I did much better in style with Paul Butterfield and Norton Buffalo single note style. It was not until I had been playing about 23 years that I was talking with Dennis Gruenling on the phone one day (before he had any albums out) and playing "Juke" through a cool little amp I had found. Dennis asked me about tongue blocking and shared that was how Little Walter got the sounds/tone he did and did a little demo and I could here it. That kicked in as these gentleman just shared.....I went at it for 3 hrs per day for a couple year to get it incorporated...ugh. but now 25 years later so glad I did. Great conversation video and sharing with Rick & Jason.
Superb! Wish I’d found this like 3years ago!😅
"I only played with Jimmy Rogers once at Ma Bee's...." What a place to cut off the interview! How about posting the rest of it? This is a wellspring of knowledge. Very few have the passion for the instrument than Jason and Rick. And what a history lesson. There is no bs residing in Rick Estrin. He is as real as it gets.
Two of my favorite harp players. Thanks for posting.
So good. Two of my faves. Thanks!
Two Legends.....Wish i could have gone to this Collective
This might be of interest to the more technically inclined blues players. Picks up on their discussion of microtonal notes that the masters used.
Great Rick !!!!!
My band opened for Little Charlie & the Night Cats back in the day. Honolulu. Nice guys. They switch off for a song. Charlie on harp (I think he started out as a harp player) Eric on guitar. Opening for them was a privilege to say the least. 🌴😎🌈Aloha 🤙🏼
Gold
cool!! thanks for sharing :)
RICK RULES THEE HARP !!!
Tom, do you think I could make an Italian translation to feature as subtitles so Italian audience (who is really hard headed about English language in too many cases) can enjoy this awesome moment?
No problem. I'm happy to share this with a world-wide audience.
@@twatsonmd cool. I'm trying to work on it and send them to you, is that OK for you?