RE: [Harp-L] Harmonica as a regular instrument

[Francis Gallagher <gdtrfb11@xxxxxxx>]

Willie Nelson's band, early Ratdog and Kingfish come to mind...
 
> Date: Fri, 7 May 2010 15:06:30 -0700
> From: martinoldsberg@xxxxxxxxx
> To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [Harp-L] Harmonica as a regular instrument
> 
> Two bands have been mentioned here recently, Charlie Winston, w/ harmonica player Ben Edwards, and Steppin in It /w harmonica player ... -- whose name escapes me now.
>   What´s interesting w/ these two, i think is that the harmonica is treated as a "regular" instrument, filling it´s place in the soundscape the band creates, and not just something a singer brings up and shows that s/he can draw, blow and wow, even bend 4D.
>   This usage of the harp is not very common (outside of blues) and bands that comes to mind are of course War, J Geils and ... and ... -- it sort of ran out there. But of course there are some more.
>   When one listens to, e.g. Charlie Winston, mostly the harmonica is very discreet, not defining the band´s sound but more laying some sort of foundation, or filling out the bottom. On a a live show I have w/ them I think he doesn´t even take a solo for the entire concert. But he´s there.
>  
> Can anyone fill in more band that use the harp, diatonic/chromatic in this way? Well known, unknown, no matter; just forget blues because there it´s often a given thing. 
>   With services like Spotify you can explore music you´d never dream of spending your money on and it´s a very fortunate situation, for as long as it holds.
>  
> Cheers,
> Martin
> PS Yeah, I´m well aware of a Swedish band, Wilmer X, that answers to the above criteria. Well known and successful here, but no bigger splash internationally. One reason: they sing in Swedish.
> 
> 
>