MP3s
On this page you will find examples of different harmonica styles in MP3 and Real Audio format. All harmonica parts are played by me. David Malony plays drums and percussion with Joe Reggiatore on guitar and keyboards. There are various other artists on guitar, electric bass and vocals. They were all recorded at Blue Ewe Studio with David Malony at the helm. The MP3's are of very high quality and therefore take longer to download whereas the Real Audio, (RA), files load quicker but are of lesser audio quality.
"Blue Nectar", my last full time blues band, was alive and playing in blues clubs in Seattle and throughout the Pacific Northwest (Washington State, USA) all through the '90s. Janie Cribbs became part of Blue Nectar in July of 1994 and belted out the blues with us until Blue Nectar quit playing in December of 1997.
After that I played with Tom Hoeflich, the lead guitarist and singer with Blue Nectar, as part of the blues band "Tommy and the Sharks". Janie joined forces with Joe Reggiatore, an incredible guitar player who moved up here from Los Angeles. While Tom and I did duo gigs as "Spider Monkey" and did the occasional "Sharks" gigs, Janie and Joe were writing new and wonderful material. After hearing their new songs at the CD release party celebrating the release of "No Illusion", recorded masterfully in Los Angeles, I knew I wanted to be part of that sound. The following MP3s are examples of my contributions to that new sound.
This first one, MP3d, (RAd), is an example of subtle, background playing creating a bed for another instrument, in this case a penny whistle, also played by me (studio magic) on a song called "Walk On In".
Here is an intro, MP3e,(RAe), and lead, MP3f, (RAf), using a small Fender tube amp but with a slightly different feel in "Outa Here".
On this song, "Far Away" MP3g, (RAg). I use a "chorus" effect to get a sound similar to an accordian and play a very simple part which was just what this one needed.
Here is the "chorus" effect again, MP3h, (RAh), this time with the harmonica as a vocal harmony on the song "Daze Of Heaven".
On this one the harmonica through the tube amp helps give "Libby Rae", MP3i, (RAi), a swampy(?) feel.
This part on "One In A Million" MP3j, (RAj), demonstrates how the harmonica can give vocal support like no other instrument. The "chorus" effect is used again on this one. I really had to keep in mind during the more active playing that the last note had to be held for at least 25 seconds. If you know it's coming you can prepare and be ready.
On all of these examples I am using Hohner "Special 20" harmonicas in various keys except for this one MP3c, (RAc). On it I am using a Lee Oskar natural minor in the key of Am on a song called "Spin", written by Janie Cribbs and Tom Hoeflich with Janie singing while we were still in Blue Nectar.
Here's a little pre-Janie stuff. MP3a, (RAa) I was playing close to a nice studio vocal microphone on a song by Nick Lehr with Nick on vocals and accoustic guitar with Greg Barnes on accoustic bass.
Another Blue Nectar song, MP3b, (RAb), again played through that tube amp again using a stage type vocal mike on a song by Tom Hoeflich. The amp at a good high volume setting gives it that throaty, blues sound.
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email: dan@harmonicastyle.com
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