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Best Blues Harp Player?

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Darkoath

Best Blues Harp Player?

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Posts: 15

Feb 3 05 8:27 PM

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Alrighty! One of the draws for me is the harmonica used in blues recordings that you don't really hear in jazz music. So who is the best living harp player still performing? Who would the all time best harp player be? And what are some essential harp recordings that should be in any good blues collection?

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outfidel

#1

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Posts: 371

Feb 3 05 8:45 PM

I don't know about living harp players, but to my ears, the Big 3 among all-time players are:

Sonny Terry
Little Walter
Sonny Boy Williamson II

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Stevo

#2

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Posts: 2554

Feb 3 05 9:07 PM

My favorite living harp player is probably Sam Meyers - smooth as silk, baby.

I really dig the way Shakey Horton (Big Walter) hides out in an ensemble.

But, I got to give the nod to Peg Leg Sam. Man he really gets on it!

Stevo

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john4y

#3

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 11465

Feb 3 05 9:08 PM

Darkoath.

I'll have to definitely go along with outfidel on this one all the way, although when I heard Junior Wells in the late sixties I liked his playing as well.

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Zot Rocker

#4

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 5537

Feb 3 05 9:34 PM

John 4Y

To me, the best harp player that I ever heard is a guy from your area. None other than the great Magic Dick from the old J.Geils Band. If Muddy Waters himself said that he was one of the best harp players he's ever heard, then that's good enough for me. I still have not heard anybody come close to "Whammer Jammer".

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old56

#5

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Posts: 446

Feb 3 05 9:52 PM

Greatest LIVING harp player - I'd probably have to go with Charlie Musselwhite or James Cotton, but you'll get no argument from me about Sam Meyers. I haven't heard Magic Dick in years, but I always thought he was superb.

Greatest all time - impossible to tell from my standpoint because there are so many great ones. But my list would have to include Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson II (Rice Miller) and Paul Butterfield as well as Musslewhite and Cotton.

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Blueswriter

#6

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 6748

Feb 3 05 9:53 PM

Ask ten harp fans to list their favorite player - either living or deceased - and you're likely to get ten different answers. A few more candidates for the best living harmonica player could be Kim Wilson, Rod Piazza, James Harman, James Cotton, or Mark Hummel, among others. Of those passed on Little Walter, Big Walter, Sonny Boy II, Junior Wells, Howlin' Wolf, or Papa Lightfoot come immediately to mind. Pick the best? I don't think I can right now...

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tanta07

#7

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 9133

Feb 3 05 10:06 PM

QUOTE (Blueswriter @ Feb 3 2005, 09:53 PM)

Ask ten harp fans to list their favorite player - either living or deceased - and you're likely to get ten different answers. A few more candidates for the best living harmonica player could be Kim Wilson, Rod Piazza, James Harman, James Cotton, or Mark Hummel, among others. Of those passed on Little Walter, Big Walter, Sonny Boy II, Junior Wells, Howlin' Wolf, or Papa Lightfoot come immediately to mind. Pick the best? I don't think I can right now...

Ohhhh...Howlin' Wolf is a good one that didn't occur to me at first. His harp playing on "How Many More Years" from Shindig (the one the Stones invited him to) still gives me goosebumps.

As for just straight-up harp players, I'd probably have to go with Little Walter, and Sonny Boy II as a VERY close second.

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Little Joe

#8

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Posts: 133

Feb 3 05 10:16 PM

Sonny Boy Williamson I �nd II !
and what about Canned Heat's Alan Wilson? i think he's one hell of a harmonica player!!
especially the sessions he did with John Lee Hooker are really 'hellish'....

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barrelhouse

#9

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 6072

Feb 3 05 10:28 PM

Have to agree with you there Little Joe,Hooker described Al Wilson as the greatest harp player in the world after he did the Hooker n Heat album with them.
James Cotton,Paul Butterfield,Jerry Portnoy,Both SBWs and Sugar Blue all spring to mind too. It's a minefield trying to think who is a favourite on any given day.

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Tom 1960

#10

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 6152

Feb 4 05 1:38 AM

Little Walter tops my list as all time favorite. As far as a recommendation, click here. AmazonGreat price!

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MountainBlues

#11

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 2286

Feb 4 05 1:48 AM

Snooky Pryor ain't bad.

I enjoy Kim Wilson, James Harman, James Cotton...but I like Harman's vocals much better than his harp playing.

Of course, Little Walter was amazing; SBWII had a great style.

So many favorites.

MB

"I don't do any of that hardcore blues stuff where they got a one-track mind talking about how a woman ain't nothing." (Gatemouth Brown)

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john4y

#12

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 11465

Feb 4 05 3:30 AM

Little Joe.

I agree with you totally about Canned Heat's Al Wilson. Couldn't he blow that harp, though? All one would have to do is give a listen to, "On The Road Again". Man, Al could whip that thing until it would break.

Thanks a lot for bringing up his name.

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Sassie

#13

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 18977

Feb 4 05 3:38 AM

I'll echo some of the other posts here. Best living? Perhaps Kim Wilson or James Cotton (Musselwhite too).

all time? Wow. Sonny Boy (I and II). Little Walter. I absolutely love Junior Wells, but it's a combo of vox and harp there (for me).

Never put off til tomorrow what you can do the day after.

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richard ray

#14

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Posts: 1365

Feb 4 05 3:52 AM

Best living harp players? Don't forget Carey Bell! Man , I opened for him last year and he was smokin'. he got a bit too drunk in thw second part of the show but that was mainly because everyone in the house wanted to buy Carey a drink. I'll also put in a vote for Steve Guyger and Paul Oscher. IMO these two guys are about as deep as you can get. richard ray

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MaskedMarvel

#15

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 6919

Feb 4 05 10:04 AM

So many greats from the 1920's to today that I can't even start ! My favorite is John Lee Williamson. But I can name other 30 greats with ease !

All the above written is in my opinion unless it is someone else's opinion, or a fact.

Location: Zur Moshe, Israel

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jaycee

#16

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 5165

Feb 4 05 11:03 AM

i like kim wilson, carey bell, william clarke, paul butterfield, walter horton, doug jay, and of
course sbw 2. on our side of the pond, simon honeyboy hickling, billy boy miskimmin and
mark feltham.

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wnyblueslady

#17

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 2200

Feb 4 05 12:34 PM

Hard to saw who's the best harp player-
So much talent out ther and each have their own sound.
Charlie Musselwhite,James Harmon. Sam Myers. Kim Wilson,Rod Piazza, Jerry Portnoy,. There are just too many! I hate to keep listing am sure I am forgetting someone. Also Jason Ricci (one of the young ones!), Gary Primach, Carey Bell,Blind Mississippi Morris down Memphis way. Just too many! I know I've forgotten some. Please forgive me.

Same with deceased. Paul Butterfield (one of the first I listened to back in late 60s), William Clarke, Sonny boy, Big/Little Walter. So many!

So many but can't even find one near me except my dear husband who is great but our area just isn't a good place to be for blues in general and that definately leaves out harmonica players. We do have a couple of great guitars players but they lean towards blues rock. Not much room for harmonica in blues rock. IMO

Southwest New York State

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porkpie

#18

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 792

Feb 4 05 3:18 PM

I hesitate to name the " Best" as it is subjective beyond belief , I also add th caviate that I detest harmonica driven Blues Bands and prefer that the Harp be used ensamble . That being said I will pick my Favorites.
#1 Lee Oscar ( a predijested call as I use to play in the same band as lee in 1967)
#2 Norton Buffalo ( although more known for his Rock-a-Billy) he is a fine Blues Man.
Cheers
Pork Pie

Pork Pie Phillips
West Coast Blues Hall of Fame
Comeback Artist of the Year 2005
http://www.porkpieblues.com

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old56

#19

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Posts: 446

Feb 4 05 3:27 PM

How could I have forgotten Carey Bell? He's a no-doubter.

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wnyblueslady

#20

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 2200

Feb 4 05 4:41 PM

Me again with more greats-Snooky Pryor, Willie Foster (got goosebumps seeing thost 2 live!) Real Deal, The late great Raful Neal and Junior Wells (RIP). I'm sure more will come to me.
And yes Porkpie, Lee Oscar and Norton Buffalo.
How about Paul DeLay? Billie Branch from Chicago way. Billy Boy Arnold, Mr. Downchild and Wallace Coleman from Cleveland.
I'm sure more will come.
Each great.

Southwest New York State

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