• Yeore Kim interview
    Sep 14 2024

    Yeore Kim joins me on episode 119.
    Yeore is from South Korea, where she first picked up the tremolo harmonica at the age of six. Her mother is a piano teacher, so she also learnt piano and other instruments, including trumpet, before focusing on the chromatic harmonica from age 18.
    Yeore has released two albums of duets with different pianists.
    She moved to France in 2018 after meeting her guitarist husband, Antoine Boyer, with whom she has released an album, Tangram. This contains a great mix of jazz, world music and interpretations of pop songs.
    Yeore is currently working on a duo album with her husband, due to released later in 2024, and to be followed by a tour in 2025 to promote the album.

    Videos:

    YouTube channel:
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfFkS5hmOn6BCgU1FCO_IEQ

    Japanese player Nobuo Tokunaga:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33t6gCajgyw

    7AM duet with pianist Mia:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA2INoVumc0

    Oasis song: Don’t Look Back In Anger:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGiQuyXSN7Y

    HUK interview with Sam Spranger:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSKLp_di5uw&t=98s

    European Tour blog:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaQmcObOMiU


    Podcast website:
    https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com

    Donations:
    If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
    https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB

    Spotify Playlist:
    Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
    https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ

    Podcast sponsors:
    This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS
    --------------------------------
    Blue Moon Harmonicas: https://bluemoonharmonicas.com


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    1 hr
  • David Barrett interview
    Aug 24 2024

    David Barrett joins me on episode 118.
    David is based in San Jose, California, where he took lessons from Gary Smith from age 16, in addition to learning from great harmonica recordings. He started teaching harmonica himself from age 18 and has become one of the foremost harmonica educators around, with his BluesHarmonica.com website an invaluable resource. He ran the School of Blues for twenty years and has written over seventy instructional books, DVDs and CDs.
    David has four albums to his name, including two albums where he has collaborated with other harmonica players. These albums showcase his dedication to playing blues harmonica, where he has crafted harmonica parts from his lifelong study and love of the art form.

    Links:

    Website:
    https://www.bluesharmonica.com/

    School of Blues:
    https://www.schooloftheblues.com/

    Hohner profile page:
    https://www.hohner.de/en/david-barrett

    David's tuition books:
    https://www.melbay.com/AdvancedSearch/Default.aspx?SearchTerm=david+barrett

    Videos:

    David's YouTube channel:
    https://www.youtube.com/@bluesharmonicateacher


    Podcast website:
    https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com

    Donations:
    If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
    https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB

    Spotify Playlist:
    Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
    https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ

    Podcast sponsors:
    This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS
    --------------------------------
    The Harmonica Company. Use promo code: 'happyhour7'.
    Email Jonathan at: sales@theharmonicacompany.com
    --------------------------------
    Blue Moon Harmonicas: https://bluemoonharmonicas.com


    Support the show

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    1 hr
  • Yvonnick Prene interview
    Aug 10 2024

    Yvonnick Prene joins me on episode 117.
    Yvonnick was born in France and has been resident in New York for seventeen years after first moving to the city to study at the New School for Jazz & Contemporary Music.
    He started out playing blues and jazz on the diatonic and took lessons with some of the great French players, before focusing his attention playing jazz on the chromatic.
    Yvonnick is a bandleader and has released seven albums under his own name as well as numerous sessions as a sideman.
    He also runs the New Harmonica School in New York and the excellent online tutorial website My Harmonica Studio, as well as numerous tutorial books.
    Yvonnick is also the face of Hohner’s new Xpression chromatic harmonica.

    Links:
    Website:
    https://www.yvonnickprene.com/

    Tuition website:
    https://www.myharmonicastudio.com/

    Henriksen amplifiers:
    https://www.henriksenamplifiers.com/

    Videos:
    Yvonnick’s YouTube channel:
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCRked2IhFUqTf92SHisizQ

    Yvonnick Prene & Manual Rocheman:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6O-y3YLahwY

    Slim Shady song:
    https://youtu.be/y6mgIJH6_EY

    New York Harmonica School:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcwEprk6rJ8

    Triste from Jobim’s World album:
    https://youtu.be/nlztkwCXeKU

    Podcast website:
    https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com

    Donations:
    If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
    https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB

    Spotify Playlist:
    Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
    https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ

    Podcast sponsors:
    This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS
    --------------------------------
    The Harmonica Company. Use promo code: 'happyhour7'.
    Email Jonathan at: sales@theharmonicacompany.com
    --------------------------------
    Blue Moon Harmonicas: https://bluemoonharmonicas.com


    Support the show

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    59 mins
  • Isabella Krapf interview
    Jul 27 2024

    Isabella Krapf joins me on episode 116.
    Isabella is from Vienna, Austria, where she started teaching and performing concerts in her late teens and has had a career in the harmonica ever since.
    Isabella is a collector of harmonicas and puts on exhibitions. She played a part in keeping the Seydel factory in business when it was looking for new investors in the early 2000s, by ordering 1000 ‘boomerang’ harmonicas.
    In 2011 Isabella was asked to visit North Korea to teach groups of music students there to play harmonica. A group later visited Austria and performed some concerts in Europe under her guidance.
    Isabella also got to know Jerry Adler towards the end of his life and compiled an album for him and played in a concert with him and Howard Levy in 2006.

    Links:
    Website: https://www.isabellakrapf.com/

    Videos:
    Boomerang harmonica:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0n7hfbd9BQ0

    North Korean ensemble at Trossingen in 2013:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCoL33Y0-24

    North Korean group playing at Bristol in 2012:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dI7k5s0uVw

    The Bossa Nova Company:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uujLkY_iCfo

    Pablo Fegundas:
    https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=792673521775393

    HUK virtual workshop:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1LjuOwqaic

    Historical diatonic video:
    https://www.facebook.com/denise.uthoff.3/videos/1020566385917951


    Podcast website:
    https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com

    Donations:
    If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
    https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB

    Spotify Playlist:
    Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
    https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ

    Podcast sponsors:
    This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS
    --------------------------------
    The Harmonica Company. Use promo code: 'happyhour7'.
    Email Jonathan at: sales@theharmonicacompany.com
    --------------------------------
    Blue Moon Harmonicas: https://bluemoonharmonicas.com


    Support the show

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr
  • Pat Missin interview
    Jul 13 2024

    Pat Missin joins me on episode 115.

    Pat’s knowledge about the harmonica is unsurpassed, with his website at patmissin.com, a definitive source of information for over twenty years. He gives us an insight into some of this knowledge, starting with how free reed instruments were the predecessor of the harmonica and the questionable history of who actually invented the harmonica as we know it today. We also discuss various harmonica recording firsts, such as the first blues harmonica song recorded, the first second and third position and chromatic recording. Pat was also one of the earlier leading exponents on exploring harmonica tuning schemes and has released some song books for harmonica as well as some on other free reed instruments.

    Links:
    Website:
    https://patmissin.com/

    Free reed instrument history:
    https://patmissin.com/history/history.html

    Harmonica collection:
    https://patmissin.com/gallery/gallery.html

    Tunings:
    https://patmissin.com/tunings/tunings.html

    Vintage harmonica recordings:
    https://www.patmissin.com/78rpm/78rpm.html

    Harmonica reviews:
    https://patmissin.com/index1.html

    Magazine articles:
    https://www.patmissin.com/articles/articles.html

    Roger Trobridge’s Harmonica Archivist site:
    http://www.the-archivist.co.uk/

    Videos:
    Pat playing at the NHL festival in 1999:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKOBtWLuV7E


    Podcast website:
    https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com

    Donations:
    If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
    https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB

    Spotify Playlist:
    Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
    https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ

    Podcast sponsors:
    This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS
    --------------------------------
    The Harmonica Company. Use promo code: 'happyhour7'.
    Email Jonathan at: sales@theharmonicacompany.com
    --------------------------------
    Blue Moon Harmonicas: https://bluemoonharmonicas.com

    Support the show

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr
  • Seth Shumate interview
    Jun 29 2024

    Seth Shumate joins me on episode 114.

    Seth is an Old Timey and pre-war harmonica player originally from Arkansas, now living in Tennessee. Seth has deeply researched the early history of the harmonica and has written an Old Time Harmonica Handbook which contains lots of great information, as well as techniques on how to play authentic Old Timey harmonica using various tongue blocking techniques to add percussive rhythm and to provide self-accompaniment while also playing the melody of the tune. Seth likes to play acoustically, making use of an Edison phonograph cylinder for amplification, and accompanying himself using bones and other instruments, and he’s recently acquired the Masterharp USA tuning table company.

    Seth plays with The Ozark Highballers band and releases regular videos to his YouTube channel of his playing.

    Links:

    Contact Seth:
    seth.shumate@googlemail.com

    Soundcloud:
    https://soundcloud.com/seth-shumate

    Facebook group:
    Harmonica Country, Bluegrass, Rock & Celtic

    Videos:
    YouTube channel:
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrSFmT4zFksy1YRKGVJSfhg

    Seth playing Turkey In The Straw with Edison Horn:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9s9obWRYkEI

    Tupelo Blues played with bones:
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrSFmT4zFksy1YRKGVJSfhg

    Dave Rice Old Timey album:
    https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9g13kPvKhaMrGaHI8RdBYWvmWOHzeV75

    Seth YouTube Interview and playing:
    https://youtu.be/1As3CbgL9ug


    Podcast website:
    https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com

    Donations:
    If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
    https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB

    Spotify Playlist:
    Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
    https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ

    Podcast sponsors:
    This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS
    --------------------------------
    The Harmonica Company. Use promo code: 'happyhour7'.
    Email Jonathan at: sales@theharmonicacompany.com
    --------------------------------
    Blue Moon Harmonicas: https://bluemoonharmonicas.com


    Support the show

    Show More Show Less
    59 mins
  • Andre Godoy Coelho (and Brendan Power) interview
    Jun 12 2024

    Andre Godoy Coelho (and Brendan Power) join me on episode 113.

    Andre is a Brazilian who relocated to Portugal in 2018, performing and recording two albums with the Rio Grande band in Sao Paulo, before recording a recent album in a duo in Portugal.

    Andre quickly became interested in harmonica customisation when his first harmonica didn’t quite perform as he wanted. This has turned into a full time business for Andre, who has now teamed up with Brendan Power on his x-reed harmonica range. The partnership has just released the Morbendz, a diatonic with a slide which increases the number of available bends from 8 to 14, providing the missing notes from a standard diatonic, while playing just the same.


    Links:
    Website:
    https://linktr.ee/agcoelho

    Facebook page:
    https://www.facebook.com/andre.coelho.1694059/

    Order the Morbendz and other x-reed harmonicas:
    https://x-reed.com/products.php

    Harmonetta information:
    https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/nmah_1306551

    Videos:
    Andre's YouTube channel:
    https://www.youtube.com/@agc_custom_harps

    Little Lady Hip Hop track:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fx05yBNybXw

    Lapa & Godoy duo:
    https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLB0l7d8Zq0HLoVfSIdapXoOEvKox4JCjn&si=dOzFb8z6lC7MmGfk

    Andre and Brendan playing together:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KPaUDT9RbM

    Brendan introduction video to Morbendz diatonic:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z3WLTRymYU

    Andre playing on the Morbendz:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwYRXqgwTv8

    Podcast website:
    https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com

    Donations:
    If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
    https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB

    Spotify Playlist:
    Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
    https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ

    Podcast sponsors:
    This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS
    --------------------------------
    The Harmonica Company. Use promo code: 'happyhour7'.
    Email Jonathan at: sales@theharmonicacompany.com
    --------------------------------
    Blue Moon Harmonicas: https://bluemoonharmonicas.com


    Support the show

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr
  • Svang interview
    May 28 2024

    Harmonica group Svang join me on episode 112.

    Svang are a harmonica quartet from Finland, who have been performing and recording for over twenty years now. They first formed in 2003 when Jouko was teaching at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki and suggested forming a harmonica group with two of his students.

    The group doesn’t play the typical harmonicas of a harmonica group, with a harmonetta used instead of a chord, and bluesy diatonics used as part of the sound alongside chromatic.

    Their repertoire includes folk music from Finland and the rest of the world, but is equally influenced by classical music or Finnish tango. They have released ten albums to date, with the latest, Svang Nuevo coming out in 2024 to celebrate their 20 year anniversary.

    Links:
    Website:
    https://www.svang.fi/

    Facebook page:
    https://www.facebook.com/svangharmonica

    Concerts:
    https://www.svang.fi/concerts

    Galileo Music: (to buy their albums)
    https://www.galileomusic.de/katalogsuche.aspx


    Videos:
    YouTube channel:
    https://www.youtube.com/@SvangHarmonicaQuartet

    Appearance on Jools Holland BBC TV show:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwEkbFHpLTc


    Podcast website:
    https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com

    Donations:
    If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
    https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB

    Spotify Playlist:
    Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
    https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ

    Podcast sponsors:
    This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS
    --------------------------------
    The Harmonica Company. Use promo code: 'happyhour7'.
    Email Jonathan at: sales@theharmonicacompany.com
    --------------------------------
    Blue Moon Harmonicas: https://bluemoonharmonicas.com

    Support the show

    Show More Show Less
    59 mins