Fav Harp Players

[Rhythm N. Bliss]

Joe Satriani is BADASS on harp on 2 of my fav tracks of his:

Big Bad Moon:



The Extremist:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c29PI3mDnwY&feature=PlayList&p=F259C986D218DFA5&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=6

[bobyoung]

ok, let's cut the crap. sonny boy williamson. (the real one) also the late, great lester butler of the red devils and the late, great richard newell, aka king biscuit boy.

You forgot Little Walter, first and greatest amplified harp, they say he could play Charlie Parker lines by ear just by listening to the juke box. I don't know if that's true or legend but he was right up there with Sonny Boy who was king of unamplified harp.
Big Walter was also great.

[nofi]

i'm not sure i understand the amplified statement. do you mean using an amp as opposed to blowing through the p.a.

[bobyoung]

Yeah, he used the amp as a big part of his sound as guitarists and some bassists do. Sonny boy played through the PA and got a clean sound, Little Walter used all sorts of effects including tube distortion. Listen to early muddy Waters, a lot of it was Little Walter. Big big sound. I think Sonny boy and Little Walter are the big two at least according to most harp players I know. There was a book out about him a few years ago. Junior Wells was another great one, Muddy's band was a breeding ground for great amplified harp players.

http://www.celticguitarmusic.com/muddyharp.htm

[nofi]

got it. earlier in this thread i mentioned lester butler and richard newell as excellent players of the modern era. i would like to add william clarke to that list. shame that all three died way too soon.

[eb2]

Little Walter, Magic Dick, Sonny Boy (Rice Miller) Williamson, Junior Wells.  Keith Relf was pretty good for only having one lung.