A Few Harp-Felt Thoughts

Posted by Joe Schmidt on January 28th 2011 | 0 Comments

Tags: performingarts

It was the mid-1980s . . . unfortunately.  After spending the first part of the decade in a state of musical limbo—because the great hard rock bands that I loved in the ‘70s had either disbanded or turned cheesy and I couldn’t embrace the poseurs in the LA glam metal scene—I turned my ear backwards towards older musical forms, among these the blues. I had always been aware of the blues, but never really gave it much thought. So I began to explore the various blues genres, from the Delta to Chicago and all points between and beyond.

About this time I also picked up a harmonica left behind by my guitarist brother. I never really considered the harmonica as much more than a toy (right alongside the Fisher-Price xylophones), but as I started “playing,” something about its simplicity and soul touched a chord in me. Then I listened to as much blues harp as I could. The early players like Sonny Boy Williamson and Hammie Nixon were okay, but seemed somewhat archaic (I was, at heart, still a rock and roller). I discovered Kim Wilson of the Fabulous Thunderbirds years before, but that wasn’t what I was looking for either.

Then one day while rifling through an Alligator Records catalog (this was before the Internet), I saw an album “Ace of Harps” by Charlie Musselwhite. Not really knowing why, I ordered it. When it arrived I anxiously shoved it into the player and was instantly catapulted to another dimension. His phrasing, control and sheer musicality floored me. I listened to it nonstop for days, then immediately ordered all of the Musselwhite CDs in the catalog. To say I became an instant fan is an understatement.

Next came the arduous task of trying to play like Charlie. I practiced the intro and solo to “River Hip Mama” so many times one night that my lips had actually swollen. I spent the following day looking like a bee-stung Mick Jagger (I am proud to say, however, that I did eventually figure some of it out).

Over the past several years, through the wonder of YouTube, I have been able to watch my hero in action. There is so much more to him than just his harp playing. He is the total package, simple, honest vocals and a natural cool that comes from deep within.

When I learned that Charlie was coming to the Great Artists Series February 3^rd along with Hot Tuna and Jim Lauderdale, I believe my very soul paused . . . after more than 20 years I’ll actually see the master play, live.

I’ll be there Thursday night sitting in awe. I hope he plays “River Hip Mama.” Of course if he does, I’ll probably bite my lips in reverence.