Happy Hour Harmonica Podcast
Neil Warren
Recent Episodes
Roly Platt joins me on episode 108.
Roly is a Canadian player who has recorded countless sessions over his 45 year career. He started out playing in a country band which set the scene for him playing a diverse range of genres throughout that time. Roly has recorded 1700 individual session cuts, with the numerous bands he has played in, and also various film, tv and commercial jingles.
Roly ecorded his own album in 2017, Inside Out, where he showcased his versatility by including a range of different types of song.
Roly produced and sells the great Harp Wah harmonica mute and later this year he will be releasing a book about his life with the harmonica.
Links:
Roly’s main website:
https://www.harmonicamute.com
Other website:
https://rolyplatt.com/
The Book - pre-order:
https://www.harmonicamute.com/product/i-play-harmonica-book-preorder/
Roly’s harmonica workshops:
https://www.harmonicamute.com/2-hour-harmonica-workshops-prerecorded/
Roly’s gear reviews:
https://www.harmonicamute.com/gear-reviews/
Ross Garden interview with Jimmie Fadden:
http://www.rossgarren.com/jimmie-fadden.html
Videos:
With Matt Minglewood:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbXuNtkxTSY
Inside Out album interview:
https://rolyplatt.com/canadian-harmonica-player-roly-platt-talks-debut-cd-inside.html
It Ain’t Right:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx0NOq5ma5Q
Toronto Blue Jays theme song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTGDF0dc5T0
New Orleans Funk:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPljRQKt59o
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
AND
The Harmonica Company. Use promo code: 'happyhour7'.
Email Jonathan at: [email protected]
Yotam Ben-Or joins me on episode 107.
Yotam is a chromatic player who attended the Tel-Aviv Music Conservatory, making a name for himself on the Israeli music scene before winning a scholarship to study at The New School for Jazz in New York, age 21.
Although predominately a jazz player, Yotam is keen to emphasise the diverse range of genres this encapsulates, including world music and South American influences on his music. Yotam has previously released two albums under his own name, with a third coming out in 2025. Many of the songs on these albums are composed by Yotam as he helps to push the chromatic in new and exciting directions.
Links:
Yotam's website:
https://www.yotambo.com/
Videos:
Yotam Ben-Or Quartet live at Festival da Jazz St. Moritz:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GI9HM6NqCY
Satla song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lv6zOhUKa6o
MiLiM song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tGBXF0nHw4
Live at Carnegie Hall:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wmKRaXdW9A
Live in Switzerland:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GI9HM6NqCY
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
AND
The Harmonica Company. Use promo code: 'happyhour7'.
Email Jonathan at: [email protected]
Eddie Martin joins me on episode 106.
Eddie has been described as the ambassador of British Blues, having released seventeen albums over his near fifty year career, with many of the songs self-penned by Eddie. He started out as a one-man band, but also performs as part of his own bands too. In either format Eddie makes extensive use of rack harmonica, and is one of the leading players of using a rack, while also playing some hand-held harmonica as well. Eddie gives us some great tips on playing on the rack.
Eddie also had a two year spell in the US where he regularly played on Beale St, Memphis and Clarksdale, Mississippi, as well as time playing in Italy.
And he regularly teaches at workshops in the UK and Europe.
Links:
Eddie’s website:
http://eddiemartin.com
Big Red Radio:
https://soundcloud.com/eddie-martin/sets/eddie-martins-big-red-radio
Harmonica Master’s Workshop:
https://www.harmonica-masters.de/en/workshops-2024/master-workshops-diatonic/eddie-martin.html
EuroBlues week:
https://www.euroblues.co.uk/blues-week-2024/
Son of Dave interview:
https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com/son-of-dave-interview/
Videos:
One Man Band video from Thirst album:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK6Qr9nSugw&t=18s
Birdcage Sessions video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MU87CViwfJA
Harpin’ By The Sea 2024: Breakeven Blues:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S83O-scnX_I
Harpin’ By The Sea 2024: Early In The Morning:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fuwgMcaJ4Q
NHL festival 2006: Queen of Spades:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zW-Y9JplJ4w
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
AND
The Harmonica Company. Use promo code: 'happyhour7'.
Email Jonathan at: [email protected]
Paul Barry joins me again on episode 105, for another look at the life and career of the great William Clarke.
Paul has now released his biography: Blowin’ Like Hell: The William Clarke Story, writing it from insights he gained from Bill’s wife Jeanette, and Bill's children, and the musicians who played with him, as well as many others.
Bill dedicated his life from the age of sixteen to become the bluesman he dreamed he could be, and he worked extremely hard at it. He honed his craft from woodshedding at home, attending the blues clubs of LA, becoming the protege of George Smith, and pushing himself hard to create his unique voice both vocally and especially on the diatonic and chromatic harmonica. All this despite his personal demons, to become one of the leading players of his generation.
Links:
Paul’s website:
https://www.paulbarryblues.com/
Where to buy the biography:
https://www.paulbarryblues.com/william-clarke.html
Blues Blast magazine review of the William Clarke book:
https://www.bluesblastmagazine.com/issue-18-7-february-15-2024/?fbclid=IwAR3lctX2K7JrotYoAczEp_JE_rIktqg6QejnVrSMR52OYIvKiEM-GeyJS9Q
William Clarke Remembered Facebook Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/171827912850208/
The first William Clarke retrospective with Paul:
https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com/william-clarke-retrospective-with-paul-barry/
Videos:
Bill playing Lollipop Mama at the San Fran Blues Festival in 1991:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrXrsmUWAGM
Interview with Bill, and concert footage from Byron Bay festival in Australia:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfgWsyKvC3o
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
AND
The Harmonica Company. Use promo code: 'happyhour7'.
Email Jonathan at: [email protected]
Mike Turk joins me on episode 104.
Mike is a Boston-based player who started out playing blues harmonica, inspired by the great Paul Butterfield, before becoming interested in playing jazz on the chromatic. He recorded some session work in New York and recorded through the 1970s with various artists, with many of those tracks available on anthology albums Mike has put out. He released his first solo album, Harmonica Salad, in 1991. Mike went on to record several more albums, with a letter from Toots Thielemans included in the liner notes for Turk’s Works. He also toured Europe and recorded some albums with the Italian band he was working with while in Europe.
Links:
Mike’s website:
https://www.tinsandwichmusic.com/
Toots Thielmans testimonial on Mike’s website:
https://www.tinsandwichmusic.com/?page_id=265
Polyphonia harmonica:
https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/nmah_1306456
Great interview with Mike:
https://blues.gr/profiles/blogs/harmonica-virtuoso-mike-turk-talks-about-jazz-blues-lowel-fulsom
Videos:
Don Brooks session recordings:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDGSb5NxtJY&list=PLGbKWi5veb_nwSHBWYjEgDPtHfYbFFufY&index=4
Honeydripper film opening credits:
https://youtu.be/BO5eP6XsF9M
Douglas Tate playing at the NHL Festival in 1988 (not on a Renaissance):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th1PbXWfoY8
Mike trio gig from March 2022:
https://www.facebook.com/themadmonkfish/videos/1593252841059782
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
or sign-up to a monthly subscription to the podcast:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/995536/support
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
AND
The Harmonica Company. Use promo code: 'happyhour7'.
Email Jonathan at: [email protected]