chro

Today is the official release of "We do it out of Love," a tribute album to the 94 year old legend Toots Thielemans. Featured players are Franco Luciani, Antonio Serrano, Alex Rossi, Olivier Ker Ourio, Gabriel Grossi and Grégoire Maret. For those interested in jazz chromatic, you may find this to be your new favorite CD.

Available at iTunes, Amazon or wedoitoutoflove@gmail.com. Sample here: https://youtu.be/yTAugWXghHg

Roger "The Archivist" Trobridge (most known for his work with the National Harmonica League in the UK) asked that I put together a radio program based on the series of articles that I wrote for their magazine on playing the blues chromatic. In this program you'll hear George “Harmonica” Smith, Little Walter, William Clarke, Rod Piazza, Rick Estrin, Mark Hummel, Paul deLay, Dennis Gruenling, Mitch Kashmar, Gary Primich, Paul Oscher, Steve Guyger, Lynwood Slim, Kim Wilson and Jean “Toots” Thielemans (my apologizes for the other great players that I didn't have time to include). continue reading...

Practicing on a cold chromatic causes the warm condensation from your breath to collect on the reeds and wind-savors, causing the annoying buzz we hate so much. The answer is to warm it up. Some players stick it in their shirt pocket near their body, put it under their arm or even on a little heated pillow throne (very regal). If you use a laptop, just rest it on your laptop for a bit... this works great.

A large embouchure is required to play the chromatic harmonica (playing a standard single note has your mouth over four holes... just like the diatonic... but those holes are larger. To play an octave your lips are over five holes... now that's a stretch!). Those that play the chromatic find it easier to achieve big tone on the diatonic harmonica, since they're already used to playing with a wide-open, resonant mouth cavity. continue reading...