What are your Top Chromatic instrumentals?
Hi,
With the upcomming Chromatic King contest, I thought it would be good to start a thread on what are your top chromatic based instrumentals and why.
I have only just started playing and listening seriously to chromatic harp and so far the most standout examples are:
For pure power its gotta be William Clarkes "Chromatic jump"
I also like Dennis Gruenlings "Tribulations" which has a jazz fell but very clear patterns and statements within it, and the more swinging "Ropin it"
GHS Summertime fantastic for pure texture and controlled dirt/slop!
Please lits some of you favourites and why,
G
Thanks Winslow,
I'm a big fan of LW chromatic work, very powerful stuff. I will definitely research LW in more detail. Both LW and GHS seem to be masters of switching subtlety between chrom and diatonic.
Also really like Mark Hummels "Humble Bug" which I think was adapted from a harmonicats tune! Those guys were incredible.
G
You can't overlook Little Walter, who was the first to record third-position chromatic. Sometimes he'd switch back and forth between chromatic and second-position diatonic on a G-harp.
Walter rarely used octaves on chromatic, unlike George Smith and his various west coast style disciples such as Rod Piazza, William Clarke, and, perhaps less directly, Mark Hummel . Walter also moved his tongue from side to side instead of on and off the harp. He got a great deep sound with a little reverb and minimal distortion.
A few of Walter's chromatic isntrumentals:
Lights Out - great slow blues groove and some interesting use of reverb.
Fast large One - great jump-tempo chromatic insturmental
Instrumental - nice use of the low register, with some bending in Hole 3.
Thunderbird - He starts this one on a G-harp in second position, then switchies to chromatic.
Flying Saucer - nice uptempo 12-bar
Teenage Beat - Extended guitar front-end to the 12 bar intriduces Walter starting out in the upper middle register with singlle notes, then working his way around the harp with his customary splits.
Walter also made great use of chromatic on vocal tunes, both his own and Muddy's. Check out Crazy for my Baby, I Just Want to Make Love to You, Don't Go No Further, Ooh Wee, among others.