Best tone in harmonica history; he has such an understanding in the subtleties of tonal dynamics, making the harmonica sound in so many ways, but always as Larry Adler.
I saw Larry in concert when he was about 87. He began with this and it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I thought - how can you follow that? But he surely did!
My dad went to school with Larry Adler. He would go to see him everytime Larry played in Baltimore. My Dad would always ask me to go down to see him and meet him back stage. I was always too busy to take him up on it. Need I say more.
The last third of this is from The Parkinson Show in the UK in the 70's. It was a magical moment when classical fused with popular that I have never forgotten.
What is not appreciated is that Larry was one of the greatest melody writers of the century - but he just did not bother to produce songs. He could literally come up a good tune a day, and he often would. Sometimes, rarely, these tunes became recorded and published music but an external influence to provide discipline was required - e.g. a movie like genevieve. Most of his composition (which was much more structureed than mere improvisation) has been lost to posterity. A unique genius.
I watched the Parky clip at the time too. A one-off moment over 30 yrs ago with me ever since. I'm here now because I was actually looking for it and, wow, wow. Late 70s family crowded around the box and all struck dumb. Thanks x 1,000. Anyone got more of that Parkie interview with Perlman? Especially the bit where he shows how violin magically joins orchestra in Beethoven's Violin Concierto. Remember? Pure magic. Thanks arty Rob!!
11 лет назад
Il n'est point utile de commenter l'art de l'harmonica par le grand Larry Adler, il a élevé son instrument au rang des plus grands, continuons donc alors de soutenir cet harmonica pour que l'oeuvre de monsieur Adler ne se perde pas. Merci et respect à vous monsieur Larry Adler.
une véritable performence , sur tout l'ensemble de son répertoire merci à vous monsieur Larry Adler je suis harmoniciste Amateur , je reprends des morceaux de cet harmonica de génie que du plaisir à jouer
Larry Adler was a great musician, and a very nice person. He also liked Afgan Hounds! In my opinion, his chromatic harmonica tone was simply the sweetest ever. John "Whiteboy" Walden
What you have to know is that some things just come naturally to certain humanbeings.I picked up a harmonica back in the early 70s and could play a tune on it within 10 mins.I know with the right dedication to the instrument, I could have made it as a harmonica player to some degree but to reach the stage that Larry Adler got to is not possible for mere mortals to imagine.
@SvendBosanvovski I would add to that list the gerat Argentinian player Hugo Díaz. In our days, Antonio Serrano and Franco Luciano are amongst the top of great Chromatic Harmonica players.
Should've known it was possible to be a good harmonica player. Hell, I play piano - the instrument that you can learn all the basics of in a day, and still not have mastered after fifteen years of playing - so I should know that even the simplest instrument can have virtuosos who really stand out. I used to think the harmonica was just a stupid instrument. Then I heard this guy. And... need I say? Set a genuinely intelligent musician loose on any instrument and it'll be good.
