Paul Oscher is not Jerry Portnoy. Mojo Buford is not James Cotton. A total disservice to all four of these great Artists, three of whom are no longer with us. Also a disservice to your students by way of "teaching" them misinformation. Perhaps the teacher needs to do a little homework. Not impressed.
This awesome video is truly inspirationally. These are the kind of riff's us newbies picked up a gob iron in the first place, trying to emulate our musical heroes, keeping the blues alive. Thank you🙂
Yeah Roger that Nigel. Sorry for the mistake. Just found this awesome footage of him shredding on the song he was nicknamed after: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-eHSJVB_lcq8.html
Luke. I like this vid, and your presentation of the subject matter. Sad the late great Paul Oscher was missed. But, I won't hold it against ya. 😀. Paul, I believe, from what I've read "passed away in 2021-complications from Covid." He was an amazing muscian. He bequeathed to us music lovers an incredible body of music. His time with Muddy is a small portion of his incredible muscianship. Too many of his songs/ renditions to pick a favorite. You know what that's like trying to just pick 1 or a few songs or muscians. For those interested in Paul Oscher just enter his name on RU-vid. Hey, Luke it would be cool if at some point you did a type of learning video on his style, phrasing, etc, like you have done with your Muddy Waters one here. Anyway keep up the great work. Your always interesting, and harmonica/music educational. 👍.
Yes, Mojo Buford always wore that leather harp holder angled across his chest. I have never seen James Cotton (of course that was obviously not James Cotton anyway) wear one of those. Also, not George Harmonica Smith either (he looks closer to Mojo than Cotton anyway. That's my take as a 48 year harmonica player who was full-time by age 20.
Hey Gabriel - you're absolutely right about Mojo Buford. Just found this footage of him ripping a killer solo on the song he was named after: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-eHSJVB_lcq8.html That is George Harmonia Smith though (according to the video title.) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-51DjBFzpIzs.html
@@Harmonicacom Good to give Mojo Buford his credits. I am not sure about the second video, what you mean? That is for sure George Harmonica Smith playing his rendition of Juke.
How did they let you on this video first possession second position? What the crap are you talking about? Just grab your harmonica and blow it why do you have to talk about first position second position this is modern day talk I am old school like Little Water and Sunny boy Williamson they never talk about first position second position, you’re starting to make people sick man specially old school
Been hooked on your channel for a couple of weeks. Bought your course and play everyday. Thanks so much, but I think your editor forgot to insert the video thumbnail so you're pointing at nothing.
Awesome, thank you so much for telling me that! Just got it corrected. VERY VERY much appreciated. 🙏🏼 So glad that you're digging the course and that you're playing EVERY DAY!
Jerry Portnoy ??He is my favourite player.This is Moyo Buford not James Cotton.Alsaw this is not Jerry Portnoy but Paul Oscher in video...Pozdrav iz Srbije( Europe)
What is all this bull about second position first position, when Little Walter played He grabbed a D or C and played the blues man. All this second position is bull. I mean it’s here they use it modern stuff& talk, but you give an experienced harp player like me, which played with Muddy Waters band after he died, if they’re playing in E, I’m gonna be blowing on a A harp and that’s all there is to it, experienced harp players like little Walter, Slim Harpo, Sonny Boy Williamson they knew what to do just like I know what to do, second position was not spoken back then, we’re playing in G little Walter would start blowing in D he knew what to do. Sunny boy knew what to do slim Harpo knew what to do. I know what to do, second position.😂😅, I’m 80 years old, old school 😎
Yeah maybe they called it cross-harp but like you said they grabbed an A harp to play in E 90% of the time, or grabbed a G harp to play in D 90%. Very rarely deviated from that - all the players you mention here.
Muddy is doing Mannish Boy here in key of A That would be a D harp in 2nd position. I believe the original Chess recording is also in A. You're demonstration here is on a C harp, which would mean key of G for the band. Better to demonstrate using the same key as the video.
Correction: at 3:12 you introduced Muddy Water's harmonica player as Jerry Portnoy... Not so, that is Paul Oscher. That is also not James Cotton at 4:32. Not sure who.
Yes, Roger that Thomas my bad. That is Paul Oscher. The man I called James Cotton twice is Mojo Buford. Check him out here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-eHSJVB_lcq8.html
@@Harmonicacom No, Chris is correct, that's definitely Mojo Buford. Also, that's Paul Oscher not Jerry Portnoy in the other clip as well (I think someone else pointed that out too).
Yea, great stuff ! Thanks for being so awesome! That’s really nice of you to share and explain and even include the holes to play along for those of us with a harmonica.
Hey Dan - thanks for letting me know! I I didn't think that looked like Jerry Portnoy, but I couldn't find anyone to tell me who it was! I'm not familiar with Paul Oscher - I gotta look him up!
@@Harmonicacom Paul passed away last year in Austin, TX. He was from Brooklyn. He played harp for Muddy in the 60s to early 70s. He was a great musician and a wonderful guy. Paul made a lot of great harp albums I'm sure you would enjoy. He also played guitar.
You have to be a genius to know when to suck in and when to blow out, and if you need to play multiple holes and remember the sequence, not sure if I will ever learn the harmonica
🤣 Yeah, David - Crosseyed Cat definitely is one of MY favorite Muddy riffs! But it's not nearly as well known as these riffs, plus I've already taught it in other videos. (I'm guessing you've seen it?)
The most and juicy eficient parallel TEACHING AND REDISCOVERY of the most oi importante crossmentors blues Rockers of ALL times. WHAT a synchonicity Power to teach and indulge into oiur ídols pop Masters !!!
HI! thanks for this compilation and playing tips. I seem to have heard you date the checkerboard performance of 1973: it's 1981, as stated on the DVD jacket. The Stones weren't that ready in 1973. IMHO.
Great vid. However the Checker Board Lounge show was in 1981 I think. But good info. Been listening to him and The Wolf and countless others for years. The Stones turned me on to old Blues in the 1970s. Son House Big Bill Broonzy Charlie Patton Sister Rosetta Tharpe Bessie Smith and so so many others.I saw Pine top Perkins and also Honeyboy Edwards ( he played with Robert Johnson) at the Montreal Jazz fest in the 1990s. It was magical seeing those guys. Keep up the good work keeping the blues alive cause the only way to beat the Blues is to play the blues. Peace.
Great stuff John! Thanks for sharing all this. Yeah God bless the Stones for turning America on to American blues, lol! I love all the artists you named. The date of these Checkerboard Lounge vids is accurate, but they did it more than once!
This is a great video and thanks for sharing it!! I have to correct a couple of things though. It wasn't James Cotton in those two clips from the Checkerboard Lounge with the Stones. It was Mojo Buford who played with Muddy before and after Jerry Portnoy's run with the band. And, it was Paul Osher, not Jerry Portnoy, in the other clip. Regardless, all were great blues harp players.
The concert with the Stones at The Checkerboard was actually in 1981, September. I was there, just standing out in front. But thanks for the Mannish Boy tab. I am always a bit off.
Muddy waters had the best harmonica players ever in his team period.. how can you skip over Paul Allen Oscher like that tho. The first permanent white member of the muddy waters band and killer harmonica player
Ooof. I hate to confess to you that I'm not familiar with Paul Allen Oscher. I'll have to look him up. He's in good company tho, I think Carey Bell and Jerry Portnoy aren't mentioned either? I'm not sure who my favorite is....that would be hard to choose! But Jerry Portnoy might have my favorite recorded solo on Muddy track of all time: forum.harmonica.com/t/share-your-favorite-harmonica-songs/3952?u=luke Do you have a favorite Muddy song featuring Paul Allen Oscher? Anyone else have a different favorite player or song?
Actually, I’m pretty sure that the clip used in this video with, as you announced, Jeff Portnoy, is actually Paul Oscher himself. Sadly Paul died last year. Your lesson is BTW pretty fun and informative. Thanks!
A great bit of important information for us here at 4.02 about using our ears. I think when we learn anything that's been written down we should play it with our'ears' else it may sound too ....'.can't think of the right word', but ya know what i mean. thanks for the Vid Luke.
Yeah I know exactly what you mean - sound too mechanical and not full of soul and emotion like music ought to be. 🙌🏼 The there things we need to develop as musicians: EARS. EARS. EARS. 😉
Aw man. So not only did he not get mentioned, I didn't give him credit for what he did! I didn't think that looked like Jerry Portnoy, but I couldn't find anyone to tell me who it was!
Luke-Still a Great and useful video. Paul was a force of nature and a true Bluesmen. He lived at Muddy’s House part of the time he was in the band. Paul’s last CD was “Betting on the Blues.” I encourage you to check it out. Paul passed during the pandemic PS Are you Kona based? I lived Big Island many years, was one of the Board members of The Hawaiian Blues Society and opened for the Muddy Waters All Star Band @ The 1997 Hawaiian Blues Festival among many other gigs
