2011--What a year! And 2012--what to expect!

Well, as we all do, I'm looking back on 2011 and-whew-what a year it was!  Here in southeast PA we started off with snow, went to a hot summer which ended with a hurricane.  Then we had an earthquake!  Then we had snow on Halloween!  I tell you, I'm looking for locusts!!

From a musical standpoint, it was a wonderful year marked by many memories I will long cherish.  First, my friends at Joe's Pizza in Hatboro PA once again made this year successful in that they brought me in for many First Friday events.  Joe's is a great little pizza joint in Hatboro which is a small town not far from Doylestown PA.  Each month the Hatboro Chamber of Commerce sponsors a First Friday event where each merchant will stay open later, have music or some other art, and create a festival-like atmosphere in the town.  Joe's has asked me to play there more times than I can remember.  Great food!  And a great little room to play.  The crowd is always appreciative and some of my regular fans like Steve and Janet come out.

Also, I had the opportunity to play some new venues this year.  The Hopewell Valley Vineyard hosts a Friday evening Wine Tasting with brick oven pizza.  Again, a great room, and some really fine wine!  Also played at The National Hotel in Frenchtown NJ.  Pete runs a nice restaurant with bar there.  I had some friends come out there too for a fun night.  The music is on Sunday evenings.  With the trio, we performed a few times at Antibes Bistro in NYC and the Salt Creek Grille in Princeton NJ.

Harmonica events were aplenty as well!  The annual SPAH convention was held in Virginia Beach and, as always, did not disappoint.  For those of you wondering,  SPAH stands for the Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica...and it does just that!  Got to see my great friends from Seydel and many other fine harmonica players.  Also, I performed at the Garden State Harmonica Club 39th annual festival this year.  It's a great club and I've been part of that organization in one way or another for all 40 years of its existence.  Many dear friends at the festival this year.  And again, some fine harmonica music.  Not to be left out of course was my trek to Yellow Pine Idaho for the Yellow Pine Harmonica Festival.  Thanks to George Miklas and Lynn Imel, I was invited to judge the competition they have there and perform with George and his lovely daughter Janalyn.  For those wondering, Yellow Pine has a population of 35 which blossoms to over 2000 when they host this 4 day event.  Harmonica music from morning til after midnight every day.  Absolute blast to attend!

The biggest event of the year for me was the release of "In A Yuletide Groove".  Many thanks are in order here.  Rob Paparozzi for producing it and making it all work, Jim Salamone of Cambridge Recording Studios for making it sound incredible, and Kari Gaffney for promoting it to radio and print.  Add to that Glenn McClelland, Chris Ziemer, Matt Parrish, Dave Mohn, and my wife Patty for providing awesome backing music!  And, I was honored when I found out the CD was selected as  Downbeat magazine Editor's Pick!!

But most importantly, my fans and friends that support my musical efforts are the ones I owe the most to.  If it weren't for you I would probably put the harps in a box and take up fly-fishing.  It means so much to me to know that folks enjoy the music I make.

Other things this year were the launch of this very blog!  I started it not knowing what to do...and I continue it not knowing what to do!  But, I enjoy blabbering some of my "thoughts and musings" and if you enjoy it too then it's all good.

How about next year?  It's that time of year when we make resolutions and I would be remiss if I didn't offer up any.  So here goes.  First, I always make a resolution to be a better husband, a better father, and a better person all around.  Speaking of all "around" I always resolve (like many) to lose a few pounds.  When my scale says "come back...alone" I know it's time.  Wish me luck!!  Seriously, I have a wonderful wife and two awesome kids and they deserve the best from me.  I know I usually drop the ball in that category more often than not.

For music next year, I'm thinking of taking up a new instrument...and not a harmonica!  We'll see how that goes.  I'm also thinking about beginning a podcast in addition to or in conjunction with the blog.  Not sure what I'll podcast about, but I think it might be fun.  Some of you know that I used to write percussion arrangements for competitive marching bands and drum corps.  I have found that I miss writing.  So, I think I will try my hand at composing a couple of songs.  I'll share them...when they're ready, if they ever are.  I'm also going to take Richard Martin's advice.  Richard is the publisher of the Harmonica Educator which I have been writing for on and off for a number of years.  He told me I should put together a harmonica method book.

How about you?  Do you have any resolutions??  Most of us do, and most of us drop the ball by the end of January.  I'd love to hear stories of resolutions that were kept and what came of them!!

As always, thanks so much for being a fan and a friend.  I wish you and your family a happy and healthy 2012.

,,,'til next time.

Ok, so I need to vent...

Time for me to vent.  My 9-5 day job requires me to take the train to NY daily.  Just about all of us have cell phones or Blackberry's or iPhones.  And on these devices, we can all get email, voicemail, web services, etc...and phone calls (go figure).  While on the train, most of us (myself included) check emails and do what we need to do. 

When the train rolls into Penn, there is a herd getting off the train and making their way up crowded escalators (that typically aren't running) or stairs.  Most normal people need to see where they are going when they walk up a set of stairs.  Either that, or move very slowly so as to not fall down the stairs.

Why, then, do people feel the need to reply to emails while walking up a set of crowded stairs?  My favorite are the guys that have their laptop open and are trying to update an email while walking up a set of stairs.  Yes, I have seen that!!  Or, the guys that are on their Bluetooth headset "blah blablah blah".  As a result of these people, the rest of us are crawling up a set of stairs just trying to get to work. 

To these people I have one thing to say...You are NOT that important!!  No one cares WHAT your response is to their email!  You are NOT that important!! 

Donald Trump...ok, maybe not the best role model...but, he does NOT carry a phone, or Blackberry, or briefcase, or even a wallet!  You could argue he's important! 

So there you have it...end of rant.  Now I have to check my Blackberry and iPhone.  But at least I'm not on the stairs!!!

The Power of Positive Thinking

It's been some time since I "blogged", but I was inspired by something today written on another blog site that I visit often.  The subject is Positive Thinking, and, although it sounds very "new age", it's really something that mankind has known for centuries. 

Negative thinking, negative energy, negativity in all it's forms is not healthy for the one carrying it, and to those around them.  Think of what it's like to be around someone who is always a downer, or always finding the bad things or what's wrong.  They're not alot of fun right?  They're depressing. And that negativity can spread like a cancer to everyone else. I don't know about you, but I like to laugh throughout my day.  Laughter IS the best medicine.  Not only laughter, but positive thinking, positive energy brings about good things and spreads to others as well. 

Now, it's easy to harbor and cultivate negative thoughts about ourselves.  As a musician, it's very easy to get negative about performing, recording, making music--especially if you don't get the gig, or a gig goes bad.  Personally, most of the time, I'm my own worst critic!  And it's very easy for that negativity to permeate everything else I do.  I get down on myself.  And, if you honestly look at yourself, you probably do the same thing in one way or another.  Then the negativity turns to depression or apathy.  Not good.  You become the downer in the room.

Blogger Brian Thompson makes a simple suggestion.  When these thoughts come up, just "snap out of it and knock it off!"  Easier said than done!  But he also goes into the science that many psychologists know and thats the part of the brain known as the amygdala which allows negative thoughts to happen.  Brian goes on:

Once you’re aware of these old lizard brain thoughts, use positive affirmations to reassure yourself, “I’m happy, positive and full of vibrant energy! I am master of my universe! Nothing can stop me from achieving my goals!”

Think of the most fantastic, exhilarating, or happiest moment of your life. Got it? Now multiply that times a thousand, or ten thousand. Or a million. Be ridiculous. The more extreme and exaggerated your thoughts and imagery are, the better. You CAN change your emotions. And when you do this, it causes automatic sensations of pleasure and peace of mind… allowing you to move on with the important task at hand; achieving your goals.

If you can control your perceptions, you can control your reality.

Chances are that if you feel like you’re stuck in a rut, it’s due to the negative energy you’re consumed with and are putting out into the world. I’m not saying those feelings might not be valid, but they certainly aren’t doing you any good. They’re standing in the way of you overcoming a temporary situation. After all, if you’re filled with self-doubt you clearly won’t be concentrating on your goals. And if you’re filled with negative emotions, they will undoubtedly affect others around you… who in turn may not want to work with you because of your shitty vibe (or at the very least, won’t be inspired and they’ll have zero motivation because of your blah attitude).

Sage advice! We should all follow this advice. Now, like I said earlier, this isn't something that the "new age" movement can lay claim too. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Phillipians:

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
And why did Paul believe this was good to do?

The God of peace will be with you.

No negativity, no depression, no anxiety. Peace, positive thoughts, good life--that's what positive thinking does for us. It is something we can do--just by being aware of these thoughts and knowing that we can control them. Life is too short to be a negative person. The most recent Peace Corps ad campaign says "Never go through life saying 'I should have'".

Be conscious of your thoughts. Focus on positive energy.
Change your thoughts, change your mind, change your life.
You are what you think.
Manifest your destiny!


Brian Thompson is Managing Partner of Thorny Bleeder Records
http://www.thornybleeder.com/


His original blog can be read at:
http://www.musicthinktank.com/


You can also follow him on Twitter
@thornybleeder

10,000 hours

I read a handful of blogs that speak about the music business--specifically the independent music scene. Small miracles like itunes have leveled the playing field for music artists in that getting our music out there no longer requires a contract with a major label. My music is on itunes just like Lady Gaga! It's also on Rhapsody, Napster, Amazon, emusic, and the list goes on. No longer do you have to go to a store to purchase music when you can simply download it digitally. Gone are the days of expensive music videos featued on MTV or VH-1 when, with relatively little expense, independent musicians can create their own youtube channel and feature their music.

While this is a blessing, it can also be a curse! Now the competition is fierce! Digital distribution of music via platforms like itunes make it possible for your listeners to sample your wares. Meaning, while you may have the same distribution channels that Lady Gaga has, of you're music is mediocre, no amount of marketing hype or buzz will help you. Your music can't suck. And how is that measured? By your fans of course.

Many of the blogs I read speak of putting in your 10,000 hours of practice. Being an engineer, I broke out the calculator and did some math. If you work full time (presumably 8 hours a day) and take a lunch every day, 10,000 hours adds up to 5 1/2 years at a job. One could say that, after 5 1/2 years working at a job you would be pretty well versed in what you do. Now, if you work a full time job (as quite a few musicians do), let's say you practice 2 hours a night, it would take over 13 years to hit your 10,000 hours. That's some time huh?

The bottom line is this is a brave new world for music artists and fans alike. Fans will win with the ability to pick the best of the best. Musicians will have to step up their efforts to create awesome music. Mediocre, "not bad", "good enough", won't cut it.

Now, I have to go...practice!

Another Steve Jobs tribute

I know we've all been inundated with tributes and eulogies for Steve Jobs in the past few days. It seems we've all learned more about him since he died than we ever knew while he lived.

As for me, I was truly saddened. His public image of late, to me, was of a truly likeable guy that had really cool ideas...all while bravely facing his death. As an engineer, I admire Steve Jobs ability to design. As an independent musician, I thank Steve Jobs for how the ipod and itunes leveled the music distribution playing field. As a human being, I respect Steve Jobs for keeping his family and personal life out of the public eye. As a card-carrying MBA, I'm amazed at Steve Jobs corporation.

I had an Apple IIc back in the day, and migrated to the PC platform, always knowing that Windows was created so a PC would work like a Mac. Years later, I acquired a G4...a far cry from my old IIc. I've recorded two albums and put together numerous videos on that machine. I know have in ipad (writing this blog on it) and, while I was skeptical at first and saw it as a laptop without a keyboard, once I joined the ranks of i-device users, I quickly became a believer. I then got my iphone.

Yes, I'm a believer. In Apple...or Steve Jobs? Time will tell with Apple. But, for now, I can say Steve was a true innovator, not just from cool gadgets, but from creating devices that are social game-changers, devices that introduced concepts that questioned the status-quo. He will always be a legend.

Rest in peace Steve Jobs. You will be missed.

In Praise of Lists

My wife Patty is an avid list-maker. She has the usual grocery list and "to-do" list, but she also makes lists for just about everything you can think of. Weekend plans, vacation plans, house project plans, car servicing, Christmas lists, birthday lists, Franz list (sorry, couldn't help that one!). I joke with her saying she has a list of lists. Remember those popular books "The Book of Lists"?

Well, I have to say that there is a definite advantage to making and using lists. The other day I was doing some errands and was thinking of everything I had to do and was feeling overwhelmed. So, sitting in one of our local pizza eateries I broke out my iphone and made a list, adding entries as they came to mind no matter how mundane. There were close to 50 items...all tasks from looking something up online to painting a room.

When I returned home, I set out on my list. By the end of the day, I was able to write "Done" next to five entries. (No, the room paint job wasn't one of them!). What a feeling of accomplishment! I reorganized my list to group the "Done" things together. I proudly displayed my list to Patty as if to say "honey, I've become a believer". I'm not sure, but I think there was a hint of a tear in her eye.

In this ever complicated world we live in, we're all loaded with many many tasks, things to do, errands, gifts to give, calls to make, emails to write, etc., and list-making is essential if we are going to have a chance of getting to half of the things we need to. Checking things off as "Done" gives you a sense of accomplishment, success. Adding things to the list actually frees your mind up from having to remember those things.

Pretty soon I'll start the mother of all lists....my Bucket List. hmmm. What would I put on that??

Hey, now that I've written this blog post, I can check off another item.

A little about my sound system for live gigs...

I posted a little video where I discuss my sound system(s). Essentially, to me, it's ALL about portability and being able to make one trip into the venue from the car. I do have two systems, however, and which one I use depends on the venue. One system is a higher powered setup, but it IS bulky and heavy and alot to setup and... The other is what I talk about and demo in the video


My mic is the same for either system--the Audix Fireball V harmonica mic. It's not a green bullet blues mic, nor is it intended to be.  It is a lightweight, warm sounding mic that has a convenient little volume control on it.


So, please check out the video and let me know what you think!!

How to keep sane in these difficult times

The economy is in big trouble—again.  We all know it.  We all hear about it all day long.  We all know people that have been affected by it in one way or another.  401ks, retirement plans, pensions, … all subject to what’s happening in the economy.  Small business, big business all cutting back.  Gas prices at levels that cause people to curtail their travel plans.  The news outlets constantly tell us how bad things are.  We hear it everyday...all day long.  It’s so easy to mentally and emotionally shut down as a result of this negative information coming our way.  

Look around the next time you are out and about.  People are angry, depressed, lost.  People wondering how did we get here and can we ever get out?  People looking to blame this president or that politician depending on their political bent (or their news outelt of choice).  It’s easy to get stifled and not do anything.  And it’s easy to not even see a way out of any situation that may come our way.  Everything looks like a huge mountain. 

While we should be diligent in how we go about our lives these days, we should also not allow this constant bombardment of negativity get us down.  There’s a blog that I follow that offered up some great sage advice that I wanted to share.

Reprinted from Bob Baker's Indie Music Promotion Blog “Don’t Let The Bastards In” and by “Bastards” Bob means the “negative and destructive thought forms” that hypnotize us!  Here’s Bob’s advice:

“1) Go on a news and media diet. It's okay to be aware of world events and to be an informed consumer and citizen. But that doesn't mean you have to submit yourself to a constant barrage of negative news programming. (There's a reason it's called "programming.") Cut way back on your weekly intake of traditional media.

To keep the Bastards from getting in your door and infecting your mind, you may need a big dose of preventative medicine. My drugs of choice are books and audio programs that remind me of my potential and recharge my outlook and skills set. Doing this will strengthen the hinges on your mental door.

The media would have you believe there's a boogeyman "out there" trying to get you. But the real culprit is the Bastard that you willingly allow inside your door!

2) Be extremely grateful for what you have. I don't want to get all "Oprah" on you and tell you to start journaling (although that can be very helpful if you're into it). But I can't stress enough the power of appreciating what you already have. So start today to count your many blessings.

When you truly appreciate the richness and abundance of the life you already lead, it gives you a much firmer launching pad from which to grow. When you only focus on what's missing and what's wrong, there's little gas in the tank to get you moving.

So, what are you grateful for? Your health or your family? Do you have a place to live, a car to drive, or clothes to wear? What about the amazing technology we have today that allows us to communicate so effortlessly? How about your gifts, talents, friends, fans, and the good deeds you have personally witnessed recently?

Going on a "rampage of appreciation" will improve your outlook. I guarantee it!

3) Be open, available and eager for more. Hand in hand with your extreme gratitude should be an openness and eagerness to experience more. Being deeply appreciative of what you have and where you are does not mean you have to settle - that this is as good as it will ever get.

Life is all about growth, evolution and expansion. All you have to do is observe nature for a while to understand this concept. You should live your life in accordance with these natural laws too. Appreciate what you have, and simultaneously open yourself up to be, do, have, and create more.

Both factors are needed. Gratitude without growth can lead to stagnation. And wanting more without appreciating what you have will leave you feeling empty along the journey. So appreciate where you are AND where you are going!

Of course, this state of eagerness for growth must be combined with action. The good news is, your actions will flow more energetically and much easier once these three steps are fully embraced.”

Thanks Bob for allowing me to share this!!  We should take stock and be thankful for what we do have. From that, we’ll be able to live fuller lives that aren’t defined by economic forces. 

Bob Baker is the author of "Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook," "Unleash the Artist Within" and "Branding Yourself Online." He also publishes TheBuzzFactor.com, a web site and e-zine that deliver free music marketing tips and self-promotion ideas to musicians of all kinds. Visit TheBuzzFactor.com for more details.

Unscientific Study

Some of you may have a commute similar to mine...mass transit, trains, subways, car horns.  And then you get to work and have to deal with more noise...the boss, fellow workers, phones, computer notifications.  You get the picture.

Recently, I spent about $5 to download a sound pressure meter app more out of curiousity than anything else.  Granted, it's not a lab grade instrument, but it does yield some interesting results.  With it comes a screen with some reference info.  For instance, a quiet bedroom is about 30db, conversational speech is about 60db, a chainsaw is 110db, and the threshold of pain is 130db. 

The other day, I was walking the subway platform when I heard an express train coming.  Broke out the trusty iphone and measured the sound pressure level.  Mind you, this wasn't one of the noisier trains.  It read 90.5db!!  According to the app's built in chart, that's the equivalent of a diesel truck 30' away.  Pretty friggin loud! 

So then I started thinking how damaging audio levels can be.  Being a musician that plays a relatively soft instrument, it dawned on me that this constant barage of sound will eventually take its toll on my performance...will I be able to play as softly as the music calls?

And how about the folks that listen to music.  Will they hear the subtle nuances at the lower dynamic levels? 

How many of us were at comcerts where we went home with ears ringing?  Those concerts were louder than an express subway!! 

We are seriously losing the ability to appreciate delicate musical passages.  There is so much to be heard at those levels!  Think of the english horn solo in the "William Tell Overture" or the cool triangle intro to the "Pink Panther Theme".  Or how about the simple elegance of a leaf rustling by on a fall day?  I fear we will never appreciate these and countless other sounds...and its our own doing!

"Can you hear me now?" has a whole new meaning...

Yellow Pine Harmonica Festival and Competition--Woodstock for the harmonica

I'm heading home and sitting at the Salt Lake Airport for a lengthy layover recounting my experience at the Yellow Pine Harmonica Festival and Competition this past weekend.  Thanks to my friend (and fine harmonica player) George Miklas, I had the opportunity to participate in this unique and awesome event.

Yellow Pine ID is about a 4 hour drive from Boise, and has a population of 35.  It is all dirt roads, has a general store, cafe, tavern, lodge, bar, community hall, and the Alpine Village cabins.  There is a fire department and post office.  For one weekend every year since the Idaho centennial, Yellow Pine has played host to well over 1500 harmonica players, fans, and music lovers who come in campers, trailers, vans, or tents.  People from all over come to this festival.  I spoke with people from Washington State, Utah, Arizona, California, Oregon, Kansas.  And we came from Pennsylvania.

A stage is set up on Yellowpine Ave (aka Main Street) and it features open mics and crowd pleaser performances. The music goes from 9am to just around midnight.  There are vendors that sell cowboy hats, t-shirts, western decor, bbq ribs, old mining town antiques.  This is truly a festival...a music festival...and at the center is the harmonica.  There was even a wedding that George and I had to play...officiated by "Sarge" in his boots, cutoff shorts, cowboy hat, and hip flask.

My role, along with George, was to judge the competition.  The competitors could play any music they wanted.  Blues harp, country, irish celtic (yep! 10 year old Mickey Howard played celtic tunes...on a diatonic harmonica!!), chromatic, groups.  We listened, wrote notes, and came up with the winners.  If you're wondering, Mickey won the youth category as well as a crowd pleaser.

We also had to perform two 2 hour concerts.  That's alot of music!  But, we did it with a mix of Harmonicats tunes, a jazz set, some country tunes, polkas...and we featured George's 12 year old daughter Janalyn on a number of tunes.  Again, all at the center was the harmonica.

The atmosphere was a celebration of music...harmonica music.  Cell phones don't work in Yellow Pine.  The only connection to the madness of life is the wifi connection at the general store. 

Remember, this is normally a town with 35 residents in cabins and homes sprinkled around the area called Yellow Pine.  As with any event, someone has to make it all work.  Lynne Imel, retired school teacher, picked us up in Boise, drove us to perform at the VA, drove us the 4 plus hours to Yellow Pine...the last 26 miles on a dirt road.  All at night!  Lynne was the behind the scenes force to this enormous event.  We stayed at the Alpine Village, and were fed, hosted, treated like family by Keith and Delta Halloway and their family. 
The results of the competition are given out Sunday morning and by Sunday afternoon, the campers, vans, trailers and tents were all gone.  The vendors had packed up.  And Yellow Pine could go back to it's daily routine.

It's the Woodstock of harmonica.  It's a celebration of Idaho, mining towns, and music.  It's the old west at the end of a dirt road.  It's something one never forgets.

Thanks Yellow Pine!



Yellow Pine in the morning.  At night, this street is filled with harmonica lovers!



Garageband and the iPad

Apple figured it out for musicians. The Mac combined with Pro Tools revolutionized recording a decade ago, putting top quality recording capabilities in the hands of independent musicians. The recording studio business took a big hit on that one. Successful studios today employ Pro Tools with all the latest plug-ins, etc. Todays successful studios are run by guys that "get it" and have top drawer mics and physical space that maybe the average independent musician can't afford.

Then comes a little program called Garageband. I first saw it running on a Macbook about 7 or 8 years ago. It could be seen as a very simplified Pro Tools. But it had more. It incorporated loops of preloaded instrument sounds...or you could make your own. Pretty slick tool for the songwriter who wanted to hear his ideas without having to own a drumset, or hire musicians. The songwriter can just make some loops and get a quick listen.

Or, like my daughter Erica, you can use external tracks imported into Garageband and record your vocals over them. Here's her page.

Enter the iPad, this little marvel that will change life as we know it. Just looking at its portability alone, lighter than a laptop, a user interface thats simple to fly, and it revolves around apps. Yesterday, I downloaded Garageband onto my iPad...for $4.99. As you know, I'm a train commuter. On the way home, I started to noodle with Garageband on the iPad and, within 45 mins, had a pretty cool funk track going with drums, bass, guitar, and bari sax. If I hadn't arrived at my stop, I probably would've done more.

What an awesome tool for musicians! Songwriters and musicians can create tracks to try ideas, practice, record demos, or....dare I say...record an EP! When your work is done, you can share it via email, iTunes, etc...directly from Garageband!

Next up for me is to try to record some harmonica parts on it.

Yes, Apple figured it out...

"Autumn Leaves" and Cannonball...

One of my twitter friends jazz singer Lola Haig from Ojai, CA (@ojailola) asked me what's my favorite song to solo over.  My answer was "Autumn Leaves" based on the fine Cannonball Adderley/Miles Davis version on the famous jazz record "Somethin' Else".  I love playing the tune.  The changes pretty much play themselves.  The trio I play in performs it every time we play. 

Cannonball took the solo on the Somethin Else record in directions that are just awe-inspiring.  I don't think I will ever get tired of listening to what he did.  It has got to be one of the most melodic, creative, and musical improvised solos in the history of jazz recording!  Yeah, I like it that much!!

One of these days, I intend to sit down and transcribe Cannonball's solo because, in my opinion, that's the equivalent of a 3 credit college course in improv. 

Anyway, here is a video of yours truly playing "Autumn Leaves". 

It's Never Too Late

I was driving some of the backroads of Bucks County over the weekend, listening to The Sinatra channel on xm when on came this swingin' vocal version of "You'd Be So Nice To Come home To". I glanced down at the radio display and saw that it was Hal Linden...yes, THE Hal Lnden of Barney Miller fame. I knew he played clarinet but had no idea he was a jazz singer. He's not a crooner, he's a bona fide jazz singer in my mind. The solo section of the tune features Linden's clarinet...and he comps the clarinet solo with scat! Very hip, very cool.

So, today, I wanted to share that with my guitarist. We're riding in his car in NYC, I buy the track on itunes, I connect my iphone to the ipod cable his car is equipped with, and there we were listening to Hal Linden swingin'. Awesome. iTechnology at its best. As I write this I'm listening to the track on the train.

Linden has been around. He's 80 and has had a great career on Broadway, movies and television. I can't remember when i heard him play clarinet but I'm sure it was in a one-off feature sort of thing. The record that has this tune on it is his first and was released this year! And the title? "It's Never Too Late". What a perfect title! He's 80 and cranks out a swingin record and says "It's Never Too Late"!!

What an inspiration! It's never too late to spread your creative wings! It's never too late to try something new! It's never too late to explore new opportunities! Also, it's never too late to share a side of you that not many have seen, your passion, your artistry, ... your music.

Thanks Mr. Linden! You have given me (and countless others I'm sure) yet another answer to the question of "why do I play music?". Because it's never too late!

Another reason to enjoy making music

My friend John Mooney from The Villages in Florida sent me a link to a magazine article entitled "Music Makes A Brain Happy- And Hungry For More Music". (read the full article here).

Basically, the study speaks of how the "feel good neurotransmitter dopamine" is released to parts of the brain that affect anticipation...causing the listener to "crave the next note".

My permanent psychologist (my daughter Erica) has told me in the past that there is a field of study that studies music as a means of psychotherapy. She has also pointed me to the Oliver Sacks book "Musicophilia" ... that I must admit I haven't had the chance to read, but does study the psychological affects of music. By the way, Eric is an outstanding musician and singer! Check her out here

As a musician, I have to say that this info gives me yet another answer in my search for "why am I a musician?". I listen to music like you do, and I am fortunate to be able to make music like some of you. It's often said that performing is like a drug. I would have to agree. Why else do famous performers never seem to retire? There is nothing like when a musician and audience connect. The performance becomes a unique event at that very place and time that will be memorable.

So, us musicians get the feel-good rush when we listen and when we perform! What is it Elvis is believed to have said when asked why he never did encores..."Leave them wanting more!". He might have been on to something!! Either way, knowing that there is a scientific reason to strive to make the best music I can is pretty inspiring!

I was once asked to record a harmonica solo on a reggae record...yep, reggae! When the guy contacted me, he said (in his island-ese accent), "Yaah maan, I want some of your harmonica lovin on my CD maan!". I laughed, but now we know that there is much more to music than the ntes, much more than the technical proficiency on the instrument...it's about the soul in the music that connects with the listener...and leaves them wanting more. Its the dopamine that leaves them craving more.

I love being a musician!

This Web 2.0 technology stuff is very cool!

So, my 9-5 work is in engineering.  I have a degree in electrical engineering and have been a "techie" all my life since before HS.  I went to a vocational HS, have had a ham license for 35 years, and have made a living in engineering.  I have to say I never lose the thrill when something "works". 

Enter the age of Web 2.0 where the likes of Facebook, Twitter, and every other social interaction site lives.  Add to that ReverbNation, a wonderful site for independent musicians to keep in touch with our fans, share our music, and look for new venues to perform in.  RN provides "widgets" that can be placed all around the internet...on websites, blogs, etc.  With those widgets, I can simply update my appearances calendar on RN and it automatically gets updated wherever widgets are placed. 

My latest "ah-ha" or "that's really cool" moment just happened!  I am NO software or programming expert by any stretch of the imagination (even though I have sat thru 4 courses in various languages thru the years...and "aced" them I might add).  But when I navigate thru the lingo and TLA's (three-letter-acronyms) of the new generation of techies, and try something out, it's very cool when it works.  This week (yes this took a couple of days) I discovered it's possible to take this very blog, create a "feed", and post have it automatically post on my website http://www.chrisbauermusic.com/  And...it worked!! 

Now some of you are sitting there thinking...so what?  But to my tech-head whose interest in technology began when we still had vacuum tube Heathkit ham transceivers and TV shows were advertised as being "In Color", I am amazed that this stuff actually works.

Once again....very cool.

Whatever happened to harmonica groups?

I came to know the harmonica through my Dad's harmonica trio "The Harmonikings". They were three men who were passionate about the harmonica. The trio was comprised of Hank Graham (Uncle Harry to me as a kid), Gene Broglie (Uncle Gene to me) on chromatic harmonica, and my Dad Bob on the chord. They rehearsed every Friday night fro. as long as I could remember. They would practice the tunes they already knew, learn new ones, try different mics, sounds, etc. They performed many gigs, recorded two albums, appeared on TV, and even got into a commercial.

In those days (late 60s/early 70s) they weren't alone. There were other trios in the metro NY area. "The Domino Trio", "The Melody Men", and "The Budd Lake Four" come to mind. Later on, "The Electra Three" and "The Society Boys" came on the scene. Add to this other groups beyond New York and the list grows exponentially. The Sgro Brothers from Elmira NY (still at it to this day), The Ericksons from Madison, The Harmonica Hi-Hats, The Smith Family, etc etc. And there were national acts like Jerry Murads Harmonicats and The Harmonica Rascals.

All of these groups were busy performing club dates, festivals, and many events.

What happened to them? Aside from the obviouos that quite a few of them passed away, why are the acts gone? The music was unique, has a tremendous acoustic sound, and was very entertaining. When I played with The 'Kings, we did tunes like "Galloping Comedians", "Sabre Dance", and medleys of music from "West Side Story". People would marvel at what we could play on harmonicas.

So why are there so few harmonica groups today that are never heard of? There are a couple like The HarpBeats and The Sgro Brothers, but thats really it. If you attend a SPAH convention (Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica) or one of the other harmonica festivals around the country, you might catch an ad hoc trio or quartet.

I'm not saying the harmonica group is dead. There are plenty in Europe, Japan, and China. Why there and no longer in the US? One reason is that the harmonica is taught in school. There are outstanding harmonica trios made up of high school kids playing some serious classical music. Check out the Fresco harmonica trio!

So, can the harmonica group make a come back in the states? Will contemporary music directors embrace the harmonica as an instrument? Are there enough players that can also teach students how to play the harmonica? Until these questions are answered, I fear the sound of the harmonica group will not be heard by many...

What do you think?

"Who do you sound like?"

Every musician has been asked this question at some point in their musical careers. A manager at a club will ask that to see if you're the right fit for their crowd. Another musician may ask you that question to get to know you better.

It is probably one of the most difficult questions to answer! As a harmonica player, I wrestled with this question many times. Do I dare say "I sound like Toots."? ...or Stevie, or Jerry Murad of Harmonicats fame, or ... Out of sheer respect for the aforementioned musicians, I try to avoid saying I sound like any of them.

How about other jazz musicians? Well, I listen to Miles, Trane, Art Pepper, Brubeck, Desmond, ... Do I "sound" like any of them?? Again, out of respect and homage, I try not to say I sound like any of them.

It hit me today that maybe I don't need to say who I sound like, but rather who or what I am most influenced by. All of the jazz artists I mentioned before are from the West Coast cool era and I fins that I listen to that school of jazz the most. Add to that list Chet Baker, Stan Getz, Bud Shank, and others and you'll get the idea.

So, if you read this, you may have heard me at one point or another. If not, you can certainly hit my website and hear soe of my music. What do you think I sound like? Does the West Coast cool era influence come thru? There's no right or wrong answer...

I'd love to hear what you think!!

...til next time.

World of Harmonica Blog

Some of you may know Shaun Monument-May from his efforts on Facebook.  Shaun has also assembled a very impressive blog that features an awesome array of harmonica talent that spans all genres.

I'm new to blogging and when I see something out there that folks that follow me might be interested in, I'll share it.  World of Harmonica is one of those gems on the web.

So, here's the link.  Go have a look!

http://worldofharmonica.blogspot.com/

..til next time...

"Summertime"

I thought I might share a video this time.  Here's yours truly playing "Summertime" on both chromatic and diatonic harps.  For those of you that might not know the difference, basically the chromatic harp has a button on the side that operates a slide allowing you to get sharps and flats (button out=white keys on piano, button in=black keys).  On a diatonic, the player needs to "bend" notes to get sharps and flats.  Also, diatonics are tuned in many different keys which makes the note bending a little easier in certain keys. 

In the harmonica world, chromatic players and diatonic players are two distinct groups and the debate over which harp is better borders on a religious feud!!  I've found that each type of harmonica has its place in music.  Blues, country, and some jazz tunes lend themselves to diatonic.  Classical, standards, jazz tunes work well on chromatic.  That's not to say that this is a hard-fast rule!  Just my humble opinion...

I've been playing harmonica over 40 years and its been primarily chromatic.  In the past 2 yrs, I've had opportunity to learn the diatonic...and it HAS been a learning process!!  Two harmonicas, two completely different techniques. 

In this video, you'll hear both chromatic and diatonic.  It can be seen with others on my youtube channel.  www.youtube.com/jazzharp1  Let me know what you think!!!

Milestones in life

So, its pool time here in the northeast and while floating around in my recliner, some thoughts crossed my mind about milestones in life.

Last September, I turned 50. Funny, I didn't "feel" 50...although I am starting to... This past May, my daughter graduated college and during the ceremony I kept thinking "this isn't supposed to happen yet! She was just in high school!". Then, my son graduated high school last week. And, as the pictures were being taken, I kept thinking "wait a sec! He was just in 3rd grade!".

So, while floating in my pool the thought struck me that I have passed thru a couple of milestones myself... I also find myself thinking about pension plans, 401ks, etc. more and more.

But I also think more about music and what it is in my life. What music to share, work on, try out, etc. I love having music in my life, I love knowing great musicians, and I love being able to make music.

Maybe my next milestone will be music related??

...til next time...

A lesson from the Sonny Rollins practice regimen

The old joke "How do I get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice!" is no joke. And its no joke in the world of jazz. Learning tunes, changes, etc., is one thing. Practicing scales, arpeggios, etc. is another. And it IS required!

No one exemplified the art and passion to practice more than Sonny Rollins. The story goes that he didnt want to disturb the neighbors in his NY apartment bldg, so he would go out to the Queensborough Bridge at 5am to practice. He also at another time in his life lived in a wooded area and took a sax protege out to the woods to practice.

Talk about commitment!

If you ever had the chance to hang around with any successful musician you would know that they are "honing their axe" all the time!

Performing jazz music is not a spectator sport! It takes constant practice!

About my Dad

My father Bob is the reason I am a musician...specifically a harmonica player. Dad loved the harmonica and played almost every day up until he died. He played the chord harmonica which is a 2ft long, double decker instrument sectioned off into chords. Dad was arguably one of the best in history to master it.

He played in his own harmonica trio when he was a kid called "The Harmonica Revelers". He joined the Air Force, played tuba and upright bass, and also found other harmonica players to play with. After the Air Force, he started a harmonica trio called "The Harmonikings" which, while never making it big, were well known. He later got the call to join Jerry Murads "Harmonicats" which was a dream come true for him. He eventually the 'Cats and did some recording projects with me as "The Bauers".

His love and passion for music and the harmonica had a profound influence on me. The style of music he liked, the chord phrases he would literally swoon over, whatever impressed him has been engrained in my mind. His support for my playing...which I still learn more about as I meet friends of his to this day...will always warm my heart.

On Fathers Day, I encourage all that still have their Dads to call them and tell them they love him.

To my Dad: I love you and miss you every day!

...til next time.

Back in the studio this week

Should be wrapping up the Christmas CD tracks this week. Then we hope to mix and master in July.

Also have a couple of gigs coming up too. First appearance of the Chris Bauer Trio in NYC. We're really looking forward to that.

Sooooo, any thoughts on the name for the CD?

It's Wednesday

And in my world, at lunchtime on a Wednesday means you're officially halfway thru the week!

Sun is shining here in NY and it's HOT out!  It still beats winter!  You can always cool off from the heat but you can never get rid of the winter chill. 

My latest music discovery is a series of youtube videos posted by "Frankly Jazz TV".  There was a weekly tv show in the mid-50s hosted by a jazz radio DJ Frank Evans which feature jazz artists from the west coast.  Heard a sax player named Bud Shank play "Misty" as an up-tempo Bossa.  Very cool!! 

...til next time

CB

http://www.chrisbauermusic.com/
www.youtube.com/jazzharp1
www.reverbnation.com/chrisbauerjazz
http://twitter.com/chrisbauerjazz

My unofficial review of PT Gazell's new CD "2 Days Out"

Folks, this one is a winner!  PT, who has got to be one of the smoothest jazz harmonica players I have ever heard, put together a great group of musicians and recorded a superb line up of tunes that exemplify his style.  The CD opens with PTs swingin' tribute to Sweets Edison and "There Is No Greater Love" and grooves on thru, featuring tunes like "Out of Nowhere", a beautiful rendition of "My Romance", and the swingin' hard "K. M. Blues".  PT has hit the sweet spot on this record!  Bravo my friend!!

New record stuff

Well, I have all of the rough mixes and have been giving them a listen. The tunes and arrangements are working quite nicely. Hope to have mp3s up for my fans to check out.

I the meantime, I will be heading back into the studio in June to button up my tracks and get ready to mix down and master.

It is weird listening to Christmas tunes in 90 degree weather!

Hope your summer is off to a good start!

Happy Birthday Miles Davis!

Miles Davis would have been 85 today. Miles' music has been a huge inspiration for me thru the years, especially the Red Garland, John Coltrane days with tunes like "Bye Bye Blackbird", "So What", "Solar", and so many more.

Happy Mothers Day!

If you are fortunate enough to still have your Mom, tell her you love her!!

Will it ever get warm?

The northeast has been cold and chilly since winter...ugh!

Gearing up for recording session next week!

Gearing up for studio session in two weeks!!

I'll be heading into the studio in two weeks for my next project. Working title is Winter Wonderland and there's a slate of great musicians on the session.

Here goes...

Well, here goes. Welcome to my blog. Sitting on a train pounding away on an iPad.