Boing!

Ben Sollee, LOOPING jaw harp orchestra, Imogen Heap, Thomas Dolby and...

2010-10-11T18:44:00.001-07:00

Hello brothers and sisters!

I know it's been a while but living in America these days means working harder, more stress, and less time. All work (and that's if you're lucky,) no play, makes Johnny a dull boy!

Regardless of the state of affairs in the States, life goes on and people keep on keeping on. Got no choice, really. On to our instrument.

I came across a talented artist from Kentucky. His name is Ben Sollee and the man has very good, deep roots that come out loud and clear in his music and lyrics. There is a track where you can hear the jaw harp here. Go to the bottom of the page, the last item, and look for "Bury me with my car". You can also listen to the song here. Otherwise, here's a live solo version of the song, sans jaw harp. Makes it easy to play along your own version.

From Kentucky to the Gobi Desert, here is a very nice piece (and cool film) from Mongolia.

I don't have too many details but you can look it up on the web.

From Kentucky to Mongolia, and now to Austria, introducing LOOPING jaw harp orchestra!

This band is off the charts. They are somewhere between rock, jazz and world music but honestly, there's something else going on. Check out their music here and their band web site here. I would love to hear them play live.

We need to encourage newcomers to the instrument. This is Gio's beginning attempts and I think he should be commended on it. Go Gio! You're doing great!

I am always awed by Indian style playing. Here's Slim Defalla with a nice demonstration. Slim keeps a low profile so until he emails me, we won't know more about him other than this video... All I could get is that he was filmed at the Music Department, Musée de l'Homme, Paris by none other than the illustrious Tran Quang Hai on December 3rd 2008. Hey! My birthday! Thank you both. : )

Some of you who have been following this blog know I like techno. With that in mind, let's zoom over to Budapest for some block rocking beats.

And of course, the great Nadishana playing at the 6h Jaw HarpFestival in Kecsemét, Hungary. See? It's worldwide.

While you're at it, also check out Nadishana and Aron Szylagyi perform together. Szylagyi harps are great so get one, or two, or three.

Some people think Jazz is Jazz and no room for a jaw harp. Well guess what. Watch this, or at least the intro. Stay for the musicianship. Get ready.

Here's a beautiful photograph I came across of Roderic, a Jaw harpist from a village in India called Remawand. Photo by Collin Key, a photographer based out of Germany.

Techno Hippies, toad licking, Imogen Heap and Thomas Dolby.

Here's an interesting video from Thomas Dolby. He explains putting together a track using the web, a studio and friends like Imogen Heap. I believe she's using a Hmong harp like this one. Enjoy!

That will be all for this time. Keep the faith, keep up the good vibrations, be good to one another as much as you can, and don't forget to have fun.

BOING!

Did you say Spring?

2010-04-02T20:13:00.000-07:00

© Simon Fernandez

I would like to bring to your attention the release of Jack Rose's Luck In The Valley, his final LP. Jack Rose passed away last December at the age of 38. He often used open tuning and his compositions were mostly for 6 and 12-string guitar, as well as lap steel guitar.

He has been compared to the guitar players on the Takoma label, including American primitive guitarist John Fahey, Robbie Basho and former Vanguard recording artist and touring partner Peter Walker.

Here's the first track from the LP, Blues for Percy Danforth. It's a 7'36" minutes bluesy raga featuring the Jaw harp and harmonica.

Jack Rose "Blues For Percy Danforth"

Here's another gem for you. Multiple SIDosis is a 1970 short film about a man who gets what he wants for Christmas. The performer and filmmaker, Sid Laverents, creates an entire multi-part performance of the song Nola. Sid plays a ukulele, a banjo, a jaw harp, a guitar and various other instruments.

Sid started as a vaudeville entertainer and worked in many different fields, from dishwasher to sheet metal worker to aircraft engineer. He also enjoyed amateur filmmaking and created a number of short films. This short film is in the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress.

Here's a beautiful piece I missed back in 2007, Naked Rain's "Wave". Naked Rain was formed in 2004 in Copenhagen, Denmark and have released two albums on Gateway Music/Solnik Arts, "Thunderbird Suite" from 2006 and "Wave" from 2008. New release "Two Skeletons On A Tin Roof" due in the spring of 2010. This lovely piece features Ole Theill, Tabla; Soma Allpass, Cello; Bjørn Ringkjøbing: Flugelhorn & Trumpet; Rasmus Lorens Hagedorn Olsen, Jew's Harp & Percussion; Morten Vilhelm Keller: Guitars & Keyboards.

From Xinjiang province, in western China comes singer/songwriter Mamer. Mamer's debut album Eagle on Real World Records (Peter Gabriels's label) transports you to the Chinese grasslands where he grew up, using instruments of his heritage with an alt-country aesthetic influenced (besides his own musical roots) by Western bands like King Crimson, Pink Floyd, Metallica and others. Mamer beautifully blends completely different musical roots to create his own, yet universal, music and songs.

Here's a sample:

Kargashai - Mamer

And an introduction to this artist:

By the way, have you heard our beloved instrument featured on the Gorrilaz' Pirate Jet song on the album Love amid the ruins? The CD is full of guests, including rappers Mos Def and De La Soul, Swedish pop vocalist Yukimi Nagano and the great Lou Reed. Checkit!

The following was brought to my attention by Veskimo's Journal: Stan Wood and his Vibraband. It's not a jaw harp but it involves a low-tech instrument and some j-harp playing techniques so I think you'll enjoy this little video. Stan Wood is part of the Gone Orchestra, an eleven member performance art group from Portland, Oregon made up of some of the area's finest improvising musicians.

Here's an interesting new instrument somewhat derived form the j-harp, the Tonal Jaw Harp. I'm not sure who the inventor is but this demonstration comes to us courtesy of George Andriyanov of Bugotak. There must be a vibrator of sorts but I'm not sure exactly how it works. Let me know if you do!

I leave you with a live (on the street) improvisation by the great Byon Kay Busking. He uses a drum track, loop pedal, jaw harp and even a nose flute. Those can be bought at Mouth Music.

FInally, below is an excerpt from James Hobbs' Wild life in the far West, published in 1872 in which he tells about living with the Indians and trading a captive for a Jew's harp... : )

Enjoy, have fun, be good and keep on Boinging!

Goodbye, Mr Seeger

2009-08-22T16:50:00.000-07:00

Photo by Jim McGuire, from his Nashville Portraits portfolio

Early this August Mike Seeger passed away. Mike dedicated his life to documenting, teaching and keeping alive traditional music of the American South. There's an excellent article about Mike, his life and accomplishments by the Washington Post that I encourage you to read.

The first time I heard Mike's music I was completely taken by the old songs and tunes he sang and played with so much emotion, soul and skill. He used a variety of instruments from the jaw harp to the autoharp to whatever he could make himself. I had a chance to see Mike perform at McCabe's in Santa Monica and even chat with him after the show. I showed and played for him my Morchang equipped with a California Delight vibrator and he got a big kick out of it.

Mike made me aware of and appreciate Old Time. He also taught me that music doesn't require fancy or expensive equipment. Pick up two sticks, a rattle, a couple strings, a jaw harp, a jug or whatever and go for it. Music belongs to the People and we must continue this tradition and gift from the past that he championed so well.

For those of us on the West Coast, on September 9, 2009 at 7pm, “Always Been A Rambler” will be screening at the Berkeley Old Time Convention. This new hour-long documentary about the New Lost City Ramblers, directed by Yasha Aginsky, features recent and archival footage, interviews, photos and LOTS of music. With Mike Seeger, John Cohen,Tracy Schwarz, Tom Paley and many more.

Mike has left the physical world but thank goodness, he leaves us his marvelous recordings.

Thank you, Mike Seeger.

Spring vibrations

2009-04-06T19:13:00.000-07:00

Leonard Cohen on the cover of Harp Magazine.

The Man from Canada is touring. A great songwriter, he is one of the few to use the jaw harp in several of his songs and just for that, he gets all my respect. Truth is, I love his songs anyway ever since I heard Suzanne way back when I was a teenager in France. Suzanne viensje t'emmène, écouter les sirènes... Do catch him live but meanwhile, fans can listen to a live show he had at the Beacon Theatre in NYC on NPR. Yeay Leonard, yeay NPR!

Until April 11th, the Lyric Theatre in Oklahoma City, OK presents two daily shows of "Woody Sez", a tribute to the words, music, & spirit of Woody Guthrie. Woodrow Wilson "Woody" Guthrie was born in 1912 in Okemah, Oklahoma. He is best known as an American singer-songwriter and folk musician, whose musical legacy includes hundreds of political, traditional and children's songs, ballads and improvised work. Renowned Broadway performer, storyteller, and guitar theatre legend David Lutken (Inherit The Wind, Ring of Fire, The Civil War) stars in the title role, and accomplished actor-musicians Darcie Deaville, Helen Russell, and Andy Teirstein join in to portray the many people who make up the fabric of Guthrie's amazing story. The four accompany themselves on over 15 different instruments, ranging from guitar and fiddle to jaw harp and dulcimer. Performances are Thursdays at 7:30pm, Fridays at 8:00pm, Saturdays at 2:00pm & 8:00pm. For tickets: www.LyricTheatreOKC.com.

And now... (drum roll)

Gina Gershon

I was reading how after a 48 year absence, Bye Bye Birdie is returning to Broadway this fall. Presented by Roundabout Theatre Company, this production is headlined by John Stamos, Gina Gershon and Bill Irwin. I was curious about the beautiful and talented Gina and had to read her bio. Gina is definitely hot! She played the jaw harp on "I Can't Decide" on the Scissor Sisters' release Ta-Dah. She also played the j- harp on the song "I Do It For Your Love," Paul Simon's collaboration with Herbie Hancock on his album Possibilities as well as other musicians such as Rufus Wainwright and Christian McBride. GINA! Let's get together and play some jaw harp! Or at least send a picture or video of you playing your jaw harp... : )

Traveling east from New York City, I recently came across an article in the Mongol News Media Group's website about "An Adventure with Mongolia's Reindeer People." Among other things, it interestingly describes a shaman going into a trance induced by playing his jaw harp and very possibly enhanced by the seven shots of vodka he downed.

Last year I introduced you to a jaw harp Punk from Vienna, Austria, Ing. LOOP (pronounce: Engineer LOOP.) He posted a demo video of a spontaneous jaw harp jam session he and an uncredited friend did in the Steffl Dom in Vienna. Ing. LOOP knows how to have fun.

Leave it to the one and only Vladiswar Nadishana to always push the envelope with news ideas and instruments. This time he brings us a traditional instrument of the Kuzhebar people of Southern Siberia. He calls it a Ghost Catcher and it can best be described as a two-stringed jaw harp. Play it with a stick and it sounds like a berimbau. Based on the video I believe the Ghost Catcher is chromatic. In any case, it sounds very cool. I can just imagine adding a little distortion and/or looping and you've got yourself out of this world soundscapes. Vladiswar demonstrates different playing techniques on this interesting instrument and you can buy your very own here.

Somebody brought my attention to a special listing on eBay: Johnny Cash's jaw harp! This seller out of Tennessee is listing several items that were previously owned by Johnny & June Carter Cash. She says they were made available to her by Peggy Knight, beloved friend and traveling companion of June and Johnny. Here's the description of the item:

This item belonged to Johnny Cash and Peggy said that it is one that he gave to Mother Maybelle. Peggy calls it a juice harp and an Ebayer said it is a Jews Harp. Supposedly you can make music with it or someone can, I personally wouldn't know where to start. It has green paint on parts of it, no writing that I can find and measures 3 inches long and the middle part has a curl on the end. I don't have any idea as to the age of this piece. All items will come with a Certificate of Authenticity from Peggy.

The lucky buyer is Demis CousCous, a musician, songwriter and producer out of the UK. I wish I had Johnny Cash's jaw harp!

Speaking of Tennessee. I read an interesting article about the musicians of the Smoky Mountains. It does mention that the jaw harp was part of the instruments used. But we all knew that! Here's a taste of what the musix may have sounded like, courtesy of Sheesham and Lotus.

On the subject of jaw harps for sale, Wang Li is offering an interesting one. He says it is made by an old craftsman in Northern China, that it has a very nice sound, and that this craftsman's j-harps are very rare. Wang Li is also open to trade so check out the item called G-C2 Kouxian.

Staying in France a bit longer (Wang Li lives in Paris), here are two funny Messieurs playing a two-sided guimbarde. Not exactly Laurel and Hardy but funny anyway. There's a part where the gentleman on the left yells at the other "Darn it! You're pinging! It's not THAT complicated!" LOL! Embedding is disabled so here's the link.

A while back I added a link To Veskimo's Journal. It is a great blog with always interesting articles. He recently posted his trial at making a vargan based on a Japanese model. Check out his article with step-by-step photos here.

To end this post, here's a new release from Norway.

Just released by the Geir Lysne Ensemble is a CD called The Grieg Code. There's some beautiful, moody as well as rhythmic music on the album. This CD is classified as Jazz but it is also quite experimental in the soundscapes it creates. The website offers several samples to get your appetite going. Listen to Kaa featuring Terje Isungset on the jaw harp along with a plethora of talented musicians including no less than Terje Rypdal.

That's it, folks! Until next time... Keep it real and good vibrations to all.

Boinging through hard times

2009-02-02T19:32:00.000-08:00

J-harp, patented March 28, 1934, Inventor DeKeller, Stamey.

Massachusetts resident Bill Zucker was getting depressed hearing and reading about the financial bad news out there so he picked up his guitar and in five minutes wrote "The Tarp Song." (TARP is the acronym for the Troubled Assets Relief Program.) TARP, jaw harp... Coincidence? I don't think so. It might explain the hot jaw harp boingings in the song. So here it is, Bill's gift to us, a new song for these hard times. Quote Bill Zucker: "I wanted a simple song about a complicated situation that everyone would get. I was trying to find a way to make people laugh in these dismal economic times." Boing on, Mister Zucker! I'll be foot stompin' thinking about better days to come along with you.

Catchy and uplifting song, isn't it?

Next, jaw harp music from Russia.

I recently got a message from Aksentiy in Moscow, Russia. He was letting me know about a new CD he has released called Jaw Harp Speech. This is a great CD really worth multiple listens. The actual title is great: The Tale of How the Bird of Falling Stars Helped the Hunter to Get the Tusk of the Walrus Shapeshifter. Reading the description reminded me of a book I read recently. It's called The Way We Lived: California Indian Stories, Songs and Reminiscencess by Malcolm Margolin. There is an uncanny similarity of myths, legends and tales that just confirms my belief that we are all connected. From my research, the Native People of North America didn't know bout jaw harps until Europeans came but they had an uncanny kinship and ability to play them.

Staying in the U.S., coming up is the 200th anniversary celebration of Abraham Lincoln's birth.

Singer-songwriter Chris Vallillo is on tour paying a tribute to this great American president. When Lincoln was a lawyer on the Illinois Eighth Judicial Circuit, he was part of a group of 25 lawyers and one judge who traveled the 400-mile circuit on horseback. At their stops along the way, they performed music together. Among his repertoire of well researched tunes and songs, Vallillo plays Hoosen Johnny on a jaw harp. Check it out and if you like Old Time, spend the few bucks to buy this great CD. Heck, I'd skip a meal just to buy it.

Up until now, one music genre that has been underrepresented using the jaw harp is Reggae/Dub. This has been rectified by Natty Matty who gives us his tune Mash up Dub. Right on, Natty Matty!

Also, I want to bring to your attention a new link I've added to Veskimo 's Journal. His blog is in Russian but there's an acceptable translation, courtesy of Little Big Brother, aka Google. Click on the link at the top on the right below Events and check it out.

Animal Collective is a music collective of avant-garde musicians originally from Baltimore, Maryland. This band is often classified as psych folk or noise rock but they have just released their ninth album that just doesn't fit any label. Here's a vid of ther song Lion in a Coma which makes good use of the jaw harp. True, it's a sample but somebody played the loop and it's wonderfully trippy.

On the subject of music, jaw harps, human social structures and other living creatures, Tribal Flora is a band from Mumbai, India. Check out this vid:

While you're at it, check out their version of Johnny Cash's song I've Been Everywhere.

Last but not least, our man in the UK, Jonny McBoingBoing has uploaded some instructional videos to help newcomers play the jaw harp. Do check him out, he's a great player, a nice person and kind enough to share his knowledge.

That's it for this time. As always, let me know if you want me to post something you would like to share. Take care, eat more vegetables, spend more time with your friends and family, and keep playing your jaw harps. Guaranteed to keep hard time blues away.

'Tis the season to be Jolly Boingin'!

2008-12-10T18:26:00.001-08:00

Ho Ho Ho! Or should I say Boing Boing Boing!? It's that time of year when we're celebrating Christmas, winter solstice, friendship, love, long nights by the fireplace all huddled together, having feasts with friends and family and then some. Some of us will spend more money than we should just to buy that something special that will bring a twinkle in the recipient's eye... But then again, some will consider that these are not the best of economic times and think about buying a gift that is meaningful, fun, personal, unique, economical and won't end up in the trash. The obvious choice is of course... a Jaw Harp! They come in all shapes and prices, from the ridiculously inexpensive to the -hum- a bit more. You can spend from under $10 and go all the way up to... $100! The question is: where to buy and who from? Following are my recommendations.

First, I buy a lot of my own from Mouth Music. Their selection is limited but Mark picks really good j-harps. On the low price end, they sell a Cambodian Bamboo Jew's Harp for $8. I have one, it sounds great and is fun to play. I love playing along Iggy Pop with it. Another favorite of mine that they've started selling recently is the Nepalese Murchunga. It's a fun brass j-harp for only $16. Higher up the price range, is the Altai Khomus by Vladimir Potkin. That is one terrific little j-harp that packs a super punch and many harmonics. It's priced at $39 but could easily sell for twice the price. Plus, the case is hand-carved and very pretty. Another great buy is their Brass Hmong Harps by Chong Moua Lee. This is a hand-crafted gem through and through that can be yours or a loved one for a mere $69. Look around on their website and you'll see many more like Yakutic j-harps that are sure to fit your budget and make someone happy.

Nepalese Murchunga from Mouth Music

Next, you can visit Wang Li. His selection is also limited but well chosen. Most of his j-harps come from China, his native country. I recommend his Hohos. They sound amazing with their multi-tone range and folks won't think of it as your usual boinging j-harp. As a matter of fact, you can read some of the past posts here and listen to Ma Guo Guo play the Hoho (or Kou xiang). Wang Li also sells pull-string bamboo harps that are a bit challenging but very fun. He does not list his prices online but you can email him and he will respond promptly. His prices are like Mouth Music's, i.e. affordable. Wang li now lives in France but his shipping is expedient and reasonably priced.

In the UK Sound for Health sells j-harps but also didgeridoos, flutes, Tibetan singing bowls, crystal bowls, shruti boxes, monochord, udu, tingsha, damru, gongs, ritual bells, books, CDs, DVDs and then some. All of his items for sale are well chosen and if you're not sure about what to get, check out Jonny's videos here.

Finally, you will find the largest selection of j-harps at Dan Moi, out of Germany. Name the continent, the country or the type of harp you want and you're sure to find it there. They have a page of Christmas specials and I recommend their Dan Moi Christmas Set which includes one Mini Dan Moi, one Standard Dan Moi, and One Bass Dan Moi. It comes with playing instructions and a beautiful fabric bag. You can't beat the price at 18 EUR.

I'm probably missing some very cool independent makers so if you know anybody I should mention, do let me know.

I leave you with a fun piece using a J-harp, a mike, a Boss RC, a synth and a guitar. Happy holidays everybody! Health, peace and love.

Good vibrations

2008-10-29T21:39:00.000-07:00

Nepalese brass Murchunga

I recently read an interview with a Russian shaman. Russia is a big, diverse country with nine time zones and many ethnicities so amazing as it may seem to some people, there are shamans in some regions. The shaman was talking about the jaw harp and the positive vibrations it brings to the soul and body. He had a mystical approach to the instrument and one thing he said that stuck with me is that one should carry the j-harp with him/her in order to communicate with it. Get to know the instrument, get it to know you.

I don’t know about the rest but I have found at least that part to be true. The Jaw harp is one the most democratic instruments: everybody can afford one, it’s easy to carry and you don’t need lessons to play one. I’ve bought many jaw harps over the years and each time, I’ve found that it’s like a person. I have to get to know him/her before it sounds good and vice versa. Once there’s familiarity, care and love, it’s all nice: no panging, no twangs, no plinks, just good vibrations (Hey! Beach Boys!)

Those of you who read this blog know how much I love the jaw harp. I want people to know about it, pick one up and have fun with it. It’s a worldwide and ancient instrument that brings together different peoples with different histories together. In this age of fear of the other, a small, cheap, and easy to play instrument exists that says to us: you, man/woman, I am you in Nepal, France, Cambodia, Chile, India, Laos, Afghanistan or wherever you find me. I am you, everywhere.

If I know one thing is that we all need good vibrations. The jaw harp is not just an esoteric instrument reserved to shamans. It is an instrument that gives a particular flavor to a piece of music, the universal language. With that in mind, I spent some time to look for examples where the jaw harp is featured. As these few clips show, it comes up in unexpected places.

Listen closely and you can hear the good vibrations of the Jaw harp on this great song by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Back in time, when The Who had Keith Moon and were musically daring, they too used the jaw harp.

In movies too you can hear the jaw harp. Here's the soundtrack to For a Few Dollars More, by the great film director Ennio Morricone. I just love the whistle and jaw harp together.

Here’s the intro to a 1970s TV show from France about the exploits of Mandrin, a French Robin Hood. Music by Lino Leonardi.

I hope you enjoyed these clips. There are many more examples but I have to leave some for you to discover. Until next time, boiiiiIIIiiiiiiininIIIininining!

Fall season in the Northern hemisphere

2008-10-11T12:03:00.001-07:00

It's Fall for us folks north of the equator. Leaves are falling (banks too) carried off by the winds of the changing season. There is solace in the fact that down south, Spring is here!

Here are some news and happenings in the world of Jaw harps.

Jaw harp punk from Vienna, Austria! Ing. LOOP (pronounce: Engineer LOOP), the alter ego of Robert Koch, is a one-man-no-budget band. Ing. LOOP combines jaw harps, steel pans, marimba, percussion and other music instruments to create new sounds. Check him out!

From Boca Raton, Florida, here comes Professor Cunnigham. No J-harp here but I know some of you are also throat-singing enthusiasts and I think you'll enjoy this clip.

James E. Cunningham Ph.D. is an ethnomusicologist and assistant professor in the Department of Music at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. I know which university I'll be going to next. Check out his MySpace page for an extended version of "The Hamburger Song".

Earthsync is a world music record label committed to nurturing folk, tribal and native music. Musicians and singers from Myanmar, Maldives, Aceh, Indonesia, India and Thailand were brought together to perform for their Laya Live Project. Listen to and watch this magnificent piece played with morsingh, tabla, mridangam, bass guitar, drums and violin.

Dave Ruch has just put out his first record. This new release features venerable old folksongs, ballads, dance tunes and ditties from rural New York State interpreted tastefully with guitar, mandolin, jew's harp, 5-string & tenor banjo, concertina, fiddle, spoons, voice and more. Dave is equal parts historian, entertainer, educator, comedian and folklorist, he finds his song material in dusty archives, obscure songbooks, diaries, old recordings, scholarly journals and more. He’s a member of the New York State Historical Association.

No jaw harp here but similar sonorities from another great band from Congo called Kasai Allstars. Brought to you by one of my favorite record labels, Crammed Discs. This is the third volume in Crammed's Congotronics series.

From Israel by way of New York City comes Drummer Amir Ziv's and his band KOTKOT which includes percussionist Cyro Baptista, guitarist Marc Ribot and electric bassist Shahzad Ismaily. He describes his music as Melodramatic Popular Song / Grindcore / Lounge. I haven’t heard anything that experimental since John Abercrombie and friends or the Sex Pistols back in the 70s. I guess you’ll have to catch them live to hear the Jew's harp opening of "My Dentist in Hawaii." Meanwhile, you can check out Told You So.

Here is a neat project brought to you by Altamira, an association dedicated to exploring the role of culture in the development of societies. This release features the talent of the Lemhadong, a collective of women artists from the Sebu Lake region in the Philippines. I believe this album was recorded and produced by Boris Lelong. Check him out, he does very interesting work of his own. Praise to him for his 74’ long piece Hypnostasis. Here’s a piece from the CD played on a bamboo J-harp.

Reminder. Percussionist, multi-instrumentalist, pioneer in ice instruments, musical director and more, the great Terje Isungset is touring with Trio Mediæval. They will be in the US in November. Don't miss!

I leave you with a piece by Pippo Di Stefano, King of Marranzano. Pippo shares some of his jaw harps and playing techniques. Way to go, Pippo!

Summer boings

2008-07-15T21:04:00.000-07:00

The Ballad of the Jealous Lover of Lone Green Baley, by Thomas Hart Benton

This wonderful 1934 painting by Thomas Hart Benton is part of a series inspired by popular folksongs. It depicts a scene inspired from a traditional Ozark folksong. This song is a tragic love ballad in which a jealous lover lures his fiancée into the woods to talk about their upcoming wedding. She grows tired and wants to turn back. He accuses her of cheating, she protests, and under the light of the full moon, he plunges a knife into her chest. Apart from the fiddler, who Benton said represented a genuine Ozark fiddler from Jasper, Arkansas, his models for the figures are relatives and students of the artist. Benton's sister-in-law Lucy P. is the tragic victim, and the young Jackson Pollock posed for the man playing the jaw harp.

Here's a gold nugget for you. Muzina Shangai out of Osaka, Japan posts this interesting video featuring several J-harps playing together.

Oakland, California based band The Lumerians, a band that thankfully doesn't fit any category has put out a new album and they boldly feature our beloved instrument. Check out Olive Alley. I'm not sure whether the jaw harp used is a dan moi or a low Szilagyi but it's definitely a band worth checking out.

The Lumerians

Out of Chicago but sung to you in Spanish courtesy of a Belgian record company, here comes allá. Listen to a song called Es Tiempo among others to hear the jaw harp. The band is getting really good reviews from the Chicago press and I hope to catch them in LA. They're on a fantastic record label, Crammed Discs, the same label that brings us Congotronics, Balkan Beat Box, Bebel Gilberto, Romania based Mahala Rai Banda, Timbuktu locals Tartit and more. Come to think of it, one of LA's great bands, Los Lobos, should sign with them for distribution outside the island called the United States. Spread the wealth!

allá

The forever and always beautiful as well as talented Kitty Donohoe has just released a new album called Northern Border. Here's what the Lansing State Journal says: Donohoe has always been adept at choosing accompanists, and "Border" abounds in treats. Jeff Taylor's accordion obbligatos light up "When I Was the Queen," as does his Quebeçois turn on "Pierre and Marie." Mosher's burning slide guitar, Doug Berch's jew's harp and uilleann piper Tyler Duncan (Millish) combine on a break in the unsettling "Kid With a Gun," an utterly original - and dynamite - grouping. Well hot dang, that sounds really good! Just one thing, Kitty: can you post a couple videos or music samples?

I was looking at the Jaw Harp World Map the other day and noticed a new name: Jens Mügge, from Berlin, Germany. He's a member of the Overtone Music Network I told you about in the last post and does some interesting work using voice and/or j-harp. If you haven't done so already, add your name and URL/MySpace/Youtube so others can check you out.

I leave you with this fantastic performance by Ma Guo Guo from the Yunnan Province in China. She's a virtuoso of the Kou Xian Jaw harp. She is performing at the world music festival Le rêve de l'Aborigène July 18-20.

Hasta la vista and don't forget these two festivals!

Bing Bang Boing!

2008-06-15T10:44:00.000-07:00

Greetings J-harp tribe!

The Jew's harp is the national instrument of the Yakut People of the Sakha Republic of Russia. Photo by Sidkorn

First of all, mark your calendars. The 16th Annual North American Jew's Harp Festival is in the works. It is scheduled for August 1 and 2 in Downtown Bay City, Oregon. For those of you outside the U.S., it’s a great time to come and visit, courtesy of a very low dollar. Hotel rates are very reasonable, gas is cheap compared to Europe, and food is also cheaper. J-harpists are also cool people, so don't hesitate to contact fellow members of our Yahoo group to ask questions or for a place to sleep!

I received an email a while back from Steev Kindwald. Steev has been studying Asian musics (specifically folk, gypsy, nomadic or tribal) or working with traditional instrument makers --- from the mountains of Northern Thailand, Laos and Vietnam to the Thar Desert/ Indus Valley of Rajasthan, Sindh and Kachchh to the jungles, beaches and mountains of Central Indonesia to the rugged hills of Northern Myanmar even to the quiet rice field villages of Japan. He has some videos on his website as well as youtube (search: steevkindwald)

I also received an email from Danibal who invited me to join a throat singing group he either started or is a part of. I can’t find the email so I’m not sure but a quick Internet search led me to the Overtone Music Network. I randomly listened to a song recorded in a church by Monika Sramlova and found it absolutely beautiful. Back last winter, I saw the Asylum Street Spankers and during the live set, one of their newer members does a short Tuvan throat singing piece. Two notes at once, I've tried it and can't do it!

Finally it's OUT! Ipercussonici has just released its first "official" album published by an independent label called Finisterre Records out of Rome, Italy. The album sounds great and you can listen to some of it at the band's MySpace page.

As far as new recordings, from Southern country rocker Jesse James Dupree and Dixie Inc. comes a new CD featuring the J-harp. Check out this song called Rev it up and go go, complete with heavy metal guitars, banjo and the twanger. A lot of fun for sure.

I hear that the Danger Mouse produced new CD by the Black Keys features the j-harp on some tracks courtesy of Patrick Carney’s uncle Ralph. Ralph happens to play horns for the great Tom Waits. I don’t have the CD so let me know if you hear it.

One thing I do know for sure is that Jack Kerouac was a Jaw harp devotee. Check out this photo of objects that Kerouac treasured throughout his life. This pic was taken at the "Beatific Soul: Jack Kerouac on the Road" exhibit at the New York Public Library, March 2008. I can just imagine Kerouac on the road, hoboing it, playing his J-harp.

From the 1930s comes a tune called Jew’s Harp Bill by The Greene Brothers. It’s a comic piece but worth a listen.

A while back I posted a video of Dizzy Gillespie playing the J-harp. Here’s an even better one of Dizzy with Jon Hendricks. Just crank up the volume because it is barely audible:

We have a new friend, German from Lithuania. He shows how to make a homus (khomus) from scratch, a bit like Craftymonks. He uses basic tools and watching these videos is fascinating. I ordered one from him and am anxiously waiting for it.

Check out a new artist from Hungary, Tamas Arki. He does very interesting work he calls experimental electroacoustic electronica ("Triple E" for short?) Give it a try, I think you'll like it.

I leave you with a performance by Airtist, live in Kecskemét at the WorldmusicTogetherness. Markus Meurer on Didge, Beatbox by Döme, Áron Szilágyi on Jew's harp:

Have a great summer and as always, don't hesitate to drop me a line if you want me to post something of interest.

It don't mean a thing

2008-02-15T19:57:00.000-08:00

YAHOOZNA!

Here's an absolute gem. Listen to our beloved instrument played by (according to Geosilver) none other than The Man, Dizzie Gillespie. Dizzie is with Teresa Brewer in concert doing Duke Ellington's "It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing". Start at 4'23" although the previous stuff is worth a listen. Dang, Dizzie, you're a mighty fine J-harp player! And Teresa, you sure do have that swing!

Winter 2007

2007-12-08T15:26:00.000-08:00

Greetings to all J-harpers in this winter season! Let's get warmed up and start with a Winter Waltz...

Here's an overview of what's happening in our boinging world.

I want to bring to your attention a group from Norway called Trio Mediæval. Working in a similar vein of early music as Anonymous 4, here's a trio of female vocalists plus a male drummer/j-harper. Watch and listen to a clip here. They're on tour right now so buy a ticket, put on your warm coats, bring your j-harps to play along (discreetly!) and enjoy.

Photo: Asa M. Mikkelsen

Speaking of traditional music, although more contemporary to us, Dust-to-Digital has released a neat new compilation of field recordings by Art Rosebaum, an amateur of Old Time music. Some tracks feature our beloved instrument. The label also offers among other CDs a collection of Tuva throat recordings. Audio samples and more info at their website.

Some lucky j-harpers got to recently attend the first International Jew's Harp Festival in Leipzig, Germany. There's a nice slide show here and a few video clips featuring Nadishana.

There was another J-harp festival in Kecskemét, Hungary in September of 2007. Here's a clip of Aron Szilagyi playing an electrifying piece at the Third Hungarian Jew's Harp Festival. Filmed by Luca Recupero of iPERCUSSONICI fame.

More video clips of the festival here.

The North American Jew's Harp festival was held in Bay City, Oregon on Aug. 2-5, 2007. Here are several clips of the event.

Be sure to let me know about future events so I can post them here and at the Jaw Harp Group on yahoo.

As gift-giving season is arriving, you may want to consider an unusual J-harp from Wang Li. It is the smallest jew's harp in the world, produced by an ethnic group in northern China. You can play either by plucking or blowing. Here's a demonstration:

Peruse his website, he has other unique J-harps, some made by Chinese Masters.

You may also want to consider other sources for your purchases such as Jonny Cope, based in the UK. Jonny's passionate about jaw harps, a nice man and a proud dad. He sells other instruments such as Tibetan singing bowls, flutes, didgeridoos and more.

Another nice person to deal with is Mark at Mouth Music in the U.S. He has full chromatic sets that I've been eyeing for a while.

I leave you with this very cute animation of Mr. Jew's Harp's adventures. It's very much in the spirit of the season.

Take care of yourselves and others, and keep a-boingoing!

Around the world

2007-06-28T22:17:00.002-07:00

Hello, friends.

First of all, thanks to all for getting on the map.

Next, focus on Norway. Here’s a new CD release showcasing J-Harp material from the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation archives.

The Norwegian Jew's Harp Forum has released a double CD compilation called "Fille-Vern - Old and new masters in Norwegian Jew's Harp tradition". The first CD contains archive recordings from 1937 to the '70s. The second CD gives samples of performances at the NMF festivals and the "Landskappleiken", the main national competition for traditional music, song and dance. Checkit!
Also from Norway, there’s a new release from Daniel Sandén-Warg & Sigurd Brokke called Rammeslag. Sigurd plays the j-harp and here’s a sample of his playing.

You can buy the CD or preview and purchase single mp3s here . It's not all j-harp music but it's good.

Again from Norway (I believe) is Ädne Seyland, a player who just knocked my socks off. No pyrotechnics, no special effects, just simple, beautiful playing. Enjoy.

If anyone knows where to get a hold of a Norwegian j-harp, please let me know.

Switching from Northern Europe, we go to India where Bharadwaj Sathavalli, senior engineer at Dell India R&D Centre, has a nice page and samples. He’s come up with what looks like a polyphonic j-harp. He calls it a HexaMorse and it is quite beautiful. Do visit his website or listen to his playing:

Let's move around the globe some more and visit Down Under. Hailing from the Tatarstan-Udmurtia region of Central Russia and now residing in Australia is multi award-winning, lovely voice ( and I must say attractive) Zulya Kamalova.

She has a new album called "3 Nights" that is already in the top 10 of the European World Music Charts. Go to her website for sound samples or read this review of her latest album. Here's a sample:

From Sicily by way of London, England, half Spanish and half Italian Gigi Damico , a sound engineer who has worked with artists such as Rickie Lee Jones, Gloria Gaynor, The Temptations, Blonde Redhead, and others has been working on "The Future Sound of Sicily", a production using the J-Harp, a traditional Sicilian instrument.

And of course, Nadishana is always pushing the envelope. Here he plays a set of five Vietnamese Dan Mois. Quite impressive.

Last but not least is the upcoming North American Jew's Harp Festival in August. It's listed in the events sections on the top right nav of this site. Checkit and be there.

Next time, I'd like to write about Tuva j-harps so if you have any info or samples, please let me know. Until then, toodle-oo, boing!

What's boinging on

2007-05-21T22:54:00.000-07:00

Greetings, jaw harpists! Jaw harping is happening so get ready to be highly in demand for sessions. LOL!

First of all, thanks to all for getting on the map. Just remember to add your email address so we can get in touch with each other, network, exchange tips, and whatnot. Looking at the map, it's nice to see that we're not alone.

The jaw harp is alive and kicking as demonstrated by a batch of artists that is not afraid to tell like it is—or isn’t. Among them, and with a country twang, come two talented (and I must say intelligent and attractive) ladies who have just put out albums using the j-harp. The first is Elizabeth Cook who besides her website has a page at MySpace. Listen to Times Are Tough In Rock N' Roll, a happy boinging song. Yeah, Liz! Go to YouTube and watch a great video about Elizabeth. Her Dad is interviewed and he's a gem.

Next is Miranda Lambert with her “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” album. She too uses the jaw harp on several songs. Listen to Me and Charlie Talking . Miranda is a Grammy nominated artist and hats off to her for using the j-harp. She's a young and promising artist with plenty of talent.

Following up his CD "Shoot Out At The OK Chinese Restaurant",
Ramsay Midwood has also put out an album called "Popular Delusions & the Madness of Cows" where he uses the J harp. He has a spot on MySpace but no clip of his song "Rattlesnake". Too bad but you can find short clips on the web. You can buy the album from his website.

By way of France, Persian artist Morteza Esmaili has just released a very interesting CD called In Touch with the Five Elements where he plays the Didgeridoo and the Jaw harp. He has many samples to listen to on the New Artists website. He is also involved in a project called Harmonic Fusion whose goals is for artists worlwide to meet. Morteza will be performing this June; look under Events on this blog.

In other news, Dennis Havlena has been busy going to schools educating the young about music and demonstrating instruments including bagpipes, a hurdy-gurdy, a fiddle, a tin whistle, and the Jaw harp. Way to go, Dennis! He offers a bunch of low-cost plans for all kinds of instruments on his website for those who are interested.

Let's not forget Doctor Oakroot who's got some boinging going on some tracks of his new CD now available at CD Baby.

Here’s a video of traditional music featuring English jaw harpist Michael Wright and a singer with a pretty voice named Lucy. This was recorded at the First Jews Harp Conference and Concert in Oxford, April 2007. Michael has an interesting website with a lot of info including tips on how to play the J harp. Also noteworthy, Michael Wright was elected as Chair of the English Folk Dance and Song Society in December, 2005.

The biodynamic trance project AIRtist provides us with a video of their performance at the Kecskemét Fringe Festival in Hungary back in March of 2007. This is definitely mouth music with a beatboxer, a Didgeridoo, a jaw harp and no loops, synths or effects. The jaw harpist is Aron Szilagyi, of Navrang fame. Visit the website for many interesting mp3s. They have a CD scheduled for release this month.

Wang Li has recorded a mixed poetry/jaw harp ambient sound piece with Frédédric Nevchehirlian. It’s in French but you’ll get the intensity. Last call by the way for Wang Li’s personal collection of J harps. He has some pieces left to sell so get them now. There's a link to his website in the links section of this blog.

Congratulations to Johnny Cope and his loved one, they have a new baby. Johnny recently posted some videos showcasing several kinds of the J harps he sells. Our friend Danibal is also expecting soon so good thoughts to him and his mate as well. We look forward to and welcome this new generation of Jaw harpists. Mind you, they'll do what they want and perhaps become doctors and lawyers. Heck, it's all good,

I've been researching David Coulter of ex-Pogues fame and Daniel Higgs, ex-Lungfish, both Jaw harpists so if anybody has any information or samples, please let me know. Just use the submit event link at the top.

FInally, Mark at Mouth Music Press is about to raise his prices due to the bad currency exchange on the dollar. Most of his J harps are imported and he has no choice. Might as well do our Christmas shopping early this year.

As always, keep me posted with your whereabouts so I can let others know what's happening. Keep on boinging!

Get on the map

2007-05-01T22:33:00.001-07:00

Add yourself to this map so that other j-harpers know you exist. Don't forget to add your email address so we can all get in touch easily.

J-harp happenings

2007-04-17T20:06:00.000-07:00

Greetings one and all! If this is your first time on this blog and don’t know much about the jaw harp, click here to get a primer.

Following are some updates from the j-harp world.

Danibal in Holland has been busy performing with his two-man band, Plunk! Somebody recorded them with a phone camera and here’s a sample in which he plays with three Schlütter j-harps::

If you are interested and have time, there are many more videos here.

Vladiswar Nadishana in Russia (I think) has also been experimenting with multiple harps. Here he plays four Altaian Khomuses.

Here’s a close-up photo showing his creation. He is also having a series of performances in the next few months. Vladiswar's website is at http://nadishana.com

Also in Russia, George Andriyanov aka Father Gorry of Bugotak is finishing work on a new album. We should hear from him very soon.

In Poland, Youtuber rafciu2you posted what appears to be an instructional video. Only problem is, it's in Polish. If anybody can translate, please let us know.

I received an email from Luca in Italy, Catania to be precise. He's involved with a group that has been busy having the second annual Marranzano World Festival. Sicily in the Spring just seems like a perfect place to be.

Here is a video of his band IPERcuSONICI having way too much fun.

Luca was also kind enough to send in an archive recording from the 60's by Giuseppe Giuffrida (aka "u'Curtigghiaru") from Catania, playing a short traditional dance tune. This was recorded by Roberto Leydi and published by Albatros.

From China by way of France, Wang Li has been busy as well. He posted a couple videos and here's one.

He's also selling part of his private collection. Contact him via his website to inquire about prices. He speaks English and will answer any questions you may have.

Also from France, a CD release of new recordings by the Yakut virtusoso Spiridon S. Chichigu. More info in French here. You can order the CD straight from Emilie.

Another CD release comes from Doctor Oakroot in the U.S. He uses the j-harp on some tracks. His new CD is now available at CD Baby.

Dr. O has been making homemade instruments since he was a kid and now plays mostly homemade cigar box guitars. He plays rough-edged blues and is an active member of the CBG Yahoo group that promotes Prim Rock. They are a great bunch of guys and gals who play one, two, three and even sometimes FOUR strings.

I leave you with a classical piece from the 18th Century by Austrian composer Johann Georg Albrechtsberger. This piece is the Finale - Allegro Molto of the Concerto for Jew's Harp, Mandora and Orchestra in F Major. It features Fritz Mayr on Jew's Harp, Dieter Kirsch on Mandora and the Munich Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Hans Stadlmair.

That's all for now. Keep me posted with your endeavours so I can let others know. Happy boingoing!

Wally

Meet the Jaw harp

2007-02-16T22:42:00.000-08:00

This is a blog about the Jaw harp, an ancient instrument called by many names all over the world. Called Guimbarde in France, Scacciapensieri in Italy, Maultrommel in Germany and Austria, Trump in various forms and spellings is used today in Europe, such as Mondtrom in Dutch and Tromp in Flemish. Harp is used in Scandinavian countries, such as Norway, Munnharpa, Denmark, Mundharpe and Finland, Huuliharpu. Doromb can be found in Hungary, with Drymba in Ukraine and Drombulja in Croatia. As we go further east we have variations on Komys, Kupus, and Khomus in northern and eastern Asia, while Morchang, Morsing, Dan Moi and Gengong can be found in India, Vietnam and Indonesia. The Jaw harp is an international instrument that is likely to have originated in Asia and travelled to Europe, arriving sometime around the 13th century. Here's an excerpt from an article from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

The Jew's harp, jaw harp, or mouth harp is thought to be one of the oldest musical instruments in the world; a musician apparently playing it can be seen in a Chinese drawing from the 3rd century BCE . It is also sometimes called a Jew's trump or juice harp, among other names, and has no particular connection with Judaism.

The instrument is a lamellaphone, which is in the category of plucked idiophones and consists of two types: idioglot, where the vibrating reed or tongue of the instrument is cut from a single piece of wood, bamboo, bone or thin flat metal, such as brass, and hetroglot, where there is a cast or bent metal frame to which is fixed a separate, flexible metal reed.

Since trances are facilitated by droning sounds, the Jew's harp has been associated with magic and has been a common instrument in shamanic rituals.

A few adepts still play the instrument and it is used in various genres. Here's an example of Primitive Techno:

Here's some hard rocking Blues-Rock:

Some down home Country-Folk:

And some more traditional style of playing:

Here's a gem of classic folk music from Mike Seeger.
Listen to this wonderful song called Did You Ever See the Devil, Uncle Joe?

And of course, Jack Elliot of Birtley, UK.

Listen to a short clip from Genticorum, a trio from Québéc that incorporates the dynamism of today's North American and European folk cultures in their music.

This is an interesting beatboxing piece from Danibal who lives in the Netherlands. In France, Jeanjean is doing something in the same genre.

Check out an interesting use of the Jaw harp on a song called Morning Wonder by The Earlies, a UK band.

In a different vein, Jacob Max Nasim's Psychedelic Jew's Harp project is a trippy venture into totally live, electro-acoustic, psychedelic grooves.

Here's a funny, Borat-sounding clip by George Andriyanov of Bugotak which explains how to play a Jaw harp. I assume the birdie at the beginning is a Siberian form of greeting:

He also does some interesting throat singing along with his harp playing. Here's his take on Come together by the Beatles.

Here, Norwegian musical director and composer Terje Isungset demonstrates some of the melodies and rhythms he plays with his Jaw harp.

Daddy Dirk demonstrates how to play the Ozark Jaw harp:

This is Hank Plow, a poet and musician cowboy from Gila Bend, AZ giving an introduction to the Jaw harp:

The Asian harps sound slightly different than the ones more familiar to us. Here's a clip demonstrating playing a bamboo harp:

Here's a performance on a Chinese Hoho by Vladiswar Nadishana:

Another performance on a Taiwanese Lubu, a multi-reed harp:

Here's an interesting video showing the fabrication of a harp by a Hmong Monk from beginning to end:

This is probably good enough to start. I invite all of you interested in this neat instrument to join and participate to the new group I started.

Happy boinging!