Various Artists - Blues Masters, Vol. 16: More Harmonica Classics

The harmonica's not exactly an imposing instrument; who would guess that a pocket- sized hunk of metal could be capable of so much expression? Volume 16 of Rhino's Blues Masters series shows just how much; the harp can trade leads with the vocals (Jimmy Cotton Blues Quartet, "Cotton Crop Blues," Junior Wells Chicago Blues Band, "Help Me"), lay down a raw edge (Papa Lightfoot, "Jump the Boogie"), or play smooth as you please (William Clarke, "Pawnshop Bound"). As even a cursory examination of the above performers will indicate, the harmonica is well represented in all styles of blues; Jimmy Reed, Sonny Boy Williamson, J. Geils, and Howlin' Wolf appear here as well. As capable as a horn or guitar of carrying the lead, and infinitely more portable, the harmonica may well be one of the most expressive and versatile instruments out there, and More Harmonica Classics offers several excellent examples. --Genevieve Williams Amazon.com

Blues Harp

An excellent compilation of blues harp playing. Buy this if you are looking to hear the best and learn some of the best techniques ever! July 18, 2008

Blue's Masters Harmonica Classics

I already had two other CD's in this collection which are also harmonica
blues. This was good, but sounded too much like the others. I also purchased the Blue's Master's slide guitar classics which is great. June 2, 2008

Another fine sampler

You've heard that saying about a hundred monkeys clattering away at a hundred typewiters for a hundred years...I don't know excactly how it goes in English. Anyway, it seems that an ape called Jo Jo ended up writing a review rather than the collected works of William Shakespeare.
I mean, honestly...what do you think an album titled "Blues Masters vol. 16 - More Harmonica Classics" is?!

Well, never mind.
This is a very nice companion volume to Blues Masters vol. 4 ("Harmonica Classics"). Most longtime blues fans will own much or even all of this material already, of course, but beginners or "mid-level" blues fans should delight in the wealth of excellent material on this disc - aggressive up-tempo freight train harmonica and slow, smouldering fills and solos.

Most of the really big guns are here, like James Cotton, Slim Harpo, Little Walter Jacobs, Sonny Terry, Howlin' Wolf, Junior Wells, white boy Paul Butterfield, John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson, and Aleck "Rice" Miller (Sonny Boy Williamson II).
And most of the more obscure stuff is very interesting as well: William Clarke's "Pawnshop Bound", Lazy Lester's rendition of "I Hear You Knockin'", a great, swaggering "The Briar Patch" by Gary Primich, Papa George Lightfoot's thumping "Jump The Boogie", a raw early electric blues with a gritty sandpaper vocal, and Doctor Isiah Ross' tough, energetic "Come Back Baby".

This is far from everything you need to know about blues harmonica, of course, and a couple of tunes were chosen for the harp playing rather than their overall musical quality, I guess.
But there is a lot of quality stuff here, making "More Blues Harmonica" a really good buy for all but the most hardcore blues fans (they'll own 9/10 of this stuff already). August 5, 2004

A Must for hamonicists and harmonophiles

This power-packed CD is a must for both players and lovers of the harmonica, particularly of the blues-harp variety.

Most all of the tunes here are listenable, but some mighty powerful stuff abounds. On Howlin' Wolf's number, he sounds as if he's playing 2 harps at once. Junior Wells, in his rendition of Sonny Boy Williamson II's "Help Me," does a moving tribute to Sonny II both vocally and harmonically (as Sonny II died shortly before this was recorded). Sonny I is well represented here with "Shake Your Boogie" (although his harmonica is drowned out by the other instruments in parts of this song).

The king of Country blues harmonica, Sonny Terry, does an amazing turn with "Hootin' Blues Pt. 2" which defies written description. Wisely, Magic Dick Seltzer's classing "Whammer Jammer" is also included, as it sounds as if this tune may have been inspired by the above-mentioned Sonny Terry tune (listen and compare).

So for anyone who likes good harmonica music, listen and enjoy. For aspiring harmonicists, you may have think you've got it down pat, but listen to this to see how far you still need to go. January 16, 2002

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