HOHNER’S MAGAZINE FOR THE HARMONICA ENTHUSIAST • SUMMER 2018 EVENT RECAP World Harmonica Festival 2017 ARTIST SPOTLIGHT Howard Levy TECH NOTES My Hohner Forum IN THE STUDIO Dennis Gruenling Our Album Picks CONTENTS Joe Filisko & Eric Noden, Destination Unknown Tech Notes 2 My Hohner Forum estination Unknown, the 5th album by DJoe Filisko & Eric Noden is now available. Super 64 Upgrades 2 Using only one stereo ribbon microphone the Improvements to the Super 64 and 64X project was recorded live, in the moment with In the Studio no overdubs during the spring of 2018. With 2 with Dennis Gruenling this release the roots duo continues to pay tribute to the often under appreciated legends Event Recap 3 of early blues and roots music including Sonny World Harmonica Festival 2017 Terry, Blind Boy Fuller, Gwen Foster and Mississippi John Hurt. Artist Spotlight 4 Howard Levy: Jazz Harmonica Virtuoso Steve Baker, Perfect Getaway All About HAC 12 teve’s first solo album Perfect Getaway Hohner Affiliated Customizer S(Timezone Records, TZ1473) was released on HOHNER Gives Back th 16 February 9 2018. It features 14 original songs Stories From Around The World and shows the harmonica ace in a new light as singer, bandleader and arranger. Following a 40 year career as a highly regarded sideman, Steve Baker’s first solo album represents a major departure from his previous releases. On “Perfect Getaway” he successfully reinvents himself as a vocalist and songwriter with a captivating collection of self-penned songs, which also happen to feature some great harmonica. Supported by an excellent band with gospel and rock’n’roll to crunching rock. Kai Strauss (guitar), Gaz (bass, guitar & backing vocals), Alex Lex (drums & percussion) and Chris What they all have in common is Baker’s Rannenberg (piano), as well as Moritz Fuhrhop old school pop sensibility, which gives his (organ), Opportunity (choir) and Gina Baker compositions high recognition value. With great (backing vocals), Steve delivers an exciting grooves, catchy refrains and memorable hooks, and stylistically varied set of 14 original tunes they’re as melodic as his harp playing while also Visit ranging from singer/songwriter, blues, country, somehow sounding unmistakably English. Rick Estrin & The Nightcats, Groovin' in Graceland ildly fun, musically fearless and bursting Wwith bravado, 2018’s Blues Music Award- winning Band Of The Year Rick Estrin & The Nightcats have created one of the blues’ most instantly recognizable sounds and no- holds-barred styles. Rick Estrin & The Nightcats serve up sharp and incisive original blues and gritty roadhouse rock ‘n’ roll. With his wily and unforgettable original songs and hipster, street- Stay Connected! smart vocals, no one on the blues scene writes or sings like Rick Estrin. Their fourth Alligator album, facebook.com/HohnerMusic Groovin’ In Greaseland, features 13 original songs. From the true life wisdom of The Blues Ain’t Going Nowhere (the 2018 BMA-winning Song Of instagram.com/HohnerMusic The Year) to the rambunctious Hot In Here to the humorous, semi-autobiographical Dissed Again secrets and share their stories. One listen makes youtube.com/HohnerMusic to the hard luck Living Hand To Mouth, the album it clear that this is one of the tightest and most delivers one winning performance after another. original groups in any genre, constantly inspiring The band’s dazzling performances bring the each other to new heights twitter.com/PlayHohner songs to life as richly detailed characters spill their Easy Reeding | Summer 2018 1 In The Studio with Dennis Gruenling This year we have a new type of tech notes. the most influential artists on our roster as well In 2017 Hohner launched www.hohner.de, the as teachers and Hohner Affiliated Customizers. new global website. It’s sleek design is more intuitive than previous versions and has many New for 2018 is the My Hohner Forum. This new tools such as the product finder, which will growing community is the place to share and help guide you into the perfect instrument for learn about all things Hohner. Here you can your style. find general harmonica info, tabs and sheet music, showcase your collections new or old, The new artist page has more content and guidelines for techniques and maintenance & additional media. There you can find some of care info. Sign up today at my.hohner.de. Q&A with Margie Goldsmith. Excerpted and reprinted with permission from Harmonica Happenings, SPAH’s exclusive publication for members only. ennis Gruenling, known for his huge Dsound and swinging, highly original harmonica style, is one of the world’s innovative harmonica blowers. He has single-handedly pioneered an entirely new harmonica sound and direction by combining the blues harp with swing/saxophone traditions and styles. His dynamic style draws inspiration not only from the great blues icons like Little Walter but also from great jazz Super 64 Upgrades horn players like Lester Young and Illinois Jacquet. Gruenling has received international The original HOHNER Super 64 and Super chambers are optimized to ensure the fastest accolades by countless critics and musicians 64X have embodied the high end chromatic possible reed response. The Super 64X boasts including from Charlie Musselwhite who said, harmonica since they first came to market. Their double thickness reed plates over the entire “Dennis Gruenling’s tone and phrasing is as unique sound has been heard on countless range, offering a massive boost in volume, good as it gets,” and named Gruenling one of standards, Jazz, and R&B hits. Hohner is proud and the high end finish gives it a uniquely his favorite harmonica players. to announce that these iconic models have attractive appearance. received an update. Growing up in Piscataway, New Jersey and Both models set new standards in durability obsessed with music, Gruenling already had The breathtaking new design offers a and ease of maintenance. The reed plates his own radio show by the time he was in whole range of innovative new features and are mounted with screws, without contact to high school. He also played harmonica in unparalleled playing comfort. The exclusive the covers, reducing reed wear and making local blues bands and soon became a rising VarioSpring System, permits individual adjustment basic maintenance much simpler. The covers young star. In 1998, he formed his own “all- of slide spring tension, while the revolutionary are attached separately, and the nylon case star” band, Dennis Gruenling & Jump Time construction of the new SilentSlide is provided also serves as a mobile work bench. (including the great saxophonist Joel Frahm). exceptionally airtight and almost completely Gruenling has shared the stage with such silent in operation. In addition, the comb Super 64 Available Now Super 64X Available September 2018. continued on page 6 2 World Harmonica Festival 2017 light checked in. Seat chosen. I’ve got my The WHF is the largest international Carlos Del Junco, Willi Berger & Yasuo Fpassport and harmonicas packed. Landing harmonica festival in the world and has Watani are only a few names on the in Stuttgart out on the tarmac, I paused to been inexorably linked to Hohner since it top-class list of performers to play the think of the quiet town that I was headed was first held in 1989. In addition to hosting Gala Concerts. Wandering the streets of towards. The provenance of this municipality is and sponsoring the event, the employees Trossingen visitors are treated to world class renowned by players of free reed instruments of HOHNER Musikinstrumente are part of performances in seemingly around every the world over. It serves as a Mecca, drawing the festival organization and offer their corner. Michael D’Eath, SPAH President and the believers to its hallowed soil and revered own service workshop and factory tours. 2017 WHF Judge had this to say “What an halls. The perfectly orchestrated events that Hohner Director of Sales and Marketing amazing gathering of harmonica players were about to unfold in Trossingen, Germany Christian Dehn commented “It is exciting to from around the world! In my view, The are known as the Olympics of the Harmonica. observe the exuberance of harmonica fans, World Harmonica Festival is a ‘must attend’ Thousands of players and fans from almost both young and old. Hohner is extremely for anyone with an interest in the Harmonica, every continent were descending on this town proud to be the top sponsor of this event.” in any of its variations. From competitions to witness something magical and the 2017 He continued “Nowhere else in the world to evening performances to late night jams, Fédération Internationale de l’Harmonica can you witness this level of harmonica the WHF kept me riveted – and Trossingen World Harmonica Festival (WHF) did not mastery. We welcome the world to our is a most interesting city to visit at any time” disappoint. home and want to personally thank the city of Trossingen and the German Harmonica In addition to the competitions, the 4000 Every four years this unique festival includes Association for their kind support.” expected visitors are offered a comprehensive a dazzling array of performances, playing supporting program with workshops, concerts technique and service workshops, late night The WHF showcased an international field of and late night sessions. “The 2017 WHF had open mic sessions, Hohner factory tours world-famous top players and young talents record participation in the competitions and during which visitors get an insight into again in 2017. Leading harmonica players festival visitors than previous WHF’s.” stated the production of the original harmonica Antonio Serrano, the Veloz Harmonica Quartet Gerhard Meuller President of The Fédération and competitions which identify the next and the Hong Kong Harmonica Orchestra, generation and recognize the masters of today.