sound samples from my brother's new band- they need a harmonica

[Larry C]

Here's a link to a new band that one of my brothers is in.   Check out the sound files.

myspace.com/thedolceveetaweddingvarietyband

They're pretty good-- but I think they need to add some harmonicas.  It would go nice with their sound.  My bro plays accordian in the band.  I am working on convincing him to pick up chromo-- he has always been able to learn new instruments quickly, including the accordian.  I hate when people can do that, since I cannot.   

[SlideMeister]

Yeah I tend to find myself saying "Needs a Chromatic" no matter what I'm listening to. Must be a personal thing    However, being totally realistic, this may not be one of those cases. You wouldn't want to reduce that nice accordion to a "sideman" in order to accomodate a Chromatic. The accordion (outside of a polka band) is another "endangered species" as it is, and adding another similar sounding reed instrument to the mix wouldn't be fair to either. Would I play a number or two with the group? Absolutely! I could be all wet and the thing would "click" and we'd start making musical history, but I wouldn't feel dissappointed if that weren't the case.

I had a friend in high school that could play anything like shaking a stick; I hated him too   Then he redeemed himself by telling me he failed miserably when he tried to play a Chromatic. As a matter of fact, he gave me the 270 he'd been trying to learn for a few months. 

age

 

[Larry C]

Age-

now that you said it, i think you're right that keeping a harmonica away from the accordian will let the accordian shine more.  My brother has discussed with me an interest in harmonica-- I suppose if he picks it up he will not use the accordian on the same songs he is playing harmonica (now that would be impressive!). 

If you're up for playing a number or two with that band, let me know if you are going near Chicago anytime soon and I'll gladly make the intro.  I know my bro would be welcoming-- especially with his current curiosity about harmonica.  I think he plays solo gigs and with other bands, too, and he plays a wide variety of styles.  He gives accordian lessons at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music.

                       

[SlideMeister]

Thanx for the offer. While it would be a hoot, but I don't plan on being in in the windy city any time soon. Perhaps there are spme other pro Chromatic players on the list who would be able to accomodate.

age

[Gnarly He Man]

From the movie "Ishtar", words and music by Paul Williams and Elaine May:

Tellin the truth can be a dangerous business
Honest and popular don't go hand in hand
If you admit that you can play the accordion
No one will hire you in a Rock 'n' Roll band

But we can sing (our hearts out) all night
And we're lucky when no neighbors complain
Nobody knows where the beginning part starts out
But we are human we can live with the pain
Because life is the way we audition for God
Let us pray that we all get the job
 

Gnarly

[S.o.S.]

From the movie "Ishtar", words and music by Paul Williams and Elaine May:

Tellin the truth can be a dangerous business......

Gnarly

That's hilarious, I thought my dad & I were the only ones who've ever seen that movie.

[Sander]

Age-

now that you said it, i think you're right that keeping a harmonica away from the accordian will let the accordian shine more.

When done carefully, the result is not unpleasant to my ears; Quadro Nuevo and William Gallison show on some tracks of Luna Rossa e.g. Allez, Glissez! (the last track) (http://www.quadronuevo.de/en/quadro-nuevo-cds.php; search for Luna Rosa, click on Sound Samples) and make both accordion and harmonica shine.

[Sander]

From the movie "Ishtar", words and music by Paul Williams and Elaine May:

If you admit that you can play the accordion
No one will hire you in a Rock 'n' Roll band

Finntroll might 

[SlideMeister]

Ah yes, "Dangerous Business"  A great tune indeed!  I must be weird, cuz I really liked that movie!
age

[Jp]

Two comments:

1.) "they need to add some harmonicas"? "SOME harmonicas"?? The last time someone said that we ended up with Hazmat Modine (which I think is great, so...)

2.) accordions can coexist with harmonicas, witness the theme song to "Northern Exposure." The trick (or a trick), imo, is to let the accordion do its chordal thing and let the harmonica ring out as single-note instrument. Oh yeah, and don't step on each other's lines.

I haven't heard the clip yet, but if your brother wants to meet harmonica people in Chicago, drop me a line (jplpagan AT gmail DOT com). I don't know everyone, but I know more harmonica players than I can shake a stick at. And of course, they know people, and so on.

[pmelissakis]

The Adler trio plays "Gypsy" with a band
that features an accordion.

Pete

[llumagsara]

Two comments:



2.) accordions can coexist with harmonicas,

hello Jp and All

here are some hca. accordion examples:

http://www.allbrazilianmusic.com/en/Artists/Artists.asp?Status=DISCO&Nu_Artista=551&Nu_Disco=6989

http://www.brunodefilippi.it/discog14.htm

http://www.operatres.com/cgi-bin/ofertasuk.cgi

http://sombarato.blogspot.com/2007/05/sivuca-e-rildo-hora-sanfona-e-realejo.html

http://www.allbrazilianmusic.com/en/artists/Artists.asp?Status=ARTISTA&Nu_Artista=356
( look down in the page Tributes
 
  REALEJO FORROZEIRO - RILDO HORA INTERPRETA LUIZ GONZAGA 


if i remember someone more i'll post it

good health

Agustín

[Jp]

Heard the clips (the Dolce Veeta clips). Love that stuff, man. It sounds great. There's been a slowly bubbling resurgence of lounge-type music lately (Pink Martini is a good example, Richard Cheese too, but in a parody sense). Not sure who they're going to find to play harmonica on that, unfortunately. I would love to, but I couldn't hang with these guys. They obviously know what they're doing.

As to Age's earlier comment that everything he hears sounds like it needs harmonica -- do you mean that Age? I ask because honestly, especially lately, I've been listening to alot of music that just sounds like a harmonica wouldn't ever fit into it. I'm not sure why that is, why some things -- drums, piano, guitar, bass -- seem like they'll fit into just about any kind of music (maybe not all at once) but instruments don't.

[Larry C]

I appreciate everyone's comments on my thread regarding my bro's accordian and band... thanks to SlideMeister members i once again received an education in music and links to artists previously unknown to me.

JP-it sounds like you might enjoy jamming with Dolceveeta even though you remarked that you might not be able to hang with them.  Whether you can or can't hang wouldn't matter to my brother- he'd appreciate jamming with anyone who shares his taste in music and he's a nice guy.  I don't know the other band members.  But even if they were not up for it, my bro would probably just play his accordian with you, especially if you turned him on to chromatic harmonica.  I think you're in Chicago-- right?  Contact Rob directly through the Dolceveeta website or, if you prefer, I can send you and him a private email making the intro.   
     

[llumagsara]

hello All

another example of chrom. with accordion
http://www.maxdealoe.it/page/disco/disco_racconti.htm

good health

Agustín