About 500 harmonica gamers have descended onto the San Antonio River Stroll for a conference with a single goal: protect and promote the fading use of harmonica in common music.
MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:
Harmonica fanatics gathered in San Antonio this week for a conference, filling the River Stroll with a bluesy sound. Texas Public Radio’s Jack Morgan reviews they’re attempting to breathe new life into the instrument within the hopes that the harmonica can reclaim its spot in American music.
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JACK MORGAN, BYLINE: It is about 95 sunny levels on the patio of a close to downtown bar as Claude “Butch” Morgan and Dave Moore lay down a groove. That is an ice breaking gathering for just a few dozen harmonica followers, many from across the nation. The group placing this occasion on is known as HOOT – Harmonica Group of Texas. Justin Vasquez is producing the occasion.
JUSTIN VASQUEZ: What I discover actually attention-grabbing concerning the harmonica is the truth that you’ll be able to take this with you and – (taking part in harmonica) – and simply shortly put out an expression proper out of your pocket.
MORGAN: Vasquez could not be an even bigger fan of one of many world’s smaller devices. For tonight, a band has been put collectively, and one after the other, harmonica gamers rotated all evening, every taking part in with the band for the primary time. Vasquez notes that the harmonica could be very a lot an American story.
VASQUEZ: Yeah. I feel over time, the harmonica has had a really wealthy historical past, particularly with the type historical past with blues artists. I feel it has fallen out a bit extra as music has grow to be a bit extra, you already know, most likely a variety of the stuff is completed loads on pc.
MORGAN: However not at this occasion.
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UNIDENTIFIED MUSICAL ARTIST: (Singing) Folks, considered one of y’all received to maneuver.
MORGAN: Vasquez appears to view this effort, just like the Blues Brothers, as being on a mission from God to assist harmonica get again its mojo and discover its means again into musical tradition. Jarred Goldweber got here right here from Cleveland, and his harmonica backstory was hilarious.
JARRED GOLDWEBER: My mother pressured me to go to an arts camp once I was 12 years previous. I didn’t need to go, kicking and screaming. And she or he goes, I do not care, kicked me out of the automotive, and so they handed a child every a harmonica. They usually go, by the top of the 5 weeks, you may learn to play. And I am like, nice.
MORGAN: And in simply that trend, he turned a harmonica participant. And within the harmonica world, he has an enchanting subtalent.
GOLDWEBER: I do rock and metallic solos on harmonica which are normally on guitar, and I convert these over and submit them on Instagram and TikTok. So I’ve executed all the things from Primus to Metallica to Black Sabbath to Fleetwood Mac.
MORGAN: However tonight, he and the band create some killer grooves.
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GOLDWEBER: I feel lots of people underestimate what it is actually able to. There’s some actually unbelievable gamers which are doing very trendy issues that you do not actually see out on this planet all that always.
MORGAN: Goldpepper (ph) is a real believer within the instrument’s potential. Hedging his guess, although, he went to school.
GOLDWEBER: I am {an electrical} engineer. I went to high school for that. ‘Trigger use of harmonica, I realized about pedals and amplifiers and made me actually curious about electronics, and that is what I do full-time.
MORGAN: Seems the information about harmonicas is not all unhealthy. In keeping with the harmonica market report, gross sales are anticipated to be up by not less than 4% subsequent 12 months – a reality which may maintain harmonica gamers from feeling the blues. For NPR, I am Jack Morgan in San Antonio.
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