Published in the April 15-28, 2015 issue of Morgan Hill Life
Mark Fenichel
A new movie is coming to the Granada Theater for a one-time showing from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday May 2. What began as a collaboration between three generations of the top local blues harmonica players mushroomed into a recording session that became a CD that turned into a movie about the making of the CD.
Gary Smith, a local harmonica player known as “The Godfather” of blues harmonica, would often summon his harmonica buddies to local shows and challenge them to what he called a “swordfight.” This is when two or more harmonica players battle their licks and tone against each other creating unique musical lines and distinct harmonies such as you might hear in a horn section. Reminiscent of harmonica bands in the 1930s and 1940s, such as Borrah Minevitch and The Harmonica Rascals or The Harmonicats, one performer may take the high part while another may take the low end and play in harmony. In some instances they would try to out do each other. This makes for a great musical experience for the players, but also entertaining and exciting for the audience.
Gary would often invite his former student Dave Barrett to sit in at a local show and the two would attempt to out play one another in what would become a true battle of the blues harmonicas. Sometimes he would bring up Aki Kumar, a young extremely talented, quick-learning harmonica player, who studied with Barrett at his well known School of the Blues in South San Jose. Sometimes at one of Gary or Aki’s shows you might get lucky to catch all three “swordfighting” one another while the band supports and guides them through the song.
In 2009 Dave stopped performing to spend his time developing his now world-famous educational website www.bluesharmonica.com. But every once in a while Dave would show up at a performance and get on stage for a “swordfight.” Five years ago the three presented a live show at The San Jose Jazz Festival and concluded that at one point they should make a CD together. Dave wrote out the parts to a number of original and cover tunes designed for two or three harmonica configurations and last November the three got together for two days with guitarist and musical producer Chris “Kid” Anderson at his popular Greaseland Studio in San Jose to record the CD and film the entire project.
Both film and CD titled “It Takes Three” (three generations of South Bay Harmonica) are now complete and ready for the premier showing at the Granada Theater in downtown Morgan Hill. Tickets are available at the door only (no advanced tickets sales) and all three artists will be there to talk about the creative process, play a little, answer questions and discuss in detail the trials and tribultions of this amazing project. You will get to hear the entire CD in the movie.
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On another note … live music continues to thrive on a consistent basis at places like 88 Keys Cafe, GVA Cafe, and every Friday at The Hill and The Trail Dust BBQ. The patio at Mama Mia’s will kick their Thursday night Music on the Patio series into full swing in May (when the evenings warm up).
Got a music tip? Email [email protected].
