108 episodes

The Happy Hour Harmonica podcast brings profiles of some of the top harmonica players and technicians today.
The podcast is sponsored by Seydel harmonicas. Check out their great range of products at www.seydel1847.com.

If you would like to make a voluntary contribution to help keep the podcast running then please use this link: https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour.

Visit the main podcast webpage at: https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com/

Contact: happyhourharmonicapodcast@gmail.com

Happy Hour Harmonica Podcast Neil Warren

    • Music
    • 4.6 • 23 Ratings

The Happy Hour Harmonica podcast brings profiles of some of the top harmonica players and technicians today.
The podcast is sponsored by Seydel harmonicas. Check out their great range of products at www.seydel1847.com.

If you would like to make a voluntary contribution to help keep the podcast running then please use this link: https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour.

Visit the main podcast webpage at: https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com/

Contact: happyhourharmonicapodcast@gmail.com

    Roly Platt interview

    Roly Platt interview

    Roly Platt joins me on episode 108.
    Roly is a Canadian player who has recorded countless sessions over his 45 year career. He started out playing in a country band which set the scene for him playing a diverse range of genres throughout that time. Roly has recorded 1700 individual session cuts, with the numerous bands he has played in, and also various film, tv and commercial jingles.
    Roly ecorded his own album in 2017, Inside Out, where he showcased his versatility by including a range of different types of song.
    Roly produced and sells the great Harp Wah harmonica mute and later this year he will be releasing a book about his life with the harmonica.

    Links:
    Roly’s main website:
    https://www.harmonicamute.com

    Other website:
    https://rolyplatt.com/

    The Book - pre-order:
    https://www.harmonicamute.com/product/i-play-harmonica-book-preorder/

    Roly’s harmonica workshops:
    https://www.harmonicamute.com/2-hour-harmonica-workshops-prerecorded/

    Roly’s gear reviews:
    https://www.harmonicamute.com/gear-reviews/

    Ross Garden interview with Jimmie Fadden:
    http://www.rossgarren.com/jimmie-fadden.html

    Videos:
    With Matt Minglewood:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbXuNtkxTSY

    Inside Out album interview:
    https://rolyplatt.com/canadian-harmonica-player-roly-platt-talks-debut-cd-inside.html

    It Ain’t Right:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx0NOq5ma5Q

    Toronto Blue Jays theme song:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTGDF0dc5T0

    New Orleans Funk:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPljRQKt59o

    Podcast website:
    https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com
    Donations:
    If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
    https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB
    Spotify Playlist:
    Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
    https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ

    Podcast sponsors:
    This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com  or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS
    AND
    The Harmonica Company. Use promo code: 'happyhour7'.
    Email Jonathan at: sales@theharmonicacompany.com
    Support the show

    • 59 min
    Yotam Ben-Or interview

    Yotam Ben-Or interview

    Yotam Ben-Or joins me on episode 107.
    Yotam is a chromatic player who attended the Tel-Aviv Music Conservatory, making a name for himself on the Israeli music scene before winning a scholarship to study at The New School for Jazz in New York, age 21.
    Although predominately a jazz player, Yotam is keen to emphasise the diverse range of genres this encapsulates, including world music and South American influences on his music. Yotam has  previously released two albums under his own name, with a third coming out in 2025. Many of the songs on these albums are composed by Yotam as he helps to push the chromatic in new and exciting directions.

    Links:
    Yotam's website:
    https://www.yotambo.com/


    Videos:
    Yotam Ben-Or Quartet live at Festival da Jazz St. Moritz:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GI9HM6NqCY

    Satla song:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lv6zOhUKa6o

    MiLiM song:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tGBXF0nHw4

    Live at Carnegie Hall:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wmKRaXdW9A

    Live in Switzerland:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GI9HM6NqCY


    Podcast website:
    https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com
    Donations:
    If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
    https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB
    Spotify Playlist:
    Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
    https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ

    Podcast sponsors:
    This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com  or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS
    AND
    The Harmonica Company. Use promo code: 'happyhour7'.
    Email Jonathan at: sales@theharmonicacompany.com


    Support the show

    • 59 min
    Eddie Martin interview

    Eddie Martin interview

    Eddie Martin joins me on episode 106.
    Eddie has been described as the ambassador of British Blues, having released seventeen albums over his near fifty year career, with many of the songs self-penned by Eddie. He started out as a one-man band, but also performs as part of his own bands too. In either format Eddie makes extensive use of rack harmonica, and is one of the leading players of using a rack, while also playing some hand-held harmonica as well. Eddie gives us some great tips on playing on the rack. 
    Eddie also had a two year spell in the US where he regularly played on Beale St, Memphis and Clarksdale, Mississippi, as well as time playing in Italy. 
    And he regularly teaches at workshops in the UK and Europe.

    Links:
    Eddie’s website:
    http://eddiemartin.com

    Big Red Radio:
    https://soundcloud.com/eddie-martin/sets/eddie-martins-big-red-radio

    Harmonica Master’s Workshop:
    https://www.harmonica-masters.de/en/workshops-2024/master-workshops-diatonic/eddie-martin.html

    EuroBlues week:
    https://www.euroblues.co.uk/blues-week-2024/

    Son of Dave interview:
    https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com/son-of-dave-interview/

    Videos:
    One Man Band video from Thirst album:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK6Qr9nSugw&t=18s

    Birdcage Sessions video:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MU87CViwfJA

    Harpin’ By The Sea 2024: Breakeven Blues:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S83O-scnX_I

    Harpin’ By The Sea 2024: Early In The Morning:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fuwgMcaJ4Q

    NHL festival 2006: Queen of Spades:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zW-Y9JplJ4w

    Podcast website:
    https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com
    Donations:
    If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
    https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB
    Spotify Playlist:
    Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
    https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ

    Podcast sponsors:
    This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com  or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS
    AND
    The Harmonica Company. Use promo code: 'happyhour7'.
    Email Jonathan at: sales@theharmonicacompany.com
    Support the show

    • 59 min
    William Clarke retrospective, part 2, with Paul Barry

    William Clarke retrospective, part 2, with Paul Barry

    Paul Barry joins me again on episode 105, for another look at the life and career of the great William Clarke.
    Paul has now released his biography: Blowin’ Like Hell: The William Clarke Story, writing it from insights he gained from Bill’s wife Jeanette, and Bill's children, and the musicians who played with him, as well as many others.
    Bill dedicated his life from the age of sixteen to become the bluesman he dreamed he could be, and he worked extremely hard at it. He honed his craft from woodshedding at home, attending the blues clubs of LA, becoming the protege of George Smith, and pushing himself hard to create his unique voice both vocally and especially on the diatonic and chromatic harmonica. All this despite his personal demons, to become one of the leading players of his generation.

    Links:
    Paul’s website:
    https://www.paulbarryblues.com/
    Where to buy the biography:
    https://www.paulbarryblues.com/william-clarke.html
    Blues Blast magazine review of the William Clarke book:
    https://www.bluesblastmagazine.com/issue-18-7-february-15-2024/?fbclid=IwAR3lctX2K7JrotYoAczEp_JE_rIktqg6QejnVrSMR52OYIvKiEM-GeyJS9Q

    William Clarke Remembered Facebook Group:
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/171827912850208/

    The first William Clarke retrospective with Paul:
    https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com/william-clarke-retrospective-with-paul-barry/


    Videos:
    Bill playing Lollipop Mama at the San Fran Blues Festival in 1991:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrXrsmUWAGM

    Interview with Bill, and concert footage from Byron Bay festival in Australia:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfgWsyKvC3o

    Podcast website:
    https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com
    Donations:
    If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
    https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB
    Spotify Playlist:
    Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
    https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ

    Podcast sponsors:
    This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com  or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS
    AND
    The Harmonica Company. Use promo code: 'happyhour7'.
    Email Jonathan at: sales@theharmonicacompany.com


    Support the show

    • 59 min
    Mike Turk interview

    Mike Turk interview

    Mike Turk joins me on episode 104.
    Mike is a Boston-based player who started out playing blues harmonica, inspired by the great Paul Butterfield, before becoming interested in playing jazz on the chromatic. He recorded some session work in New York and recorded through the 1970s with various artists, with many of those tracks available on anthology albums Mike has put out. He released his first solo album, Harmonica Salad, in 1991. Mike went on to record several more albums, with a letter from Toots Thielemans included in the liner notes for Turk’s Works. He also toured Europe and recorded some albums with the Italian band he was working with while in Europe. 


    Links:
    Mike’s website:
    https://www.tinsandwichmusic.com/

    Toots Thielmans testimonial on Mike’s website:
    https://www.tinsandwichmusic.com/?page_id=265
    Polyphonia harmonica:
    https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/nmah_1306456
    Great interview with Mike:
    https://blues.gr/profiles/blogs/harmonica-virtuoso-mike-turk-talks-about-jazz-blues-lowel-fulsom


    Videos:

    Don Brooks session recordings:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDGSb5NxtJY&list=PLGbKWi5veb_nwSHBWYjEgDPtHfYbFFufY&index=4
    Honeydripper film opening credits:
    https://youtu.be/BO5eP6XsF9M
    Douglas Tate playing at the NHL Festival in 1988 (not on a Renaissance):
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th1PbXWfoY8
    Mike trio gig from March 2022:
    https://www.facebook.com/themadmonkfish/videos/1593252841059782


    Podcast website:
    https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com
    Donations:
    If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
    https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB
    or sign-up to a monthly subscription to the podcast:
    https://www.buzzsprout.com/995536/support

    Spotify Playlist:
    Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
    https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ

    Podcast sponsors:
    This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com  or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS
    AND
    The Harmonica Company. Use promo code: 'happyhour7'.
    Email Jonathan at: sales@theharmonicacompany.com


    Support the show

    • 59 min
    Konstantin Reinfeld interview

    Konstantin Reinfeld interview

    Konstantin Reinfeld joins me on episode 103.
    Konstantin is a German who comes from the overblow school of harmonica, studying music at a conservatory and taking lessons from Howard Levy as part of his early development. He released a jazz album at age 18, with two more albums to follow before releasing a classical album played on the diatonic harmonica, for which he won a German Grammy award for classical music.
    On top of this Konstantin is a music producer, including producing his own recordings bringing the harmonica into a contemporary pop setting. He has a very active online presence and hosts harmonica interviews for the Hohner Live X series of YouTube videos.

    Links:
    Konstantin’s website:
    https://www.konstantinreinfeld.com

    Patreon page:
    https://www.patreon.com/konstantinreinfeld

    Compositions for harmonica and piano:
    https://www.doerken-stiftung.de/foerderung/kompositionen-fuer-mundharmonika-als-gratisdownload/downloads-kompositionen-fuer-mundharmonika-und-klavier

    Videos:
    YouTube channel:
    https://www.youtube.com/@KonstantinReinfeld

    Body Heat with Benjamin Nuss:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KEJzFcZgqg&list=TLGGMrKWZLRF3CoyMjAxMjAyNA&t=2s
    Cinema Paradiso - Love Theme:
    https://youtu.be/ULj-GjL4nFA?si=D6G11zXwOCd32kvv

    Interview on Hohner channel with the 14 year old Konstantin:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIPCFRTIJDU

    Hohner Live X interview with Howard Levy:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_DDBgcEViw

    Country Harmonica Challenge:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glvupq6gpf8

    Don Toliver harmonica cover:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2BVsMa5QiM

    Podcast website:
    https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com
    Donations:
    If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
    https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB
    or sign-up to a monthly subscription to the podcast:
    https://www.buzzsprout.com/995536/support

    Spotify Playlist:
    Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
    https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ

    Podcast sponsors:
    This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com  or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS
    AND
    The Harmonica Company. Use promo code: 'happyhour7'.
    Email Jonathan at: sales@theharmonicacompany.com

    Support the show

    • 1 hr

Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5
23 Ratings

23 Ratings

echo###### ,

Sound like you’re in a cave

Great show but..... You need to improve your and your guest mic location. Too much echo effect.

Ethics Maven ,

Essential listening

I love this podcast. If you love the harmonica, you will too.

Tin Sandwich Man ,

A Must for Harp Players

These podcasts are some of the best (if not THE BEST) being offered today. I think these interviews intimately will be important for a historical perspective. They have helped me find motivation to keep practicing. Thanks for all you hard work.

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