I went to school with Howard Levy. Graduated in 69 in a class of about 60 students. I was considered a harmonica player, Levy was considered a piano player. I still play. He however is probably the best in the world. Here’s to him.
At Madcat Ruth's 70th birthday party five years ago, Howard Levy and Corky Siegel were among his guests. They regularly gig together and for a while they were playing some four handed stuff on the piano, then they started playing harmonica and piano at the same time, with Corky holding his harp with his right hand and playing the piano's left hand parts and Howard holding his harp in his left hand and playing the piano's right hand parts. Earlier, Corky was at the piano while Howard was soloing on the harmonica and when he started playing two parts at the same time on one harmonica, I saw Corky's jaw drop.
@@harmonicaster8106 I was a 14 year old white boy wanna be hippie in '68, getting into the blues, & Say Siegal Schwall got played daily over & over. Especially that 11 minute + slow blues tune in C......Them were the magic days of music indeed.
Blind Owl was one of the greatest EVER his tone and phrasing were otherworldly - I’m too young to have seen him live (63 years old) but I have friends who saw him many many,times & they said his playing in clubs was haunting and unparalleled the way he would move an audience…
First time I heard John Popper playing “no woman, no cry” with Ziggy Marley, I couldn’t help but think of my friends who have passed away. It moved me to tears in front of my kids.
After looking at these lists I decided to put together a top 10 of the greatest influences on ME....not necessarily the all-time best...but nevertheless all damn good, and the ones I stole from the most (and it was hard to limit it to 10...could have easily done 20...or more); these are the ones who taught me how to play and who influenced my style the greatest. Presented on no particular order of ranking: * Paul Butterfield * Naz Nazarenko (of Elliot and the Untouchables) * Little Walter * Kim Wilson * Lee McBee * Howard Levy * Charlie Musselwhite * James Cotton * Jerry Portnoy * Norton Buffalo ...and that's the truth!!!!
Thank You for posting this! I’m new to a lot of theses artists but have loved harmonica since I was born. I’m almost an empty-nester & will finally have the time to learn how to properly play..so, I want to listen to as much of the best players as possible right how…plus, I just can’t get enough of that beautiful sound! I look forward to checking out your list!👍🌞 *I DO have a ❓for you (& anyone who reads this)>> Do you have any advice, tips, or recommendations, for someone just learning how to play like me? Any info would be greatly appreciated my friend!🌞
Good bunch of names. Norton! Oh my what a wonderful musician. Absolute genius player and completely unique. I saw him play a casino in Calgary years ago...he had an amazing band of top flight guys with him. He played chromatic in one hand and keyboard with the other all night. The tragedy was that there were only 18 people there. The year before I saw Chris Hillman (Byrds) and Bernie Leadon (Eagles) play to 12 at a local cowboy bar. WTF?
I lived in LA in the 80's and would add George "Harmonica" Smith and Jonny Dyer, Rod Piazza, William Clarke all of whom I had the pleasure of knowing also Mark Hummel and Mitch Kashmar
Most on the list are technically efficient and others very good but with high dollar effects. Stevie Wonder is a fine harmonica player and others like Charlie McCoy and Buddy Greene are great and use no effects. My favorite who played so fine with harmonicas not tweaked by technicians is Rice Miller also known as Sonny Boy Williamson ll. He lived his songs via harmonica playing and vocals. There are others that are very good too.
Just as general info--there is no such person as Chevy McCoin as per my search for them. Also another good harmonica guy is Lee Oskar. I like the Lee Oskar harmonicas because they play well and I can use parts from busted harps to put together a new one. They are easy to take apart and work on too.
@OnceTheyNamedMeiWasnt Exactly! That's why the people here are mere fools! FOOLS I TELL THEE. To attempt a search on a man with such evasive cunning will only result in the chasing of a phantom... He's the missing note in every shell voicing, and the precise cause of why tuning your three hole draw equal to the first two creates such misery to the ears of albino gerbils the world over. And word from the underground as that he's working out fairground tunes on a 375 hole diatonic with cooling fins and a built in torch.....
@OnceTheyNamedMeiWasnt You don't know who Rice Miller was? Hard to take you seriously (even if your ''point'' was to do with whomever). ''Ain't but one way out, baby...''
Paclin, when you did "Isn't she lovely" .... You were ON FIRE. GREAT JOB with that one. Also, You are spot on with your selections here. Especially regarding Carlos and Jason.
Little and Big Walter, Sonny Boy 1 and 2, George Smith. The BEST players to ever pick up a a Harp!!! Love Toot's also. Just my own favorite players. Thanks for the video, much appreciated.
@OnceTheyNamedMeiWasnt That's him I'm sure! He's one mean musical mother pucker.... I first heard about him from a homeless lesbian dyslexic midget glockenspiel player when I was busking in a subway. The sandwich shop, that is. Legends about him had already "spread" before he ordered his own tin sandwich as he was previously the only person that had the genius to be able to play a foot long meatball Italian herbs and cheese one armed trombone through the back of his neck.
For me, the best harmonica player of all time is without a doubt Deford Bailey. Amazing tone and technique, he was THE pioneer. He didn't have decades of years of records to learn from unlike modern players - he came up with his own style and laid the foundation for others to come. He composed several technically advanced pieces on his own, his Ice Water Blues is a good example. He also had crazy good tone, just listen to his rendition of John Henry.
Everybody has their favorite list of influences and these would surely be different depending on what style they played. I can't argue with any of your picks, who all have influenced me...though, hard to duplicate Carlos del Junco, and Howard Levy, no matter how hard I try ; however, do agree with those that said Butterfield should be on everyone's list
Like all lists, very subjective. So many great players out there......all these are super accomplished yet few of them would make my list because it comes to down to who moves me.
Cool . Thanks for turning people on to these great players . I would add to the list a player i had the pleasure of working with a few times in South Florida , the late Gustavo Lezcano . A founding member of the Miami Sound Machine , Gus was not only a great player but a fine human being . If anyone is unaware of Gus , check him out . He wanted to be the Latin Lee Oskar . Peace
So many greats.... how about Will Wilde? Great ideas he comes up with, that tuning! reinventing the instrument altogether.. ..and playing Freebird & Lazy note for note on a harmonica? Insane! ..maybe it's just the guitar player in me, lol.
I don’t play, & never really gave the harmonica more than a passing listen, then I started attending the now defunct Bean blossom Blues fest. Over the years I have gotten to see some of the modern greats & gain an appreciation. While I’ve seen some awesome harp players over the years, the two that had the biggest impression on me were Charlie McCoy. A little old cowboy who had played with everyone & had a story about them all. He was great & didn’t sound like anyone else I had seen. Jason Ricci!! I saw him right after the release of 🚀9. If you have never listened to that album, it is a must hear!! There are at least 3 or 4 masterpieces on that album.
Butterfield opened up the entire harmonica players list. Without his input from late 50’s to 80’s, there would be no harp blues movement. I listened to his playing a lot live since 1965 to his untimely death! No one beats his harp artistry in innovation…nobody!
@@nelsonhibbert5267 Along with Big Walter, both Sonny Boys, many others before Butterfield. But, still he really opened some doors, and helped create the "great white Harp player" migration into the Blues scene.
great selection indeed. some of my own favorites, beside those 7, are: pat ramsey (no longer with us), charlie musselwhite, james harman, sugar blue....
John popper and cowboy bebop are why I started playing harmonica. I’m not as good as popper, but he’s an inspiration for me. I wanna be able to do the break down on Carolina blues.
They didn’t mention Sonnyboy, Williamson, Ray Norcia, Charlie, musclewhite slim harpo Sonny terry, the guys they showed was hillbilly music from Kentucky and the Appalachia
John Popper is the best hands down! Blues Traveler played in a major motion picture! The movie, "Kingpin"! It was funny to see them all dressed up like an Amish rock band...LOL!
John Mayall the best British blues man of all time.Plays the the harp like no one else.92 years old I believe,81 albums.He has played with the greats!!!!
The first harmonica player I ever listened to was Johnny Puleo later I found out he had a group called the Harmonica Gang who often played on variety shows that were before my time. They were more into comedy, but no more so than Kay Kaiser and His College of Musical Knowledge.
Peter Madcat Ruth, Grammy winner, and is my vote for one of the world's best harmonica player! He learned from some of the old Chicago blues men and is top notch on the technical side as well. I saw Madcat, Howard Levy and Corky Siegal all on stage at the same time at Madcat's 70th Birthday Bash at the Ark in Ann Arbor. And Billy Strings was a special guest! What a show!
Yeah...Mudcat rarely makes these lists....he is quite remarkable. It takes a special musician to play in Dave Brubeck's band...and do it on a diatonic harp
Ex UK blues musician of the year, Paul Lamb would be there in any blues-only category, but your choices were good and I now have some new artists to wonder why I can't play as well as! 😁
Very good enjoyed your video thanks , some really interesting players here however as in all art I would suggest it is simply taste and there isn't such a thing as best.
Gotta say, I must have watched the Alex Paclin Country Harmonica video a thousand times. It's that good! I keep telling everybody before I show them your video that you are this guy that got locked up in a room for 2 years with just his harmonica....... he comes out and can friggin jam, for sure!! I am going to play like that some day!!
For an equal playing field I think of the diatonic players in a different category from the chromatic players. Not that one is better or worse but there's a difference.
There are so many greats and they're so different, I can't make an ordered list. I was wondering if my harmonica hero would show up, and he did: Stevie Wonder. If I could play half as good, I think I will have died and gone to Heaven.
When you’re at the party and you play a musical instrument that just happened to be there and you just happened to be able to play it, someone always would try to play after you. And if it’s a guitar, piano or drums -it’s all good. But harmonicas are pretty personal and when a pizza chewing friend, gets all excited and says “-dude that’s cool let me try”...
@@rogerlong6969 Reminds me of this story about a family that went on a caravan holiday. They had trouble with the guys in the caravan next to them, as they were disruptive and kept them up all night. The family made a complaint, and the guys all got kicked out. The family went on with their holiday as usual, but one day they came back to find the door had been forced open. Nothing had been stolen, but they noticed the camera had been moved from one place to another. After they went home from the holiday, they took the film in to the shop to get it developed. In amongst the pictures of the family enjoying picnics and trips to the seaside, was a picture of four men bent over with their trousers down, showing their asses. And stuck in each one of their assholes was a tooth brush that belonged to each respective family member.
I think best is too subjective. I think technical mastery of the instrument is more objective. Then is the player a master of diatonic only or chromatic or tremolo etc. I think a list of innovative players is more useful. I really like Jimmy Reed’s high end diatonic playing. I think a lot of players play too many notes, Jason Ricci comes to mind but he is not alone and that is my opinion for whatever that is worth. However, he is fantastic in that he is generous to provide many videos on how to play the harmonica. He may be the best player with humility. Anyway, listen to Emilio Perazzi, Gianmaria Ghezzi and Maki Yamaguchi if you get a chance.
A lesser known player out of chicago that deserves to be on a list is James Conway. Irish and blues player. Probably the best tongue block player you will find.
Would have been upset if John Popper hadn't been on the list. His No woman No Cry is my favourite harmonica piece ever. Gives me goose bumps every time.
I just saw Johnny Popper play tonight. He’s often not mentioned on the list of greatest harmonica players. Watching him live was like watching Picasso paint.
I love John Popper. It always saddens and bewilders me why he doesn't get more love from the harmonica community. I give him due props here: th-cam.com/video/_Cq4C786AFg/w-d-xo.html
Popper ain’t even in the top 25 harp players, they didn’t mention Ray Norcia, Charlie, Musselwhite, slim Harpo, Sonny, boy Williamson, Sunny, Terry, all they played was hillbilly music from the Kentucky mountains, no class
Little Walter gave the Chicago Blues harp style legs. Paul Butterfield gave it wings. And the soul in his phrasing can’t be matched by any on your list- yes, even Little Walter. Listen with open ears and you can’t fail to hear it. Others would imitate Butter. But like Charlie Parker, who gave wings to jazz, Butter has never been equaled.
I love Pauls stuff, love all the albums. But he's no where near comparable to Little Walter. Pauls technique was basic, almost rudimentary. He had a stock pile of his own great licks that he often repeated. But he played with absolute soulful balls. Little Walter on the other hand, had a far superior tone and technique, and had endless ideas that led to a creativity and sophisticated innovation that hasn't been seen since.
You should have been included in that list You are One the best i have heard...but obviously to be good ,you have to be humble...thanks for sharing your taste with us👍
I can play along with any harmonica player in the world, including all the people on here however, when I started to get to know them as people they’re the last people in the world, they wanna know they’re all about their egos
Can't believe you included John Popper! You also seem to confuse technical ability with being in the blues groove, think of Lester Butler, Big Walter, or Sonny Boy. I could go on but the point is a flurry of notes does not equal Good!
Agree with you on this one. Poppers tone is how amatures sound after a few months, and his attempt at creative playing just sounds like an unorganised mess. His true strengths are his song writing and singing. What a great band BT are.
Nice bro.. But you know Mr. Amang Genggong from Gresik Indonesia,,,? he can play melody, rhythm and bass at the same time. I think he's the master harmonica players in the world. You can find it on youtube of course, with the keyword Mr. Amang Genggong
John Popper can fly. That Ricci dude is insane so is his hair. Don't hate me but there's something about mic jagger (I know he's considered a hack) that I dig. And Butterfield died way too soon. There's so many that are amazing. And they stand on the shoulders of the originals. And I still can't bend the 4 hole very well.😢
I really like Stevie and John, but i am not rating them at all....all these people can play an instrument that is difficult to play. Enjoyed the video!
Jim Zeller…you must be from Montreal, I remember playing a number of shows with him in the mid 70’s, crazy, weirdest dude ever, but yes, he could really play!
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This video + the comment gallery opened me up to some superb sounds I didn't know existed! Thanks to all of you!
I went to school with Howard Levy. Graduated in 69 in a class of about 60 students. I was considered a harmonica player, Levy was considered a piano player. I still play. He however is probably the best in the world. Here’s to him.
So cool Peter! Thanks for sharing. Here's to him!
At Madcat Ruth's 70th birthday party five years ago, Howard Levy and Corky Siegel were among his guests. They regularly gig together and for a while they were playing some four handed stuff on the piano, then they started playing harmonica and piano at the same time, with Corky holding his harp with his right hand and playing the piano's left hand parts and Howard holding his harp in his left hand and playing the piano's right hand parts. Earlier, Corky was at the piano while Howard was soloing on the harmonica and when he started playing two parts at the same time on one harmonica, I saw Corky's jaw drop.
@@harmonicaster8106 I was a 14 year old white boy wanna be hippie in '68, getting into the blues, & Say Siegal Schwall got played daily over & over. Especially that 11 minute + slow blues tune in C......Them were the magic days of music indeed.
Blind Owl was one of the greatest EVER his tone and phrasing were otherworldly - I’m too young to have seen him live (63 years old) but I have friends who saw him many many,times & they said his playing in clubs was haunting and unparalleled the way he would move an audience…
First time I heard John Popper playing “no woman, no cry” with Ziggy Marley, I couldn’t help but think of my friends who have passed away. It moved me to tears in front of my kids.
After looking at these lists I decided to put together a top 10 of the greatest influences on ME....not necessarily the all-time best...but nevertheless all damn good, and the ones I stole from the most (and it was hard to limit it to 10...could have easily done 20...or more); these are the ones who taught me how to play and who influenced my style the greatest. Presented on no particular order of ranking:
* Paul Butterfield
* Naz Nazarenko (of Elliot and the Untouchables)
* Little Walter
* Kim Wilson
* Lee McBee
* Howard Levy
* Charlie Musselwhite
* James Cotton
* Jerry Portnoy
* Norton Buffalo
...and that's the truth!!!!
Thank You for posting this! I’m new to a lot of theses artists but have loved harmonica since I was born. I’m almost an empty-nester & will finally have the time to learn how to properly play..so, I want to listen to as much of the best players as possible right how…plus, I just can’t get enough of that beautiful sound! I look forward to checking out your list!👍🌞
*I DO have a ❓for you (& anyone who reads this)>> Do you have any advice, tips, or recommendations, for someone just learning how to play like me? Any info would be greatly appreciated my friend!🌞
Good bunch of names. Norton! Oh my what a wonderful musician. Absolute genius player and completely unique. I saw him play a casino in Calgary years ago...he had an amazing band of top flight guys with him. He played chromatic in one hand and keyboard with the other all night. The tragedy was that there were only 18 people there. The year before I saw Chris Hillman (Byrds) and Bernie Leadon (Eagles) play to 12 at a local cowboy bar. WTF?
I lived in LA in the 80's and would add George "Harmonica" Smith and Jonny Dyer, Rod Piazza, William Clarke all of whom I had the pleasure of knowing also Mark Hummel and Mitch Kashmar
Man, wanted to listen to great harmonica players and instead I got some guy talking over all of it.
zactly!
this is more of an introduction to the harmonica scene, rather than music to listen to, it's intended that you search the mentioned artists
@@anthonycrystal33 did yall ride the short bus
This video introduced to some cats I didn't know existed. Fantastic
They are idiots these youtube hacks
Most on the list are technically efficient and others very good but with high dollar effects. Stevie Wonder is a fine harmonica player and others like Charlie McCoy and Buddy Greene are great and use no effects. My favorite who played so fine with harmonicas not tweaked by technicians is Rice Miller also known as Sonny Boy Williamson ll. He lived his songs via harmonica playing and vocals. There are others that are very good too.
Just as general info--there is no such person as Chevy McCoin as per my search for them. Also another good harmonica guy is Lee Oskar. I like the Lee Oskar harmonicas because they play well and I can use parts from busted harps to put together a new one. They are easy to take apart and work on too.
@OnceTheyNamedMEiWasn't ok. Thanks. I’ll be on the lookout for him. Have a good one. Joe
@OnceTheyNamedMeiWasnt Somebody actually took the time to search for Chevy McCoin!!!! A HA HA HA!!!!
@OnceTheyNamedMeiWasnt Exactly! That's why the people here are mere fools! FOOLS I TELL THEE. To attempt a search on a man with such evasive cunning will only result in the chasing of a phantom... He's the missing note in every shell voicing, and the precise cause of why tuning your three hole draw equal to the first two creates such misery to the ears of albino gerbils the world over. And word from the underground as that he's working out fairground tunes on a 375 hole diatonic with cooling fins and a built in torch.....
@OnceTheyNamedMeiWasnt You don't know who Rice Miller was? Hard to take you seriously (even if your ''point'' was to do with whomever). ''Ain't but one way out, baby...''
Paclin, when you did "Isn't she lovely" .... You were ON FIRE. GREAT JOB with that one. Also, You are spot on with your selections here. Especially regarding Carlos and Jason.
Little and Big Walter, Sonny Boy 1 and 2, George Smith. The BEST players to ever pick up a a Harp!!! Love Toot's also. Just my own favorite players. Thanks for the video, much appreciated.
@OnceTheyNamedMeiWasnt Isn't Graham Smithen the guy that pioneered the U bend sink block tongue pucker rug muncher technique?
@OnceTheyNamedMeiWasnt That's him I'm sure! He's one mean musical mother pucker.... I first heard about him from a homeless lesbian dyslexic midget glockenspiel player when I was busking in a subway. The sandwich shop, that is. Legends about him had already "spread" before he ordered his own tin sandwich as he was previously the only person that had the genius to be able to play a foot long meatball Italian herbs and cheese one armed trombone through the back of his neck.
For me, the best harmonica player of all time is without a doubt Deford Bailey. Amazing tone and technique, he was THE pioneer. He didn't have decades of years of records to learn from unlike modern players - he came up with his own style and laid the foundation for others to come. He composed several technically advanced pieces on his own, his Ice Water Blues is a good example. He also had crazy good tone, just listen to his rendition of John Henry.
Everybody has their favorite list of influences and these would surely be different depending on what style they played. I can't argue with any of your picks, who all have influenced me...though, hard to duplicate Carlos del Junco, and Howard Levy, no matter how hard I try
; however, do agree with those that said Butterfield should be on everyone's list
I would have put Will Wilde somewhere near the top of the list of the best harmonica players that ever lived.
Nice. I love Will.
Rock on,
Luke
Little Walter could play a chromatic harmonica and make it sound like a bruised diatonic harmonica the way he used the button was amazing
Yesssssssss! I love Jason Ricci!! 💖🎶
Like all lists, very subjective. So many great players out there......all these are super accomplished yet few of them would make my list because it comes to down to who moves me.
Cool . Thanks for turning people on to these great players . I would add to the list a player i had the pleasure of working with a few times in South Florida , the late Gustavo Lezcano . A founding member of the Miami Sound Machine , Gus was not only a great player but a fine human being . If anyone is unaware of Gus , check him out . He wanted to be the Latin Lee Oskar . Peace
Larry Adler is my favorite chromatic player. Check him out. He also did a recording Django.
Great video Alex! Nice choices. Good compilation. We met at Hill Country Harmonica a long time ago
Buddy Greene and Toots Thielman.
I second buddy greene
Yes. Buddy Greene
This really is a list that keeps on evolving. For example, Filip Jers is a supreme talent.
AGREED!!!
So many greats.... how about Will Wilde? Great ideas he comes up with, that tuning! reinventing the instrument altogether.. ..and playing Freebird & Lazy note for note on a harmonica? Insane! ..maybe it's just the guitar player in me, lol.
There never will truly be a best. To many different styles. I like Buddy Greene and Charlie McCoy.
Perfectly right.
Tim Shaw. Agreed!
True
I don’t play, & never really gave the harmonica more than a passing listen, then I started attending the now defunct Bean blossom Blues fest. Over the years I have gotten to see some of the modern greats & gain an appreciation.
While I’ve seen some awesome harp players over the years, the two that had the biggest impression on me were Charlie McCoy. A little old cowboy who had played with everyone & had a story about them all. He was great & didn’t sound like anyone else I had seen.
Jason Ricci!! I saw him right after the release of 🚀9. If you have never listened to that album, it is a must hear!! There are at least 3 or 4 masterpieces on that album.
Butterfield opened up the entire harmonica players list. Without his input from late 50’s to 80’s, there would be no harp blues movement. I listened to his playing a lot live since 1965 to his untimely death! No one beats his harp artistry in innovation…nobody!
Right on Dennis. Yep, can't overemphasize his influence. Thanks for the comment!
🤫...🎯
Little Walter already beat him.
@@nelsonhibbert5267 Along with Big Walter, both Sonny Boys, many others before Butterfield.
But, still he really opened some doors, and helped create the "great white Harp player" migration into the Blues scene.
Butterfield was a beginner as a harp player a one or 2 position guy that really didn't stray out of one scale. It is so average LOL
Buddy Green has to be very close to the top as he can play all styles and play them well...
Agreed.
@OnceTheyNamedMEiWasn't no I mean Buddy Green
@whyisitsostrangeinside I think you need your reeds adjusted.
@OnceTheyNamedMeiWasnt He wants to file your tip....
@OnceTheyNamedMeiWasnt Epoxy grout or furan grout? Admittedly I was once the tip on William Clarkes top.
great selection indeed. some of my own favorites, beside those 7, are: pat ramsey (no longer with us), charlie musselwhite, james harman, sugar blue....
Agreed!
@@Harmonicacom & of course many others as well, for there' re quite a few decent players around, & not just in america.
NO ONE will ever be as good as James Cotton or T.Thieleman and dont you dare forget Rashelle Plas , she is awesome.
Check out Sonny Boy Williamson
John popper and cowboy bebop are why I started playing harmonica. I’m not as good as popper, but he’s an inspiration for me. I wanna be able to do the break down on Carolina blues.
Nice, Max. I love John Popper too!
Rock on,
Luke
They didn’t mention Sonnyboy, Williamson, Ray Norcia, Charlie, musclewhite slim harpo Sonny terry, the guys they showed was hillbilly music from Kentucky and the Appalachia
John Popper is the best hands down! Blues Traveler played in a major motion picture! The movie, "Kingpin"! It was funny to see them all dressed up like an Amish rock band...LOL!
YES, I'm a huge fan of Popper too, Gary!
Rock on,
Luke
MAGIC DICK!!!
John Mayall the best British
blues man of all time.Plays the
the harp like no one else.92 years
old I believe,81 albums.He has
played with the greats!!!!
One of the greats for sure!
Don't forget Sonny Boy Willamson and Big Walter Horton👏🙏❤️😃👍
Everyone will now add in who they think is missing. And I cant argue with their or your choices for the most part.
Evan Rice.
The first harmonica player I ever listened to was Johnny Puleo later I found out he had a group called the Harmonica Gang who often played on variety shows that were before my time. They were more into comedy, but no more so than Kay Kaiser and His College of Musical Knowledge.
If you leave Buddy Greene and Charlie McCoy out, you don't have a list.
I hear ya Glenn!!!
Exactly
what about James Cotton, Sonny Terry, Big Walter, Sonny Boy, Paul Butterfield, Musselwhite etc. ?
great bunch, especially Musselwhite
this guy dont know the bigers players, who really blues singing.
This guy must have lived under a rock he missed the major great ones??
I dig Charlie Musselwhite!! Been around a long time.
Peter Madcat Ruth, Grammy winner, and is my vote for one of the world's best harmonica player! He learned from some of the old Chicago blues men and is top notch on the technical side as well. I saw Madcat, Howard Levy and Corky Siegal all on stage at the same time at Madcat's 70th Birthday Bash at the Ark in Ann Arbor. And Billy Strings was a special guest! What a show!
Wow Thomas! Sounds like an amazing show. I am a bit jealous😉
Yeah...Mudcat rarely makes these lists....he is quite remarkable. It takes a special musician to play in Dave Brubeck's band...and do it on a diatonic harp
@@micksherlock4083 He is amazing! I have known him for 40+ years and he is a wonderful human as well.
@@thomasfouts2700 ....and he's as funny as hell. I just watched a vid of him playing a bunch of harp and party favours at the same time. Brilliant.
Ex UK blues musician of the year, Paul Lamb would be there in any blues-only category, but your choices were good and I now have some new artists to wonder why I can't play as well as! 😁
Dude! You have to have James Cotton, William Clarke, and Jerry McCain on this list!
@OnceTheyNamedMEiWasn't NO William Clarke!
@@dougsfavorites2578 He means Walter Clack. Clack came out of the post punk generation of safety pin wearing tongue block merchants from south Wales.
Craig Ferguson, any go to the show when Craig was the host? 1-4-2022
Oh, how could I forget. Lee Oskar! His phrasing is incredible!
Lee is my man!
Stevie Wonder, Charlie Musselwhite, Chrissie Hynde, (The blues harp player half) of Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
Great list. Thoughts on J.D. Wilkes? I love his style
Paul Butterfield, Alan Wilson, Rice Miller, John Lee Williamson, Sony Terry, Lee Oskar ,Lttle Walter, Big Walter, Snooky Pryor, Kim Wilson.
Cool!
Glad you mentioned Jason Ricci. He is truly unique.
I lOVE him.
Very good enjoyed your video thanks , some really interesting players here however as in all art I would suggest it is simply taste and there isn't such a thing as best.
Gotta say, I must have watched the Alex Paclin Country Harmonica video a thousand times. It's that good! I keep telling everybody before I show them your video that you are this guy that got locked up in a room for 2 years with just his harmonica....... he comes out and can friggin jam, for sure!! I am going to play like that some day!!
John Popper!!!!
It all began with little walter, check out Cadillac Records on netflix. It shows how modern music came from the blues.
For an equal playing field I think of the diatonic players in a different category from the chromatic players. Not that one is better or worse but there's a difference.
Agreed!
There are so many greats and they're so different, I can't make an ordered list. I was wondering if my harmonica hero would show up, and he did: Stevie Wonder. If I could play half as good, I think I will have died and gone to Heaven.
Right on Philip! Stevie's one of my favorites too!
Jason Ricci is the man. Another great bluesman is Charlie Musselwhite.
When you’re at the party and you play a musical instrument that just happened to be there and you just happened to be able to play it, someone always would try to play after you. And if it’s a guitar, piano or drums -it’s all good. But harmonicas are pretty personal and when a pizza chewing friend, gets all excited and says “-dude that’s cool let me try”...
Nobody ever wants to play after me for some reason...
Awww shit!
I always tell people that it’s like using somebody else’s unwashed toothbrush… That usually does the job lol!
@@rogerlong6969 Reminds me of this story about a family that went on a caravan holiday. They had trouble with the guys in the caravan next to them, as they were disruptive and kept them up all night. The family made a complaint, and the guys all got kicked out. The family went on with their holiday as usual, but one day they came back to find the door had been forced open. Nothing had been stolen, but they noticed the camera had been moved from one place to another. After they went home from the holiday, they took the film in to the shop to get it developed. In amongst the pictures of the family enjoying picnics and trips to the seaside, was a picture of four men bent over with their trousers down, showing their asses. And stuck in each one of their assholes was a tooth brush that belonged to each respective family member.
I think best is too subjective. I think technical mastery of the instrument is more objective. Then is the player a master of diatonic only or chromatic or tremolo etc.
I think a list of innovative players is more useful. I really like Jimmy Reed’s high end diatonic playing.
I think a lot of players play too many notes, Jason Ricci comes to mind but he is not alone and that is my opinion for whatever that is worth. However, he is fantastic in that he is generous to provide many videos on how to play the harmonica. He may be the best player with humility.
Anyway, listen to Emilio Perazzi, Gianmaria Ghezzi and Maki Yamaguchi if you get a chance.
Totally agree with your Stevie Wonder comments, but sorry to not see the great Sonny Terry on the list.
Oooh. Sonny Terry! Good point Steve!
Rock on,
Luke
Alan ,,The blind Owl ,, Wilson and Charlie Musselwhite
dude! Toots is the best in chromatic harminca and steve beker is kind of the best in modern blues you have to have them on the list.
Yep!
True RIP Toots
A lesser known player out of chicago that deserves to be on a list is James Conway. Irish and blues player. Probably the best tongue block player you will find.
YES agreed he's a total beast. So amazing.
Would have been upset if John Popper hadn't been on the list. His No woman No Cry is my favourite harmonica piece ever. Gives me goose bumps every time.
WHOAH! Had never seen/heard this before. Thank you so much for sharing. th-cam.com/video/9zk0HFG5mDw/w-d-xo.html
Very nice information !! How about christelle ,Filip.their speciality of playing?
Filip is great!
You should chek on Hugo Díaz, a great and legendary Argentinean Harmonica player. For me one of the best in the world.
Take a look at my ch :)
I just saw Johnny Popper play tonight. He’s often not mentioned on the list of greatest harmonica players. Watching him live was like watching Picasso paint.
I love John Popper. It always saddens and bewilders me why he doesn't get more love from the harmonica community. I give him due props here: th-cam.com/video/_Cq4C786AFg/w-d-xo.html
Popper ain’t even in the top 25 harp players, they didn’t mention Ray Norcia, Charlie, Musselwhite, slim Harpo, Sonny, boy Williamson, Sunny, Terry, all they played was hillbilly music from the Kentucky mountains, no class
Little Walter gave the Chicago Blues harp style legs.
Paul Butterfield gave it wings.
And the soul in his phrasing can’t be matched by any on your list- yes, even Little Walter. Listen with open ears and you can’t fail to hear it.
Others would imitate Butter. But like Charlie Parker, who gave wings to jazz, Butter has never been equaled.
With regards to attack and tone....phew, he was a monster. Still my favorite. I finally stopped trying to sound like him.
I love Pauls stuff, love all the albums. But he's no where near comparable to Little Walter. Pauls technique was basic, almost rudimentary. He had a stock pile of his own great licks that he often repeated. But he played with absolute soulful balls. Little Walter on the other hand, had a far superior tone and technique, and had endless ideas that led to a creativity and sophisticated innovation that hasn't been seen since.
Apart from Chevy McCoin.
An obsolete list without. TOOTS
Toots is the godfather
Shame on you
@@gorkygorky that was basically what I was saying
LittleSonny should have made the list because he’s closer to Walter in tone and phrasing.
Little walter -William Clarke -norton buffalo -Howard Lewi- James Cotton,Charlia Mussellwhite,kim Wilson
You should have been included in that list
You are One the best i have heard...but obviously to be good ,you have to be humble...thanks for sharing your taste with us👍
Ha! Great point! Alex is genius.
@@Harmonicacom no doubt about that....!
Alex is also a generous MASTER with a very unique sound and knowlege
Magic Dick from the J Giels band needs be on any list of the best harminica players.
I here ya George. One of the greats for sure!
I can play along with any harmonica player in the world, including all the people on here however, when I started to get to know them as people they’re the last people in the world, they wanna know they’re all about their egos
What kind of harp does James Whiting (Sugar Blue ) play on "out till dawn"
Can't believe you included John Popper!
You also seem to confuse technical ability with being in the blues groove, think of Lester Butler, Big Walter, or Sonny Boy. I could go on but the point is a flurry of notes does not equal Good!
Agree with you on this one. Poppers tone is how amatures sound after a few months, and his attempt at creative playing just sounds like an unorganised mess. His true strengths are his song writing and singing. What a great band BT are.
my favorites are...wm clarke-rod piazza-charlie musselwhite-phil wiggins-jerry portnoy-nat riddles
All Kings, Matthew!
How about the "Wolf"
Right on bro.
Loved it.
😎
Rock on!
Cy Leo smokes them all, him playing Champagne was one of the coolest things I've saw on Harmonica.
No Paul Butterfield, James Cotton, or Blind Owl?
guy is a foreign guy
Nice bro..
But you know Mr. Amang Genggong from Gresik Indonesia,,,? he can play melody, rhythm and bass at the same time.
I think he's the master harmonica players in the world.
You can find it on youtube of course, with the keyword Mr. Amang Genggong
Blind Al would top my list.
That Roly Platt...He make that...Harmon-ica fat.
Luv from the UK :)
Have you heard Detrot Adroit ? By Art Wheeler charlottesville ?
I would put Wonder and Ricci at the top too
Thank you you so much! I appreciate this comment very much!
John Popper can fly. That Ricci dude is insane so is his hair. Don't hate me but there's something about mic jagger (I know he's considered a hack) that I dig. And Butterfield died way too soon. There's so many that are amazing. And they stand on the shoulders of the originals. And I still can't bend the 4 hole very well.😢
Midnight Rambler.
All good...but nothing like Alan Wilson... of Canned Heat... the best
Ambrose Kenny Smith is the best modern harmonica player look into him. He is from The Murlocs and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
Terry McMillian
Take a look at my channel :)
Don't forget Terry "Fingers" Nutkins.
I really like Stevie and John, but i am not rating them at all....all these people can play an instrument that is difficult to play. Enjoyed the video!
Will Scarlett!
Jim Zeller is the best of the best ! Hard work'in blue blooded Bluesman from another planet.
Jim Zeller…you must be from Montreal, I remember playing a number of shows with him in the mid 70’s, crazy, weirdest dude ever, but yes, he could really play!
+ Brendan Power
It's not clear who first played amplified harmonica using a cupped PA mic, Little Walter, Snooky Pryor, or Sonny Boy II.
Paul Jones (The Blues Band) should be on the list.
Howard is a class by himself
What "scale" am I being watched and followed on?
Does anyone remember LEE OSKAR?
Yeah 😄
Adam Gussow
You missed Sugar Blue... Billy Branch... Big Walter Horton !!!
missed too to many!!Papa Lightfoot,James Cotton !!!
Ashay Kumar is freak on Chromatic.
Paul Butterfield.
I always like Jimmy Hall as well.
heres my best 7...1-little walter..2-little walter..3-little walter..4-little walter..5-little walter...6-rod piazza..7-wm. clarke
Cool.
Continental Robert Susz and Ron King :)
Awesome