Howard Levy Discovers Notes On The Harmonica That Have Been Missing For Thousands Of Years

Howard Levy stops by our Chicago show and gives us a history lesson in the basement of The Riviera Theater.
COME SEE US ON TOUR! - www.woooong.co...
check out my music here → woooong.com/sp...
learn guitar from me → woooong.com/gu...
buy charts of my music → woooong.com/sh...
Archetype Cory Wong GUITAR PLUGIN → woooong.com/pl...
Cory Wong Signature Fender Stratocaster → www.fender.com/corywong
Videographer - Michael Bowden

[@daveedson32]

5:53 Victor Wooten STILL learning from his friend and collaborator after 35 years. Also, this is the single best 14 minute music lesson ever, especially about one instrument. A lifetime of innovation into 14 damn minutes. Unbelievable.

[@poldidak]

I noticed as well the intrigue and delight on Victor's face as he listened. I first heard both of these gentlemen at the Fineline Cafe in Minneapolis 35 year or so years ago with Bela and Futureman. I've never forgotten that concert. Howard was the highlight of the evening for me and many others.

[@danno1111]

I think it's funny that Levy chose amazing grace as his solo piece; Wooten's version is a classic.

[@poldidak]

This is a priceless piece of history. Thank you, Team Cory, for thinking of capturing this musical savant.

[@eliothubert8130]

that's the genius of Mr Michael Bowden for you !

[@brycewalburn3926]

Mastery doesn't even begin to describe that man's skill

[@cyclethelock]

The Flecktones cover of “Michelle” is just incredible, and Howard Levy just soars on it

[@acevedoa89]

The man is a wizard and everyone in that room gets it.

[@zzaretube]

And it is a room full of wizards.

[@Borey567]

He even looks like wizard

[@georgegeranios2918]

Musician to musician. They speak the same language.

[@ckmoore101]

@@zzaretube Always pay special attention to who legends pay attention to.

[@TheMusicWiz]

Wow...in a dodgy backstage room when incredible musicians hang out...incredible things happen

[@m00se23]

When he started Amazing Grace the hairs stood up on the back of my neck. What a phenomenal musician you are Howard. Your days in the Flecktones were something really special. This was awesome - thank you for this Cory!

[@coryleman7438]

It was the perfect complement to the lesson, performed beautifully and with new (at least to me) context of the artistry behind it. Brought tears to my eyes.

[@skierpage]

Henry Levy's "Amazing Grace" solo is amazing, until you realize he's got a set of bagpipes hidden in his pants. He was on Penn and Teller's "Fool Us" show. 😉

[@scottmccrimmond6377]

When I hear someone play the harmonica I usually either hear the blues, or just a harmonica. When Howard plays you hear the blues, you hear jazz, you hear classical, you hear soul, rock, everything. What a reinvention of the art-form. Incredible.

[@geoffcline9593]

This is why there is Howard Levy...and then everybody else. #HARMONICA #MASTER

[@GHRiz]

This is just completely insane. When you're amazing Victor Wooten on music theory, you're on another level.

[@whatilearnttoday5295]

Wooten doesn't really have a lot of theory. He learnt it all as a language when a child.

[@scrub_jay]

@@whatilearnttoday5295 He has plenty of theory. He just de-emphasizes it, especially in the context of teaching.

[@whatilearnttoday5295]

@@scrub_jay He really doesn't.

[@FortyHurts]

This isn't theory, it's technique. Two completely different things. Regardless, theory is descriptive, not prescriptive - you don't need a deep knowledge of theory to play or compose music.

[@exceptionalusername]

Dude this is like the freaking quantum mechanics of an instrument!!!!!

[@guybehindtheguy.]

I talked about his solo for weeks after seeing you guys in Chicago. I have never seen anyone play like that. Blew me away.

[@digggerrjones7345]

First saw Howard in the late '80s with Béla Fleck and the Flecktones! Incredible musician!!

[@CotalCosta]

Howard Levy is always amazing. Hope this appearance with Cory and co. will bring more people to play this instrument

[@matto9734]

Or skipping the idea after seeing/hearing him... ;-)

[@hamsandwichson]

This is easily one of the greatest videos I've ever seen and I've seen Some Kind of Monster.

[@fixedfocus]

There's something pretty special about a musician that can captivate the Cory Crew and Victor Wooten. The humility and mastery in this video is breathtaking!! Thank you.

[@TedSchoenling]

that moment when the music geeks are out geeked and love it

[@fgjah]

Never thought I'd be watching actual freaking magic on this channel. Howard is on a whole another level.

[@thisisqualia]

One just have to shut up and deeply listen when Howard speaks. A living musical virtuoso. And a master of "f the conventions" Damn... this was so intense, cool and mind bending. Thank you a thousand times for this piece of history.

[@elizabethstar-dylan796]

Will Scarlett was doing this in the late 1960s. He played an entire live session of music with a single key of G Hohner Navy Band harmonica on the album HOT TUNA (Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Cassidy, from the Jefferson Airplane).

[@Martin-xd4jl]

I genuinely don't think I've ever seen anybody be this good at anything before. Like I've watched world record olympic gymnastics routines that didn't impress me like this impressed me. Holy crap.

[@kylek328]

Was there! Absolutely jaw-dropping!

[@michaelrubinharmonic]

Although Howard certainly is one of the best, if not the all time best at overblows, and he believably discovered overblows in a self taught manner, it is worth noting that overblows were recorded in 1929. Multiple players recorded overblows in the late 60s. Will Scarlett played a diatonic harp as a fully chromatic instrument, ie, playing a single G harp in multiple keys using bends and overblows in the late 60s.

[@Seer73]

Still haven’t been lucky enough to see the Flecktones live so when Levy came out on stage… had to pinch myself! Made the trip from the U.K. to Chicago totally worth it. The backstage stories though are a total new level to the experience! Fantastic!

[@andreymamnev]

I am in awe and wonder. What a beautiful insight into the nuances and folds of an instrument most of us don't even think about. The passion he has and his story telling abilities of his discovery and innovation of his instrument really paints a beautiful picture. Thank you for sharing this, truly inspiring.

[@josearjona3728]

This is absolutely mind blowing

[@echosierra1790]

Tiny Instrument Battle: A New Challenger Approaches

[@informant09]

Never seen someone play a mouth organ that good

[@M0M...]

gross

[@GizzyDillespee]

What a way to pucker that pie-hole

[@MarcoH72]

I think he was over blowing the mouth organ at times.

[@vermin5367]

*M O U T H O R G A N* 😩

[@ik04]

O.M.G. My jaw was on the floor for the whole thing. What an amazing talent and gift!

[@danielclawson5113]

Howard is the Einstein of the harmonica. Hands down the best on the planet.

[@jameswarner2161]

Howard is a musical genius and an incredible soul! We treasure the work he has done with akalibrio!

[@Datababble]

This is amazing. I've always wanted more Howard Levy. Incredible.

[@JCroozy]

Howard Levy's sound is the perfect secret ingredient for Wong's music. A one of a kind master 😊. Hope there will be more collaborations!

[@DanRidgeway]

As if you weren’t already doing enough for the musical world you go over the top and feature Howard Levy. Always awesome to see harmonica getting some love!

[@CotalCosta]

An Howard Levy appearance on a Cory Wong show? This is gonna be gold!

[@benestein4655]

Pls more with Howard !!!

[@BayouMaccabee]

I've been a big fan of Howard Levy since the first note I ever heard him play back at the beginning of the 90s in his days with Bela Fleck & The Flecktones. Their first 2 albums have always held a special place in my heart. I'm so happy to see/hear Howard playing with Cory AND especially alongside the masterful Victor Wooten again. Cory has a really great thing going right now, and I love you all.

[@shortyliu34]

I was there in Chicago! When Howard started soloing, I was looking really hard for the saxophone, got confused I couldn’t find one, then I was like, OH WOW, it is the HARMONICA playing! MINDBLOWN.

[@LeandroRao]

howard is the man 🤟. Thank you for giving so much to this instrument that I love so much. greetings from Argentina cory 🇦🇷

[@uripmargono946]

What a skill. What a talent!

[@Lodovico380]

I’ve heard Howard spell this out several times, even in person a couple times. This one is very entertaining. 👍🎺

[@funkymystic]

How did Bella Fleck find this guy, Victor Wooten and Futureman, all whom completely innovated their instruments- all to emerge in the same band at the same time!?! 🤯

[@cyclethelock]

I think there was some nice two-for-one luck with Victor Wooten and Futureman because they’re brothers! And all the Wooten brothers are fantastic musicians.

[@matsboll6129]

"It's just a matter of how far you want to take it" So true! Howard took it far away into the next galaxy

[@Fretlessness]

This is one of the best music lessons I've ever witnessed

[@Fretlessness]

Wtf of course Vic Wooten is there

[@Oliasn8]

Thanks SO much for this, Corey! Amazing Grace indeed!! 🙏🏻

[@amcsdmi]

I love that Cory is always trying to learn and grow. You feel that energy in the people he surrounds himself with.

[@praali]

This man is a LEGEND

[@TheTreedodger]

I saw Howard with the Flektones. He absolutely blew my musician mind.

[@gabrieln3613]

This is so great to see Howard on here with Cory and crew. I found Corey a couple years ago, via Dave Koz playing with him. I am a harmonica player of 48 years and was full-time pro by age 20. I had a Swing Dance, Jazz, Blues, R&B band for 10 years and had adapted a bunch of Dave Koz tunes on harmonica (my band also had Drums, Bass, Guitar, Keys, female vocalist and 1 or 2 horns with me) and so he popped up when appearing with Corey. Love the band, their grooves and material and of course all the talented players. I am very familiar with Howard but have only casually exchanged with him but do have many mutual friends that are pro harp players also. I do not play his overblow style (he is unique even among harmonica player that do play that technique) but more go over to Chromatic harmonica when needed. I have always felt what an opportunity it would be to get some harp in with many of the groove Cory & crew get on. Now, really looking forward to seeing how Howard will fit in the mix here.......one thing for certain it will be interesting!

[@atquinn1975]

This was wonderful

[@VigesimatoR]

That's some mind bending note bending, man...

[@MeluzHann]

Your mind is the notes🫢👀👁️

[@bruceandrews9996]

He is from another planet! Amazing musician and a fine teacher.

[@freakstarrguy]

Incredible harp playing!

[@softailspringer9915]

This is mind blowing, nothing short of mind blowing

[@mcmatt11]

Just need Future Man and Jeff Coffin colabs to complete the Flecktones cycle.

[@MQFahey]

Wow! Just delightful.

[@lorenzodicapo6305]

Wow. What a lesson Was lucky enough to see/hear Toots play back in the eighties. Incredible

[@matto9734]

I just had to watch it twice, it´s so fascinating what ideas you can get playing different instruments... and what you are able to translate and do by following your (aural) vision.

[@keithpitner3572]

Amazing! The whole show kicked it up into a higher gear once Howard Levy came on stage.

[@menriquez89]

Thanks for sharing Cory. So inspiring and life affirming

[@taylorjohnson5148]

This is fascinating. Thank you for sharing

[@Zytherus1]

I was also there! This was absolutely amazing!

[@yorgusguitar]

Absolutely mind blowing!!

[@mboykin6047]

Howard Levy is the greatest harmonica player on earth.

[@Mondogolfer]

Thank you thank you thank you, for sharing.

[@blahpunk1]

Use to love watching this guy with one hand on the piano and one hand holding the harp. He's so unbelievably talented.

[@fragwagon]

That's why they called him the man with two brains! Corey/Vulf fans just discovering him, check Howard playing piano backwards. Had the pleasure of seeing him live with the Flecktones in Chicago circa 1990 ish. They didn't even headline, they opened for Take 6, an Acapella gospel group. I've always wanted to ask the band about that concert. Glad to see Howard is still around and holding court 😅

[@ralfbuschner6925]

I met Howard 2 or 3 times here in Germany (once with Anthony Molinaro and also at the Seydel Harmonica Festival around the old Seydel harmonica factory, and each time it was so inspirational and it gave me so much material to learn from which I'm not done with even after about 15 years...This guy is a monster. Well, a gentle monster, but a monster.

[@blkfoxninja]

The editing on this short is 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻

[@makilakixki]

6:07 I've been chasing after this piece of information for years, the origin of the term Overblow!

[@thumbthump]

Brilliance set to music

[@foppishdilletaunt9911]

The bliss is in the gliss !

[@jgerman5544]

THAT...WAS...SICK!!!

[@tomfull6637]

Hats off! 🙌🏻

[@varmintvittles]

Astounding!

[@redhatfactory]

what a genius

[@josephdorenbos2633]

Howard has been on the Chicago scene since I've been a kid. Nicest guy. As a kid we would have block parties and Howard and a bunch of other killing players would be the band! Just saw him last night at Fitzgeralds. Check out his counter point technique on Bach🤯❤

[@duckvida3726]

Just brilliant

[@paulanderson9650]

I think ive rewatched this more than your Stevie Wonder medley videos; and thats a LOT.

[@benleydon]

Wow. amazed all the way through at the novel sounds i was hearing. Literally threw my hat on the floor at the end when he started playing 2 part counterpoint. If others can replicate his techniques then this is a revolutionary step for the harmonica

[@gracecyoung]

This is absolutely mind blowing, brilliant, inspiring, fascinating… A single “Like” button simply does not do this justice. Thank you Howard. And we’ll done Cory for capturing this moment and sharing.

[@stonail665]

I encourage everyone to watch his performance in (The Music of Jimi Hendrix - Villanova Junction) , pure magic.

[@sirchristopher7684]

Someone should add a picture diagram to this for a reference. Dude is a legend.

[@tomwalker9347]

Fascinating!

[@matthewbenedict5923]

Mind BLOWN

[@anthonywhite6530]

This was nice to watch

[@Tgisgreat123]

So much talent🎉

[@Tgisgreat123]

I mean 40 years of hard practice

[@kenshofalco8326]

This was crazy. He is so gifted.

[@cdstoc]

Incredible, and beautiful.

[@markshepardsongs]

the power of turning long car rides into something creative and amazing!

[@Moinsdeuxcat]

Incredible!

[@lyricalrevival313]

being at this show was second-to-none

[@zaenbaker1427]

Sick. absolutely sick. I'm totally mind blown.

[@LaNwamNi]

Amazing.

[@johanung]

Amazing!

[@Joe-bs9dj]

Thank you.

[@groundcontrolgainesville4841]

Been waiting for this and it didn't even take that long!

[@notesleb]

Wonderful to see Howard getting props. Stephen LeBlanc

[@MixMasterMarx]

Absolutely wow.

[@watermelon9959]

Incredible

[@richarddegener]

Mind over-blowing&drawing.