Howard Levy - the Overblow Master (harmonica player interview)

[@patricia_marcoux]

Thank you for this great moment from both of you 🙏🏻🎶😊

[@hagenhennrichs8516]

I am just discovering Howard Levy and I am more at awe the more I hear from him... the part playing autumn leaves is just beyond words.... speechlessly impressed ...

[@allandunn1431]

Brilliant. Not only is he a genius, but he's humble, and he's just interesting to listen to. Oh, he's inspiring too. Thanks for sharing this.

[@Learntheharmonica]

Couldn't agree more!

[@kerryc5821]

Been a fan of Howard's for years, but every time I hear him play and talk I realize how little I know.

[@lukasholly4453]

This is insane. I have nothing else to say. With all the respect. Howard Levy is the greatest musician I've ever known.

[@robertmiskov5842]

I agree

[@LeBator]

A brilliant man. A musician's musician. "The only instrument you can't see while playing it." Incredible but true. A great interview. 👍

[@sirdroll]

So generous with your time and talent...thanks so very much for the knowledge share and the inspiration.

[@maxhocks2006]

I’m happy people like him are experimenting and exploring what the harmonica is capable of. The blues are great, but soo much more could be done with the harmonica. Beatboxing, rock, jazz, and more are possible. Plus harmonicas work really well with effects pedals. I feel like the potential of the harmonica is much greater than what lots of people play on it. Masters like Howard show what can be done.

[@marybethhempel9101]

Liam, I really enjoyed this interview. Howard Levy is amazing and I really appreciate all he shared today, along with your questions. What a genius he is!! Thank you so much for this opportunity to learn so much! :)

[@Learntheharmonica]

Yes he's obviously one of a kind musically, but also very open and generous with his time. I was very excited to get to chat with him :)

[@malcolmcrowe7916]

Amazing! Mr. Howard Levi; in your hands the harp is a clarinet, a violin, a sax, an oboe... Thanks so much for discovered harp keys. More than Mixolydian, Dorian and Major escale. Yes... I loved the frigian mode... The harp is more, many more!!!

[@FilipJersMusic]

Many thanks Liam for sharing this. Wonderful! And wow - your KZbin is really good! I often send people here want to learn how to play the harmonica. Best regards from Sweden, Filip

[@Learntheharmonica]

Thanks Filip. Would be good to chat sometime :)

[@FilipJersMusic]

@@Learntheharmonica Sure, just send me a DM on Facebook or Instagram and we take it from there :-)

[@Danzeeman]

Howard is definitely THE Master, respect! Many thanks for that interview (and all the other stuff you give us) Liam.

[@dokuyataiwan7268]

This is one of the best interviews that I have seen. Amazing!

[@MrFozinator]

I'm amazed and encouraged

[@kingzulusantana6466]

I’ve never been more inspired to keep practicing my harp ❤️

[@ronstanford1821]

My new musical hero.

[@2dannyp]

What an honor and pleasure to hear this from the horse’s mouth. Thank you!

[@Learntheharmonica]

Yep, it was an honour to speak to the man himself :)

[@TheGixernutter]

I'm learning a lot.

[@aishakatayysha]

harp expeditioner...its like an equivalent of Howard discovering a new route to scale Mt Everest...very revealing watch...thank you

[@olaandersson3599]

I would love to read that book. That man is a genius

[@catmanbluz]

it is obvious that this genius can hear things that many others can't

[@stuartgraham762]

What a brilliant video, only just found it. Thanks for pulling these together Liam. I saw Howard in concert in Edinburgh in 1991 and it left a lasting impression on me. It was like nothing I had ever heard before. Just wish I could do it.

[@Learntheharmonica]

Glad you enjoyed it! He's a one-off, that's for sure!

[@lise-annedore8935]

Thank you, Howard! I learned so much interesting stuff from this video. I'll be working a graveyard shift tonight, Pacific Standard Time, thought I'd be sleeping during tomorrow's Global Harmonica Blues Summit. Hmm... Maybe I should register so I can get the Summit recording.

[@rajatanpacelana]

I am also coming from the piano.. and I had also that feeling like I am missing some notes... hahaha

[@GregoryPearsonMusic]

Wonderful interview

[@evandavies4049]

Liam whot agreat interview i could listen to him for hours music runs through his vains first time iv heard him speak brillant really injoyed thanks liam

[@Learntheharmonica]

You're welcome Evan. He knows a thing or two doesn't he!

[@RimSherd]

Really lovely, Thank you.

[@carlgrimsley7019]

A great musician and a fist class harmonica player indeed.

[@leswhitham]

People are amazing aren't they? People like Howard just reinforces that. You're alright as well, Liam!

[@Learntheharmonica]

Haha, I have my moments! Howard is one of a kind :)

[@SpiderMacKenzie]

Another really excellent interview Liam. Thanks for sharing 🕷🎶😊

[@Learntheharmonica]

Glad you enjoyed it. What a musician he is!

[@GreyOwl-Harmonica]

Thank you for the great in depth interview. What an amazing player he is! I wonder if he has ever considered playing rack harp to enable him to fully accompany himself on the piano. Mind you I've never found them that comfortable to use when playing with guitar and given the speed and complexity of his harp playing it might be a big ask even for genius that is Howard!

[@ikust007]

Gorgeous interview

[@Learntheharmonica]

Cheers! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@dorkdelacruz6340]

amazing! thanks for making this interview Liam! wow!

[@Learntheharmonica]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@catmanbluz]

it sounds like Howard got or found those missing notes in his early days without adjusting the reeds, that's amazing also.

[@markwathen7600]

Thank you very much 😊🎶🎵🎶❤️

[@Learntheharmonica]

Our pleasure!

[@markwathen7600]

@@Learntheharmonica likewise

[@rogerking8959]

This is great !! Thank you

[@herbster22]

This is a GRREAT interview !

[@Adam-Winrich]

I think it’s interesting that Howard’s go-to key is a G harp. Will Scarlett played just a G harp on Hot Tuna’s first album, playing in 1st, 3rd, 4th and 12th position. I gotta get more G harps.

[@JawanBailey]

This was such a great interview.

[@Learntheharmonica]

Thanks Jawan :)

[@dengjielong1970]

Thanks for share！！！

[@solomonchoo4967]

Thank you.

[@ronaldmaillet-h3l]

This dude is nasty, master of the harmonica. His talent of music is crazy😳

[@Learntheharmonica]

I agree. He is amazing.

[@natevance5832]

Great

[@tedpowers2045]

Start with overblown or a mode?

[@silverpairaducks]

Carey bell...well temper clavier....my brother

[@Kobajilovic]

Liam, is this discount (code) still applicable on Howard's course? Thanks a bunch!

[@Learntheharmonica]

Hi Kobajilovic, good question - I have no idea! It's worth trying. You could email him if you can't find out, he's a lovely guy and I'm sure he'd let you know. Cheers. Liam

[@claytronico]

There are only two physical things that vibrate harmonically, one being a flexible string held taught and the other a column of air. All musical instruments that don't use those structures, e.g. piano (bar) & harmonica (cantilevered bar), have notes that include non harmonic overtones. With piano it comes out as a richness in the tone that quickly decays into a cleaner harmonic character as the note is sustained. As the piano is played harder, those qualities are augmented. Harmonicas, on the other hand, are forced vibration. Their interesting waveform made up of non-harmonic overtones is maintained during the sustain of the note, not just in the attack. The bowed instruments have their non-harmonic contribution from the bow. It is all just too interesting.

[@dovlandzbaum5036]

Like...wow, what do you say after that? The man is special, so special, in fact, that he can actually say "I don't like the sound of a chromatic"! That, to me, is both amazing and perplexing. (By the way, if I had been the interviewer I would have questioned him on that point, so it's good that you were the interviewer and not me because it probably would've just taken time away from all the important stuff he was saying). Anyway, I would've asked him if he was including Toots and all the other great chromatic players when he said he doesn't like the sound of the chromatic? Was he just saying that he doesn't like the sound for himself, i.e. it doesn't give him what he wants to achieve with the instrument? I'm not sure how to relate to that, especially since I play both, so if anyone has any insight into that, I'd appreciate it! Meanwhile, great job as usual, Liam!

[@Learntheharmonica]

Yeah I think what he meant was that he likes the sound of a diatonic so much (the bending, the tone) but wanted the chromaticism of the chrom.

[@michaelcarlisle5403]

If Howard hadn’t had the training on piano, he might have not looked for the missing notes.

[@jeffsimslmt]

I’m not worthy!

[@tvviewer4500]

@37:15 good lord.

[@elrico1364]

Hi howard. I listened and learned allot. but this is important. the harmonica and the ability for a human to create music/sound by whistling are inextricably linked. Unlike any other instrument. There is a very real marriage between the two. Playing the harmonica IS always playing two instruments. Whistling is effectively making various sounds by expelling air from the mouth. However in diverse ways that is accomplished. In reality whistling into the instrument called harmonica is indeed the very method-technique to make a harmonica work. yet, you can remove the harmonica and whistle only and still make music of course. but the harmonica cannot make sound unless someone whistles into it. yes, there are many methods of forming the mouth, lips , tongue and breath etc etc... all of which make sound. so howard please consider this and hopefully you will think deeply and promote the relationship between the two instruments.

[@silkroad1201]

This guy did NOT invent overblowing. Your mom did