Larry Adler - A god of chromatic harmonica - Screwz Blues

To remember one of the best chromatic harmonica performer all of the times, the master "El maestro", a virtuoso.
Lucky who had the opportunity to see and listen him to play.
Simple fantastic, amazing , fabulous. A gift of the heaven.

[@emmasnowjo]

This is my amazing grandfather. I miss him a great deal, thank you for posting. Thank you! Thank you!

[@johndelamontaigne7711]

Your grandfather really is amazing. He inspired me to play chromatic harmonica. Ive been playing jazz professionally for about 35 years. I wish i had gotten to see and hear Larry in person. A truly gifted wonderful artist! God bless him.

[@TheRich1948]

Tonight is the first time I have heard Larry Adler play. He was a good friend of my Dad's. He would go to see him every time Larry played in Baltimore. I never had time to go with my Dad to meet him. My loss all around.

[@lindaallwright7915]

I was once behind Larry Adler waiting in a queue to get into the Pavilion on Worthing seafront, where Larry was headlining. He was wearing comfy satin slippers and stood about 4 feet 8 inches. When he got to the front of the queue the doorman wouldn't let him in as he didn't have a ticket. "But that is me" he said, pointing at the A-frame advertisement on the front steps, and we - in the queue - all backed him up. The doorman capitulated and let him in but just as Larry walked past him, the doorman called out -"You should update your photos!" Larry didn't reply! Wonderful concert but you could see how frail he was becoming. A true legend!

[@Karvindon]

Having listened to him on many occasions and at the time, followed his career for more than 50 years and the fact that I had got down on one knee to touch his hand, and the fact that I have done countless shows for elderly people I still stand by what I’ve written. The facts about the “Lady Looking After Him”, study his life and you will find he had countless ladies looking after him, so derive from that what ever.

[@surferchad122]

First comment on this fantastic video. Can't believe it hasn't gotten anymore hits. Larry you rock!!

[@send2meez]

Pure talent! I could listen to this all day

[@mcfctid2]

I met him twice after shows one at the Albert hall and one at the Pizza Express on both occasions he was gracious and polite. I had heard he was what some called irascible but after reading his book and the struggles he had with McCarthyism I understood why he might have appeared terse. A wonderful sound with no equal in his field. Thank you for the posting and thank you L.A. for your magic.

[@robbie69612]

SAW Larry play a few years ago in Adelaide - Australia He Was Brilliant, Hadn't lost A Thing.

[@rakyaband]

Holy shit!! it almost sounds like a Sax!! this guy is doing marvels with just a few notes the Harp has! woooo verrry sweet

[@avidgreen]

Superb. Virtuosity. Such beautiful blues played on a chromatic. Gonna work on my chromatic playing now that I see it can be done. Not just on diatonics!

[@curleyteeth]

You will have to work very hard Scott to even get near to the maestro,but good luck in trying.I am 57 now and have been trying all my life.Sometimes you just have make way for a genius.Jim.Liverpool.

[@janiceward8254]

the genius of Larry Adler...!!!

[@michaelfirth1075]

Simple he’s just the master.😊

[@alfredbellanti3755]

Lovely! Thank you for sharing this Jaime Alexandre.

[@InweTaralom]

Good God, this man was a freaking genius.

[@Drewster58]

The man can wail on a chromatic, sweet and lowdown.

[@thierrycarpin5002]

I have had the chance of seeing him in concert!!!!

[@Lee-70ish]

Lucky guy. He was a one off no one has ever played as good as him.

[@ericmahar7176]

That's the big throat thing, where he resonates the harmonica inside his throat.

[@ericmahar7176]

No it's a constricted throat, pronunciation thing on the inhale?

[@fansinatra]

This is really cool! How I wish I had a chance to be there live!

[@luisrodriguez8167]

Escucho a muy buenos interpretes dé armónica, pero Larry fue y será el mejor de todos los tiempos. Es mi opinion.

[@Karvindon]

Hi To try and quantify my remark “Not a nice person”. I followed Larry Adler from the age of 9 (I’m now 71), I always admired his playing hence my remark “A genius”. I met Larry Adler after his last television appearance in a venue called “The Pop Factory” in Porth in the Rhondda Valley in South Wales UK.

[@DieterLo1]

Wonderful music! Greetings from Germany! Dieter

[@jaimealextube]

hi, I´am glad you appreciate, just because It´s really amazing, lovely .. without words. Larry use to play with Hohner chromatic harmonics and at the time, 1989, it could be only two: Hohner 270 standard or Hohner Larry Adler. The Larry Adler model was at end a 270 standard made with Larry Adler opinion. Best regards,

[@xxxxharp]

Wow !!!! The Master !!

[@Karvindon]

At the end of the show I asked the lady looking after him if I could say hello to him, she said OK. I got down on one knee by the side of his chair and told him I was so please to meet him. I told him how I had followed his career, I told him I had never met a genus and I was meeting one now. I told him I play most of his music, in fact I couldn’t have been more polite.

[@mikenicholls1621]

Superb!

[@sonnyburnett8744]

Don't know why but he always reminds me of Truman Capote!!!

[@Karvindon]

Part Two of my answer: - I still say, “a genius but not a nice person”. I have spoken to many people that knew him when he taught in a collage in Barry near where I live and they all say the same. I could go on but I would only get deeper into the subject, in my show I tell my audience “If I live to be a 100, I will never speak to anyone the way Larry Adler spoke to me”, don’t forget it was me that made the effort to go and see him. Regards, Derek

[@send2meez]

Wow wow wow wow wow

[@roberttemple2521]

nice !!! i have been looking for this on yt for some time. i have this on a vhs video tape but am not able to make the dub from tape to dvd due to the "macrovision" on the tape. this is from the 2nd annual world harmonica championships and performance, trossingen, germany 1989, put on by hohner.

[@nickbarcenas]

damn larry adler is the harmonica king he makes the harmonica sound like more than just an instrument you blow into people probably think the harmonica is easy to play in fact it's quite difficult i know because i actually play the harmonica and although anybody can probably learn it but not everybody can master is like adler did that's the difference but one day i want to be considered a harmonica master and then i can be happy that i achieved my goal in life..

[@jimchumley6568]

nick barcenas I have been playing for over 35 years and still consider myself an average harp player but i have developed my own style and love to play. Its so edictive and i do play with my soul and when you do that someone can emulate you note for note and still not get ths same sound exactly.

[@TerryCrodgedy]

A raw craftsman I'd say

[@Karvindon]

I knelt there waiting for him to say thank you or words to that effect. All he said was “Don’t bother me now I’m going to bed”. If I live to be 100 I’ll will never speak to anyone the way Larry Adler spoke to me. So I say again, a genus but not a nice person to know.

[@pnomis]

I met him once and he seemed like a nice guy. I have seen how some fans behave towards their heros. Not necessarily that they are rude but that they have been waiting their whole life for this moment and they are going to make the most of it. It's not about the artist but it's about the fan. Some performers after a show are exhausted and simply can't be expected to respond in kind. Are you sure than wasn't you Derek?

[@vinoo1946]

Well.What can you say?!!The Ultimate Harmonica virtuoso!!!Sheer Class.Just listen to his rendition of Rodrigo's Guitar Concerto, it is posted elsewhere.

[@alvaroruizvalde]

ole!

[@mwhite76]

@robbie69612 Since he died in 2001 that is pretty amazing

[@burningthunder19]

anybody know that key he is using? its gorgeous!

[@EZD51]

yeeeeee haaaaaa

[@roberttemple2521]

is this from the trossingen 1989 hohner world champs video? if so, can someone please post the toots portion of that fest. these fellows are in a league of their own, just wonderful.. thank ou for posting.

[@TheKeitharoon]

cool

[@ElizabethGS]

@Karvindon did it ever dawn on you that he might not have either heard or understood what you said? It's clear by your description (lady looking after him) that he was elderly and there was noise all around, right? I've seen videos of him playing in his later years and it seemed from those that he actually did have some hearing difficulties. For all you know he might have thought you were asking something of him and - given that he was 'older', you might cut him some slack rather than judging.

[@carlossoria1783]

Para tocar bien blues, no hace falta una armonica especial para tal fin, con una cromatica sobra pero el que estaba al frente hera el gran Larry, y claro........

[@bharfarar]

@ch8rlesp8ulh8rris ...don't know for sure, but it sure appears he's tongue blocking. Note the great angle he holds the harp to his mouth. Looks like he's blocking to the right, which is unusual for most players.

[@jaimealextube]

This is a chromatic Larry Adler in C.

[@Siralantoon]

Mr Adler was blacklisted in the states and came to live in Europe. This man was considered a dangerous subversive. Work that one out....

[@mambojazz1]

Is he playing silver concerto or 270 here?

[@johndelamontaigne7711]

I believe that is a silver concerto. He always played those. You can see the edge of the comb and its silver instead of wood.

[@johnonorgan]

not everone can learn I know many musicians who can NOT play the harp

[@blueshambles]

@blueshambles hi

[@ch8rlesp8ulh8rris]

Looks like Larry Adler for the most part was a "pucker player" like the great Toots Thielmanns. Anybody who isnsists that you have to tongue block on chromatic harmonica should watch this video. . .

[@jimchumley6568]

Charles Harris I know awesomw players that never tongue block. I just tongue block to get octave sounds.

[@violinoscar]

How does he get that sound at 2:10 - 2:13? I've tried but just can't get it. It is probably the simplest thing but I'm not getting it. Any harmonica players, help please.

[@jimchumley6568]

Hardtop Harry Get screwed in prison then you can hit that note.😱

[@mambojazz1]

@ That has nothing at all to do with his question. Has nothing to do with speed at all. The answer is at 2:10 what you hear is an effect done with his embrochure. He is both bending the pitch in his throat to muffle the sound as well as lowering his bottom jaw and slightly tipping the harmonica down Into his mouth. Also his hands are cupping the harmonica almost completely to muffle the sound

[@Karvindon]

I could go on but unlike him I am a polite person. Re: - “A statement to a dead man who cannot respond” if we don’t say what we feel and what we say is the truth then something is wrong with man kind. Regards, Derek harmonicashow.co.uk Sorry about having to read this reply upside down.

[@acdcjonnyboy]

1 person has a screw loose in the head

[@sorim1967]

I take it from Derek's comment that (a) he got to know Larry Adler very well and (b) met a "not nice person". Perhaps ti would be appropriate to qualify this horrible statement to a dead man who cannot respond. But there may be others who have got to know Larry Alder quite well, perhaps very well, and may also have a view - but "not a nice person" is too general - more like mudslinging. Please be precise and see how others who also knew him may have to say..

[@Karvindon]

A genius but not a nice person to know. Take care, Derek