Fitting into everything from country, blues, jazz and even classical, the harmonica always finds a home. Here are two recent releases that show the width, and, literally, the breath of the instrument.
If you ever thought you’ve heard everything a harmonica can do, put that idea aside and take a listen to this album that features Tomislav Goluban and his collection of Hohner harmonicas. He creates otherworldly sounds with Toni Staresinic, who plays just about any and every type of keyboard, as well as a mix and match with guitars, drums, voice, bass and the ever popular “sampling.”
The sounds and atmospheres get spacey on “Zero Gravity” and Txmk Remix” while you get a feeling that this is what Kraftwerk would sound like with a harp on “Space Drive” and “Tsmk.” Goluban wails on “Man with a Harmonica” and you get some Memphis moods on a soulful “The Busiest Woman I’ve Ever Loved” and the blueswailing “Hypersleep Dream” that mixes electronics with Josipa Loncar’s operatic soprano. Some folksy and rural sounds from New Orleans are evoked on “Till the End of Space and Time,” with the team boldly going where no man has gone before.
George Bisharat keeps the sounds rough and ready on this blue plate special which has him singing and wailing on his harmonica with a Memphis stew of Chirs Burns/key, Alexander Petterson/dr, Joe Kyle-Kid Anderson/g-g and a horn team of Michael Peloquin/sax and Mike Rinta/tb.
George’s harp growls with boogie bluesers like “Down to the Rite Aid” and the Crescent City’d “Just Calm Yourself” while he lands in Kansas City on the 8 beater “In the First Place.” His vibrato is arm span wide on the gospel mooded “Nobody’s Listening” and lilts to a calypso on “I Wanna Know.” His voice is world wise with some smoky Hammond on “Internet Honey” and some 50s guitar makes “Alternate Facts” a town without pity. Meat and potatoes that stick to the ribs are in abundance here.
Mark Wenner’s harp growls like a junkyard dog on this rowdy set with Zach Sweeny/g, Mark Stutso/dr, Clarence Turner/g and Steve Wolf/b. The team hits hard on a Chicago bluesy vibe on a killer “Teddy Bear” and the guitars shuffle the boogie on a swinging “The Hucklebuck.” Wenner sounds like he’s revving a V8 engin on the upbeat “Diamonds at Your Feet” and has the Georgia clay between his toes on the rural “Trust My Baby.” The team has sun fun with harmonies during a 50s rocker “Hellow Josephine” and sears through “It’s My Own Fault.” Low ceilinged and smoky.