The harmonica or harp, probably the simplest, smallest and least expensive of all musical instruments, and those who make it wail and shout, were front and centre at last week's 16th Harmonica Festival at Café Campus hosted by Carl Tremblay, its veteran host from the very first held in 1987. As one participating artist remarked, "Now, that's commitment."
During a brief interview after the Festival, Carl whispered emotionally, "It's a day of love, a day of love. There's a place for everyone, the experienced and the newcomers." The harmonica found Carl when he was teenager hitching to Gaspesie from his home town of Limoilou outside Québec. "I stopped for a coke and chips. As I went to pay, a shiny little Hohner Merry Band costing $3.23 caught my eye. I put the chips aside and bought the harmonica." With admiration and respect, Carl added, "It's given me a living."
One in a trilogy of instruments, guitar, upright bass and harmonica, that typifies ‘Blues' music, the diatonic Bluesharp's long and evolutionary history travels with it in the pockets and bundles of its owners. A very personal instrument, each harmonica speaks the language of its player and their style of playing tells us about his or her life experience and musical interpretation.
This year's Festival brought together 16 of Québec's finest harmonicistes for a night of tribute and celebration according to each of their unique styles. Performing along with host Carl, who had his harp in hand and mouth steadily throughout the evening, in order of their appearance on stage, were: Robi Paquin (Montréal); Lise Hanick (Québec); Mateo (Québec); Raymond Paré (Montréal); Jean Daniel (Valleyfield); Purrr (Montréal); Eric Farran (Montréal); Jim Zeller (Montréal); Billie Craig (Trois-Rivières); Peter Modos (Montréal); Chris Cool (St-Sauveur); Louis-Philippe Bélanger (Montréal); Harmonica Zeke (Rive Sud); Kenny Dupree (Montréal); Steve Rousseau (Montréal); and Guy Bélanger (Montréal).
Backing up the line-up of harp players and other performers that night were: Steve Cornoyer on drums; Michel Sequin on bongo; Nick Payne on guitar; Marc Duschênes on bass; and Michel Chalse on keyboards. Rounding out the night and adding to the excitement of the celebration were: Carlos Veiga (guitar and vocals); Jean-Claude Lantin (12-string acoustic); Bat Taylor (guitar); and Jean Millar (guitar).
For the hard-core Blues following in the audience, and you know who you are, it was an emotionally-charged night. Organized as a series of sets, each with at least one harp player, the waves of music bathed everyone in the very crowded house with one after another Blues classics, Robert Johnson's Crossroads and B.B.King's Everyday I Have The Blues, and the familiar, Honky Tonk Woman, Put On Your High Heels and Bye Bye Baby. And just as smooth as ‘the Blues' and a shot of JD goes down, Jim Zeller rendered up his original song, Jack Daniels.
In tribute to the harmonica, Carl led Peter, Jim, Louis-Philippe, Purrr, Jean Daniel and Billie onto the floor, to blow straight unamped harmonica. They revealed just how important the harmonica can be by harping a short limerick about "...I woke up one morning, picked up my harmonica, realized it was the best friend, I ever had!"
Breaking with tradition, Eric Farran gave us a very personal glimpse of his relationship with the harmonica. He spoke about his 10 year history and quoted his progress from Sweet Virginia to Midnight Rambler to The Train. Eric Farran and his band, The Ramblers played that night's after show at Petit Café Campus.
Curious to find out what it is that makes Blues fans get so turned on by the harmonica or, as it is also known, the "Mississippi saxophone," catch a gig or two of the fine harmonicistes who played at the and you'll find yourself joining us at next year's event.
Copyright © Barbara Lavoie, 2002