February 2003 Cover Story

Harp Abundance

by Phil Chesnut

If you're a fan of harp wizards, shows in Portland, Anacortes & Seattle in February & early even March all feature the area's best note benders.

The first is the 8th Annual Harp Summit, Sat. Feb. 15th at the Melody Ballroom in Portland, Oregon. At 8pm an All-Star band featuring D.K. Stewart, former Hooker sideman Mike Osborn on guitar, and ace rhythm section Tom Szell, bass, and Johnny Moore, drums begins to back up Portland's best with Evidence recording artist Paul deLay, Shanachie's Curtis Salgado, plus the well respected host of the event, Bill Rhoades, and from Boise, Idaho John Nemeth, Matt Sonnenfelt from Eugene and Dave Mathis from Portland. (Curtis Salgado will also headline in Everett this month.)

The second show is called the Seattle Super Harp Showcase, hosted and backed by the Hudson Blues Band on Thursday, 2/20 at the J&M Cafe in Seattle. The list includes the house band's own Michael "Dog Bite" Wilde, the multi-talented Steve Bailey, long time favorite Paul Green, the legendary Kim Field, the mysterious Dave Prez, "Harmonica Playboy" Mike Lynch, and "Jet City" Jeff Herzog. As an added treat, Henry "Slide Man" Cooper sits in with the band. Night Train opens at 8:30, fronted by their own terrific harp man Gary Turk. (see ad on back cover) You can also listen to a Super Harp Showcase interview & performance on Preachin' the Blues Sun., 2/16, KEXP 90.3 FM.

The third is Harp Attack II: Revenge of the Killer Blues Harps. With last year's success, it was a no-brainer for the Rockfish Grill in Anacortes to do it again. Another stellar lineup features WBS Hall of Famer Dick Powell, diatonic ace Paul Green, "Harmonica Playboy" Mike Lynch, Lisa Mills and two-time World Harmonica Champion Jim McLaughlin. Backing the featured artists is the Harmonica Playboy's superb band the Midnight Movers or as I like to call them, THE Seattle Blues Trio, having backed many of the region's top harp players, featuring the amazing Tim Sherman on guitar, with the super solid rhythm of Howard Hooper on bass and Conrad Ormsby on drums. Harp Attack II begins at 9pm on Friday Feb. 28th in historic downtown Anacortes (ad on p.8) The save March 3rd, the day before Mardi Gras, for the annual Harp Blow Off! at Larry's in Seattle's Pioneer Square. Want carpooling connections? info@bluestodo.com or 206.328.0662

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