The Belgian National Harmonica Association, CROCH'ASBL is organizing its 8th International Festival in Liège, from October the 5th to the 8th. Croch'Asbl welcomes a variety of instruments such as : guitar, banjo, violon, mandoline, etc.
Emile Gregoire is President of the association and is helped by his daughter Annick. The President d'Honneur is M. le Baron Toots Thielmans himself.
The program includes this year : Hermine Deurloo, Barefoot Lano, Keith Dunn, Steven De Bruyn, J.J. Milteau, Howard Levy, etc. You are required to vote for your favourite artists to whom Cristal Harmonicas will be presented after the results.
Information : http://www.harmoliege.be
photo : Croch'Asbl Published September 12th 2006
Freddy Della at the Petit Journal on September 5, 2006
Freddy is an harmonicist specialist of " one man shows ", in France. He usually gives more than a hundred concerts a year, those concerts being explosive cocktails mixing country music, blues and variety. And all well organized by an efficient logistic team.
Gifted harmonica player (diatonic and chromatic) he is also a talented singer, drummer and presenter, Freddy Della has all necessary qualities to run a one man show.
This time, it will be at the Petit Journal Montparnasse, on September the 5th with his Conchoux Garrio's Band, with Isabelle Graf at the keyboard, guitar Dominique Garriot, violin Thierry Lecoq, drums Christophe (and also Freddy), bass Patrick Conchoux ; vocals : Babette Lecompte, Isabelle Graf, Irène Russel and Freddy Della.
More information : http://www.freddydella.com
Photo : Freddy Della Published August 22nd 2006
SPAH Convention 2006, Denver USA
As it was said in our calendar, this Convention is going to take place in Denver, Colorado, from the 15th to the 19th of August 2006, in the Renaissance Hotel.
The Spah (Society for the Preservation and Advancementof the Harmonica) was born in 1962 in Detroit, Michigan. It is counting to-day 3000 members from all over the world. It federates more than 40 associations in USA which makes it quite unique.
Every year, everybody meet there at this american musical rendez-vous. Concerts, open stages, workshops, conferences, excursions, closing dinner and more will be offered to you, to your liking.
Information are at your disposal at : http://www.spah.org
We wish a great success to this Convention and also to Paul Davies, Spah President, to his vice presidents : Jack Ely and the tireless Norm Dobson, as well as to the Association Board team.
With a thought full of emotion to my friend Douglas Tate.
Jean Labre
Photo Spah/harmonica Happenings Published June 23rd 2006
Paris Jazz Festival 2006 Every year, the jazz best musicians are playing at the Parc Floral de Paris, esplanade du Châtau de Vincennes,75012 Paris. It happens right now, from June the 10th to the 30th of July. Sitting in a beautiful garden , you can listen to Jean Jacques Milteau Quintet and Patrick Verbeke Quintet on July the 8th, to Sébastien Charlier-Sourisse Quartet on July the 22nd and to many other great names as Ahmad Jamal Trio, Didier Lockwood Quartet, Richard Galliano "Tangaria Quartet" and much more.
Concerts are at 3.30 p.m. They are free. You must only pay for the parc entrance.
Information : http://www.parisjazzfestival2006.com Published June 16th 2006
Steve Baker - International Harmonica Master Workshops
From November 1st - 5th 2006 Steve Baker will be presenting the 3rd Harmonica Masters Workshops in Trossingen (Germany), a four day educational event for diatonic harp featuring himself, Joe Filisko, David Barreth and Marc Breitfelder as instructors. Information and registration forms for this event can be found on the Trossingen website : http://www.trossingen.de (in German & English).
During the 2007 summer, Steve is planning to take the Harmonica Masters Workshops on the road and to present the event in three other European countries : France, Sweeden and Great Britain. It will be again with himself, Joe and David, plus national artists in each country. In France Greg Szlapszynski has agreed to work with Steve in Paris, using his school facilities and presenting concerts and sessions in the Utopia Club (have a look at our article concerning the Utopia club).
But, first of all, Trossingen in november this year. Published June 6th 2006
Japan : Introduction concerts in japanese primary schools
In japan, a large introduction to harmonica campaign is taking place at the moment in primary schools, (tremolo, chromatic harmonicas and ensembles). It generally takes place in playgrounds or sports hall, in front of a very young attentive audience.
This campaign is held on the Japanese Harmonica Federation (A.J.H.F.)initiative, the federation caring for the logistics helped by local sponsors. The Federation groups together 16 associations, the head office is in Tokyo.
This campaign is encountering a great success. Just back from Japan where I've been witness of the efficiency of the system, I think that it is an exemple to follow.
The Japanese Federation is also taking part in an action to help children suffering of respiratory maladies. Using the harmonica as a physical (because it's a draw and blow musical instrument) and psychological (music as a source of pleasure) therapy tool is giving good results.
In France, the association "Musique et santé"is working on the same basis with also very good confirmed results.
An article on the subject was published in France Harmonica revue N°39 (summer 2002). We'll publish it again very soon on this site. Published April 29th 2006
Hugo Diaz CD, the Legend
If you are an harmonicist and record collector you must have in your collection at least one of Hugo Diaz cds. This Argentinian virtuoso (1927-1977), praised by Larry Adler, Toot's Thielemans, etc., who played at the Scala de Milan with opera singers like Tebaldi or Mario del Monaco, would be pleased to know that a CD has been recently edited in the memory of Carlos Gardel.
It is a new masterization of an album recorded by Hugo Diaz in Argentina, just before his death. The title of which is : Hugo Diaz Hommage à Carlos Gardel.
Reference : Iris Music, distribution Harmonia Mundi 3001 941 HM 77. Published April 29th 2006
Olivier Ker Ourio - New website - Concerts
Olivier is inviting us to visit his new website, http://www.kerourio.com, in which we discover a large range of columns : events, biography, music scores to load, videos including : the presentation of his last album "Siroko", with Ralph Towner and Heiri Kaenzig, his concert with the quartet "A Rise with the wind", with Toot's Thielemans himself as guest, two videos with Daniel Waro, etc.
And the announcement of 22 summer concerts in France, Switzerland , Germany, Ireland and Réunion island.
Information for the concerts : ). Published April 10th 2006
Trossingen - Let save the "Bau V"
The Situation :
During the last 20 years, nearly all the large production buildings of the world renowned companies Messner, Weiss, Koch and Hohner have been demolished, after an existence of 140 years. To-day the only remaining building which reminds us of the peak of the harmonica world industry, is in danger of being destroyed : the "Bau V" in the Hohner factory. This unique stone witness to the history of Hohner can no longer be retained by it's current owner, the town of Trossingen. The rescue plan :
To save this building, Martin Häffner, manager of the Harmonica Museum in Trossingen, is proposing to create a Foundation. The Goal of the German Harmonica Museum and of many harmonica friends around the world is to save the "Bau V" and to use a part of it, if possible an entire storey, for the harmonica scene of today and tomorrow. The "Harmonikawelt Bau V" project will belong to the foundation, that will ensure the retention of the largest remaining harmonica factory building. The benefits for the harmonica world are obvious. During the gradual renovation, the "Harmonica-Floor" will be used for :
-special exhibitions organized by the Harmonica Museum ;
-presentation from external institutions and people ;
-lectures, meetings and performances from harmonicas players ;
-an harmonica and accordion library ;
-a "Club Room", meeting and recreation spot for the worldwide harmonicas friends ;
-a"Hall of Fame" with a large memorial tablet where the names of famous musicians and of all patrons of the "Bau V" project (your name will be immortalised for a donation of 50 euros) will appear. What to do :
The share certificates are on sale since the 1st of November 2005. Further donations for the foundation will also be collected. By the buying and securing of "Bau V", by the end of 2006, the first stage of our aims will be reached.
The current position and development of the project can be followed on this homepage : http://www.harmonika-museum.de .
For more information e-mail address : HarmonikaM@aol.com .
Address : Harmonica Museum, "Harmonicawelt Bau V", Löwenstrasse 11
78647 Trossingen Germany.
Photos German harmonika museum Trossingen. Published April 7th 2006
"Armos" Band
Born in 2003, the Armos is a band of six professional musicians. Pierrre Rochat , composer, violinist and chromatic harmonica player is the musical director.
The musicians are: Gérard Margnoux, chromatic harmonica teacher in several music schools in Paris (a reference); Charles Le Croller, guitarist (chromatic harmonica and guitare teacher); Bernard Dubos, chromatic and diatonic soloist; Dominique Lannes, chromatic soloist and also violonist ( specialist of Bach repertoire); Jean Pierre Auger, guitarist playing classical music as well as jazz, giving to this ensemble an atypical accompaniment.
Sébastien Charlier, diatonic, and Jean Buecher, chord polyphonia, sometimes complete this ensemble, for our great pleasure. And more than that : for the first time diatonic and chromatic harmonicists are playing (Bach or Count Basie who cares...), together side by side on stage, and we greet this with a big applause.
If you want to know more there is an article in France Harmonica Revue N°45
Contacts : Gérard Margnoux, 33 1 45 04 83 13 (phone), 33 1 40 21 33 60 (fax)
E-mail : Published March 20th 2006
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