Passing by in Paris, Joe Powers the american diatonic/chromatic harmonica player, will dedicate his new CD "Just Duet", at the invitation of Jean Labre, in the café "Le Lien"(237 rue de Bercy 75012) on Saturday June 2nd, as indicated in our calendar column.
This CD, self-produced, is a musical journey from Tango, Brazilian Choro, traditional Chinese and Japanese music, to Classical music, Jazz and more. The album features duets with harmonica and 12 different instruments: koto, hammond B3,, cavaquinho, erhu, guitar, piano, pipe-organ, vibraphone, tuba,violin, bandoneon and banjo.
As indicated in our calendar column, this Festival will take place in f Jujurieux (01450 France) town situated in the Ain country, near the Swiss Border.
The program will include:
Friday June 8: Diatonic workshop with Michel Herblin, followed by a welcome dinner concert.
Saturday June 9: Harmonica National Championship in the morning followed by a workshop with Pablo Fagundes ;in the afternoon open stage and in the evening an International Concert, featuring: "Ain-Tonation" Ensemble", Pablo Fagundes (Brasil), Michel Herblin and Marcus Moraes.
Sunday June 10: Yearly General Assembly.
AJHF Convention (All Japan Harmonica Federation).
It will take place April 22 at the hotel Ryogoku Dai-Ichi Tokyo.
Program:
General convention meeting during which Jean Labre will make a presentation of the situation of harmonica in France and Europe, followed by a seminar on international meetings, workshops, booths selling instruments of different trademarks and CDs. To finish with the traditional dinner concert of the convention.
But also traditionally, the evening before, an opening concert will take place at the Tokyo Nissho Concert Hall. Event organized by "The Japan Harmonica Art Association (poster attached).
For more information contact : Published March 29th 2012
Armos Ensemble in Concert
Armos ensemble have been highlighting the qualities of the chromatic harmonica since 2004, with a particulary rich repertory from classic music to jazz and variety show, and compositions of their leader, Pierre Rochat (chromatic and violonist player). The other players with him are Gerard Margnoux, Dominique Lannes (chromatic), and Jean Pierre Auger (guitar).
As indicated in our "Calendar" page (The News page), their next concert will take place in Notre Dame du Bon secours Chapel (Paris 75014), on the 31th of March, 7:30pm, with an invitation in a final orchestral participation for the last piece: "Tous Ensemble" (composer Pierre Rochat).
If you are interested, you just have to choose one voice out of the 4 proposed on this music sheet.
Featuring guests: Duo Intermezzo (Regine and Jeff Laurion) & Jean Labre.
Information:
P.S.: Do not forget to bring your Harmonica!!! Published February 8th 2012
Walt Miller Death Walt Miller, Walter Mueller (registry office), passed away on October 13th in his good city of Basle, Switzerland, at the age of 84. With him, disappeared one of the last great figures of the last century harmonica world, one of the last survivors of the Minevitch legend (photo: third from the left), and of the following adventure.
Not only a virtuoso, Walt was also the inventor of the "Millioniser", "Mini Wind Control", developed by Motorola and Suzuki Instruments : a "blown" synthesizer controlling 8 octaves! It won a worldwide success.
A friend, I met him in New York at the beginning of the fifties at the Century hotel (46th street), where we stayed, him with some "Rascals", I with Air France.
Walt was a virtuoso, perfectionist in the extreme... in the Swiss tradition.
I often visited him at Basle in his residence, his ivory tower. I remember him in his garden, with his two faithful companions, a couple of "Basset Hounds" dogs. Souvenirs.
The harmonica planet is mourning. I offer my very sincere condolences to his family, to whom I associate my friends harmonica players of France.
Jean Labre Published October 25th 2011
2011 SPAH Convention
As it was announced in our calendar, this convention is going to take place in Virginia Beach (VA 23462), from the 9th to the 13th of August, in the "Holiday Inn Virginia Beach-Norfolk Hotel".
Every year, people coming from everywhere are meeting there at this Uncle Sam "Rendez-Vous", with concerts, seminars, workshops, open stages, ending with a "family" concert dinner.
A colourful poster announces a plethora of great players: Buddy Greene, Robert Bonfiglio, Harmonicamento, Buzz Krantz, Peter Madcat Ruth, Winslow Yerxa & Tuula Cotter, Stan Harper, Sgro Brothers, Jelly Roll Johnson, Steve Baker, Al & Judy Smith, Joe Filisko... and more.
Visitor package for all the convention events will cost you $220 ($175 for SPAH members). The Holiday Inn hotel will offer a room for $99.
Information and booking: http://www.spah.org (Convention 2011) & http://www.hivabeachnorfolk.com, preferably before July 31st.
FRENCH HARMONICA PLAYERS ARE WHISHING A GREAT SUCCESS TO THE 2011 SPAH CONVENTION.
With a special thought for Pete Pedersen and Jaine...
Jean Labre Photo poster SPAH Published June 17th 2011
A Star is born...
Her name is Rachelle Plas... She might be coming from another planet. I discovered this young diatonic prodigy during the concert "Harmonicas de France" (France Harmonica) on May 21st.
Rachelle Plas quartet "put the stage on fire" in the second part of this concert. Rachelle is nearly 19 and she already displays an impressive mastery of the diatonic (she is Greg Zlap's student). "She's got everything", Alexandre Thollon told me after the concert which revealed also a talented jazz singer ; her voice, sometimes sweet, sometimes powerful strikes by its amazing ability to give rise to emotion.
Parenthesis, she is vice world champion in judo! I see there a link with her behaviour in life : well in her head, a constant gesture control obvious as soon as she appears on stage, behaviour probably due to the practice of "katas" black belts in judo (succession of codified fighting movements, very technical).
Her quartet includes talented musicians : Julien Joubert on guitar, Gilles Saunnois on bass and Xavier Hamon on drums. As for Rachelle, she is also a composer... inspired.
She told us during a recent interview: " I've obtained my studies top level S (baccalaureat) last year (at 17!). Then I started a degree in English because it's always useful to be bilingual... Now my true career ambition is to work in music."
Add to this that the French Federation of Judo has requested her, for the upcoming World Championships, to make the choice : music or judo!
And she made it : she has pluck this young girl, she knows what she wants.
During 60 years of wandering in the harmonica world, I never met such a phenomenon.
Contacts : http://www.myspace.com/rachelleplas to better discover & contact management :
Photos: Virginie Leroux, Patrick Thierry, Alljudo Published May 30th 2011
Conference "Autour de l'Harmonica"
Conference illustrated musically by Jean Labre and Beija around the theme of harmonicas practised nowadays : diatonic, chromatic, pentatonic, bass, chord, etc. From the birth of the instrument, 4500 years ago in China by the Emperor Houang-Ti, and the birth of the Shô in Japan in the 8th century (with a demonstration of a replica of this last one). Listening of sound documents, CD's, and we'll also listen to you if you have any questions on the subject.
Welcome to you all. Published May 5th 2011
Concerts Japan Solidarity
After the "Sakura Waltz" interlude during the Armos'concert on April 2nd in the chapel "Bon Secours", in Paris, a "Solidarity Japan" concert will take place in the concert hall of the town Hall of the 13th ward in Paris, on Friday April 29th, at the initiative of the sympathetic press attaché Izumi Hirano.
Free entrance in the limit of available places.
Featuring : Nami Miyata and her friends : Rie, Kanae Endo, Julien Lazignac and a few others Japan lovers.
Don't miss this event. You'll be welcome. Published April 13th 2011
Earthquake in Japan
Our Japanese friends have just suffered a terrible cataclysm of an unprecedented intensity... An earthquake affecting the northeast part of the country, including Tokyo, followed by an apocalyptic tsunami which has destroyed the city of Sendai and the surrouding area. Sendai where is located (and hopefully still standing) the wonderful old Aoso Jinja temple, in which I had the great pleasure to take part in a concert, two years ago.
Allow me to send in my name, and in the name of all French harmonica players, this message of compassion and friendship, in support for our Japanese friends so cruelly affected by this disaster.
Jean Labre
Photo Jean Labre: Aoso Jinja temple Published March 12th 2011
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