20th France Harmonica/Harmonicas de France Festival
This Festival will take place, from the 11th to the 13th of June, in the city of Domancy, France 74700, in the French Alp mountains area, near the "Mont Blanc". The local group "Savoie Harmonica" and the city will take part in the organization of this event, associated with the Harmonicas de France Federation.
Programme
-Friday 11th: Meeting dinner at the "Auberge La Devinière".
-Saturday 12th : Harmonica Championships, workshops, cocktail followed by a concert at "La Tour Carrée" Theater. Featuring : Greg Zlap, Antoine Leroux, Nami Miyata, Duo "Intermezzo" and the group "Savoie Harmonica".
-Sunday 13th, General Assembly of the association, followed by an open stage organized by of "Savoie Harmonica" association.
Our anniversary !! Yes, France Harmonica, established by Jean Labre, will be 20 years old, next Spring. And our first Festival took place, believe it or not, in the same Savoie area, in Meythet, organized by Pierre Kaced who will become, later, France Harmonica Honour President.
20 candles to be blow, you will be welcome!
The Café Concert "De l'autre Côté" is now a major place for the parisian harmonica events.
A place where there is always music, good food and conviviality.
Let's pay tribute to the fashion model/harmonica player Beija who had discovered this place a few years ago.
After their concert at the "New Morning", in Paris, Beija and his accomplice Marc Loy will perform at
"De l'autre Côté" for the release of their new CD "2Blues" on the 29th of May.
With a Special Paella on the spanish menu (17 euros).
It is important to reserve in advance at (33)1-42 02 86 82
&Without forgetting for the next "De l'Autre Côté"/Jean Labre meetings: 5th of June, 3rd of July. Published May 18th 2010
Monthly Paris' Meeting Jean Labre
This traditional monthly meeting has been taking place in different typical parisian cafés for 20 years. A lot of international harmonica players took part, several times, in these traditional jam sessions "rendez-vous"... like Al and Judy Smith, John Walton, Peter Janssen, Eddy Gordon, Nami Miyata, Juko Saito, Joe Powers, etc. Claude Garden was a faithful supporter of this parisian event.
From now on, Jean Labre invites you in a new concert café : "De l'autre Côté", 7 rue Leon Jouhaux, 75010 Paris, métro "République".
The boss « Shere Khan » (a pleasant tiger, this one) will welcome you in a really nice place where you'll find good humour and good food (if you wish to have a snack).
International meetings with open stages for everyone belonging or not to the harmonica planet.
Snack reservations, on behalf of Jean Labre, please call at :
(33)1 42 02 86 82
Welcome to the Club*
* A national impulse at the initiative of H2F (Harmonicas de France Federation)has recently generated events like that in different French cities. For more information contact : http://www.harmonicasdefrance.org
photo Sandrine Mercier, Jean Labre Published January 31st 2010
King's Harmonica Quintet in Concert
The King's Harmonica Quintet was created in 1987, in Hong Kong, by five young enthusiastic harmonicists, who were determined to create a revolutionary form of harmonica performance aiming to make the most of the instrument abilities. The quintet transcribes classical string quartet pieces for chromatic and bass harmonicas ; the chromatics played by Ho Pak-Cheong, Kenneth Chan (for the treble range) and Rocky Lok, Lau Chun-Bong (for the tenor range). The fifth player is the talented Johnny Kuan, at the bass harmonica replacing the cello of a traditional chamber music ensemble.
The quintet repertoire embraces three centuries of musical development in eastern and western cultures. Their works are including Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart, Borodine, Chostakovitch and others pieces as well as Chinese pieces of Chen Gang, He Zhanhao, Li Huanzhi, Chan Ka Fu and Mui Kwong-Chiu, etc.
Their technique is very good, their tone quality is a pleasure to listen to, and their musical arrangements are excellent. Each piece appears to me to be a faithful translation of the composer's original intention.
The King's Harmonica Quintet will be featuring next month, 26th/02, in the 38th Hong Kong Arts Festival which takes place in the Concert room of the Hong Kong City Hall. The Hong Kong Arts Festival is a great worldwide cultural meeting... for people who will have the chance to share these great moments with our Hong Kong Harmonica friends. http://www.hk.artsfestival.org
Photo, design : Hon Design & Associates Published January 21st 2010
Gifts Suggestions
« Hohner the Living Legend »
Wonderfully illustrated book commemorating the 150th anniversary of the firm foundation, beautiful to look at, it shows the current product line in Trossingen and takes you on the tracks of the harmonica in folk music all over the world.
Authors : Martin Häffner, Haik Wenzel (size 230 x 295m/m).
Price: 53€, will be sent post included.
Order it now, it's a great gift !
Contact for order and more information : Deutsches Harmonikamuseum – Löwenstrasse 11 – 78647 Trossingen Germany. Telefax: 0049 74 25 / 2 16 23. Paiement by bank transfer order.
E-mail:
Website: http://www.harmonika-museum.de
For USA residents only: If you want to buy this book, please send a cheque of $65,00 together with your address to:
Mr. Harland B, Crain – 741 Cedar Field Ct.
Chesterfield, MO 63017
and you will get the book free of further charge, as soon as possible.
French Comic strip "Genetiks Tome 1"
Authors : Richard Marazano, Ponzio. Publisher: "Editions Futuropolis" (photo Sandrine Mercier).
<FNAC URL="livre.fnac.com/a1961380/Genetiks-T1-Genetiks-Ponzio" PROD="Genetics T1">
Peculiarity, the hero of this comic strip, Beija, is at the same time a fashion model and a harmonica blues man. He appears drawn, all along the book, as a James Bond restoring justice.
Beija is often featuring in Paris in the harmonica café concert "De l'autre Côté".
Contact: http://beija.fashion.free.fr
Café "De l'autre Côté Café": (33)1- 42 02 86 82
Harmonica If you are still interested in French comic strips publications, reserved for people speaking French fluently, may I suggest you the comic book "Harmonica" by Joan Sfar, publisher "L'Association". A frenzied cocktail of Parisian humour.
<FNAC URL="livre.fnac.com/a1350768/Joann-Sfar-Harmonica" PROD="Johann Sfar - Harmonica">
As far as I am concerned I still have particulary a weakness for the "Gasoline Alley's" US comics of my friend Jim Scancarelli...
Hello Jim !
Merry Christmas to all of you !
More suggestions at La Boutique Published December 15th 2009
Album Jean Labre "Postcards"
Performed by a set of remarkable musicians such as the famous guitar player Nicolas De Angelis. 14 titles, including 8 of Jean's own composition. One particular point in this album is that Jean has played several different Harmonicas: chromatic, diatonic, diatonic-chromatic and pentatonic.
Introduction inserted in this album: "A traveller's life is made of slices of all what have happened to him, real-life events, stories and tales collected here and there, moments given to thinking, to meditating far beyond the clouds... those marvellous clouds complicit in the most insane dreams. I had the chance, the happiness to live a wandering life in a world full of diversity and differences, full of all kinds of music so rewarding... a great adventure, always with my mouth organ in my pocket, faithful companion, symbol of freedom and best passport through this wonderful and turbulent world." - Jean Labre
The next World Harmonica Festival 2009 will take place, as usual, in the mythical town of Trossingen (Germany), from the 28th of October to the 1st of November. Organized by the F.I.H. (Federation Internationale de l'Harmonica), this event is sponsorized by Hohner S.A. and the city of Trossingen.
Apart from the traditional evening concerts, workshops, open stages, etc., the WHF includes the Harmonica World Championships*(1).
Registration process :
The World Harmonica Festival offers to visitors and competitors the opportunity to put together their own individual festival program. To do this, request the official registration form to the organization team.
E-mail : ,
precizing if you are visitor or competitor. Registration forms can also be sent by post if desired. Please fill out the form completely and send it by post or fax to the following address :
World Harmonica Festival 2009
Registrations
Postfach 1250
D-78647 Trossingen Germany
Fax : 0049(0)7425/20444 E-mail :
If you have any question please contact the festival organization team at our e-mail.
The competition includes 12 categories :
Category 1 : Solo chromatic (own choice piece, maw. 8 minutes).
Category 2 : Solo chromatic with test piece*(2) (own choice piece, max. 8 min.)
Category 3 : Solo chromatic jazz (own choice piece max. 8 min.)
Playback accompaniement is permitted (audio CD, without harmonica)
Category 4 : Solo diatonic, Blues/Rock/Folk/Country (own choice piece max 6 min)
Category 5 : Solo diatonic Jazz/Melodies (own choice piece, max.6 min)
Category 6 : Solo tremolo/octave (own choice piece, max 6 min)
Category 7 : Duos (2 harmonica players, own choice piece, max. 8 min)
Category 8 : Trios (chromatic, bass, chord harmonica, own choice, max. 8 min.)
Category 9 : Groups (4-11 players, own choice piece, max. 8 min.)
Category 10 : Harmonica Orchestras (at least 12 harmonica players, possibly accompanied by other instruments such as guitar, piano, etc. own choice piece max. 12 min)
Category 11 : School Orchestras (at least 12 harmonica players aged 16 years or younger, possibly accompanied by other instruments, own choice piece, (max. 12 min)
Category 12 : Open categorie, any given combination however : at least one harmonica (lead instrument). (own choice peace, max.12 min).
The test piece "Flashback" (composer Marcello Parolini) can be ordered now. Please send an e-mail to our organization team. The price is 20 euros , mail included, you have to pay by international money transfer.
As it was said in our calendar column, this convention is going to take place in Sacramento, California, from the 11th to the 15th of August in the Radisson hotel, with the support of Bud Gardner and the "Harmonicoots" association.
The SPAH (Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica) was born 1n 1962 in Detroit, Michigan. It federates more than 40 harmonica associations in USA which makes it quite unique.*
Every year, people from everywhere are meeting there... at this Uncle Sam's rendez-vous. Concerts, open stages, workshops, conferences, excursions, closing dinner and more are offered to you, to your liking.
Concerts, featuring : Jason Ricci, Christelle Berton, Steve Baker, Jia-Yi He, Joe Filisko, Charlie Musselwhite, etc.
A visitor package for all the convention events will cost you 220 $.
WE WISH A GREAT SUCCESS TO THIS CONVENTION
Jean Labre
France Harmonica Founder President
IHO Europe vice President
Information : http://www.spah.org & Bud Gardner, Head Coot, Harmonicoots 916/781-2830 and
Radisson hotel reservation : http://www.radisson.com/SPAH
courtesy convention room rate : 99 $ per night
*People may notice that USA is the first in the foreigners top ten visiting the http://.www.jeanlabre.com website, with 5636 visitors out of 36.089 (XITI statistics).
photo Harmonica Happenings SPAH magazine Published July 12th 2009
All on Stage with "Armos" 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). Other players : Gerard Margnoux, Dominique Lannes (chromatic), and Jean Pierre Auger guitar).
As indicated in our "Calendar" 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).
Information :
P.S.: Do not forget to bring your Harmonica!!! Published June 12th 2009
Trip to the Land of the Rising Sun By chance it was in April, the favorite month of japanese people, symbolized by the cherry trees blossoming. A national event called "Sakura" that japanese people venerate.
Here is a summary of my 10 days essential "rendez-vous" that I had the pleasure to live... in music.
Sendai
April 21st. I experienced a great moment of emotion during a concert which took place in the Aoso Jinjya Shrine (VIIth century) in Sendai (500kms north of Tokyo), announced on a poster as : "4500 years of life of a universal instrument". Featuring in the first part of this concert the young autistic(1) Shô player Yuu Takahachi (shô and sheng are the ancestors of the harmonica)(2).
I had the great honor to play different harmonicas in the second part, with also Yoshiro Koseki at the guitar.
Tokyo
April 23rd. Evening jazz concert at the "Fj' Café Live Spot"
with the famous pianist Jun Fukamachi who is fond of playing with harmonica players and particularly Joe Powers. I've often had opportunities to play in this place when passing through Japan, and it always has been a real treat.
April 25th. Traditionnal opening evening concert of the A.J.H.F. Convention, at the "Yakult Concert Hall", in memory of Hidero Sato inventor of the japanese tremolo harmonica.
Featuring : the trio "Comment Allez-vous ?" with Nami Miyata, Reina Oba, Aya Kuada, an atipical trio having an increasing success in Japan with these three ladies able to play by turns chromatic, tremolo diatonic, bass, chord harmonicas and piano.
And the new Juko Saito Trio, presenting an original formula which consisted in replacing the chromatic solo by the tremolo diatonic, with the Juko Saito virtuosity included.
April 26th. A.J.H.F. (All Japan Harmonica Federation) Convention.
It took place in the Juraku hotel in Tokio center and ended with a Diner Concert. The guests were Joe Powers and myself ;
a friendly moment shared with japanese harmonica players.
April 27th. Evening concert at "The Jazz Spot Club", in a fashion place frequented by artists, painters, writers, musicians. I had the pleasure to play whith the Iwaya quintet and the so sparkling lady jazz singer Satsuki Itoh.
Memories are made of this... the following day I had to come back to Paris.
If you have the opportunity to visit Japan... don't hesitate, you'll be not disapointed... more, you'll be given the warmest of welcomes.
The french harmonica players who took part in the "1995 Yokohama International Harmonica Festival" are still keeping a great souvenir of their aventure in Japan.
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