"The Blues ain't nothing but a good man feeling bad."
(From - "Crossroads" with Ralph Macchio)
*** *** ***
The
first time I heard someone play the blues on a harmonica,
it moved me so much, I just had to learn how to play.
I found myself in McCabes
Guitar Shop back in the 1980's and there on the
shelf was a booklet and audio cassette, 'Blues Harmonica
for the Musical Idiot' by David
Harp. That's it, I fit all the qualifications. I bought
it and started to practice. It was really frustrating at
first. I would listen to a blues song and try and make
the same notes happen. No
matter how hard I tried or how long I played, it just didn't
sound like the blues. I kept at it and in a couple of months
something started to happen. I had moments of joy, happiness,
and bliss, and my playing would sometimes
turn into a kind of performance. The blues and all those
feelings would just sort of happen. Most cool!
I started to carry the harp with me wherever I went, and
when I found some time and space, would practice chords and
bent notes. The blues harp is so portable and inexpensive,
I bought a few of them, some for home and some for carry.
I started going to 'Blues' clubs in and around Los Angeles.
The 1980's was a great time to be in LA, and listen to the
blues. One of my favorite places was called the "Music
Machine"
on Pico Blvd in West LA. I saw some of the real legends
play in the 1980's... Albert King,
B.B. King, Willie Dixion, Albert Collins, Otis Rush, Buddy
Guy, Brownie McGee, Junior Wells. And folks like...
Roy Buchanan, Rory Block, Coco Montoya, William Clarke,
James Harman, Kim Wilson, John 'Juke' Logan, Cephas
& Wiggins, just to name a few.
My own style was turning into a kind of 'Country Acoustic'.
Sort of like- Sonny Terry, Sonny Boy Williamson #1 and #2,
Phil Wiggins with a little William Clarke thrown in for
good measure.
The Vibe TV Show with Sinbad, "I was asked
to speak about my work at Juvenile Hall and play
some Blues with the band... Sometimes life just
happens, and you're along for the ride"
Well,
1994 came along, I took ordination as a Buddhist Monk
in the Zen tradition and put my harmonicas to rest, or
so I thought.
I became a volunteer at Central Juvenile Hall in Downtown
Los Angles teaching Buddhism and meditation to the young
folks behind bars. I went twice a week for four years and
found other volunteers to help teach meditation, Yoga and
Tai Chi.
I started to see, simply talking about suffering was not
going to move these guy's and gal's to think about their
lives. So one day I brought my harmonica to juvenile hall,
and in the middle of a presentation, I started talking
about the blues and how hard it is to live
as a human being in a world filled with so much suffering.
I pulled out the harmonica and played a tune. It blew them
away. It was so unexpected. This Buddhist Monk guy, was playing
the blues on a harmonica. A lot of the kids had never heard
blues harmonica before, but it didn't matter they could
feel it. They were living the blues!
During
one of my years as a volunteer, I taught blues harmonica
at a high risk juvenile probation camp in Malibu, CA. I
was asked by a member of the camp staff (Mr. Eaton) if I
would be interested in teaching blues harmonica? I said, "Yes,
I'd be happy to give it a try." I was able to get some
free harmonicas through a friend (Jeff Gold) who contacted
John Popper (*Blues Traveler). John was kind enough to
donate 'Hohner' harmonicas to the camp, and the program
began. A few weeks into the program a professional guitar
player (John McDuffy) volunteered to play, and put together
a beginning music course for the kids. It was a lot of
fun to share the blues with the guys, and they got to keep
the harmonicas.
Those young guys heard the blues and it touched them. The
suffering I speak about in my presentations on Buddhim was
transformed into blues music for them. When they played,
they played for real. It was their life they were playing
about. For years folks feeling down and out, listened and
played the blues to feel better. It's a doorway to the
heart, a place of hope.
These days I don't play or practice as much as I used to,
but the power of the blues still amazes me! It can heal and
inspire. It's a musical meditation. When you the play blues,
you are the music. The
pains of the past and fears of the future, just fall away.
The story of the blues, fit nicely with the teaching's of
the Buddha. "Life is filled with suffering," the
Buddha said, and along the way there is joy and happiness,
but it just doesn't last. As a Buddhist my message is, "Take
refuge in the teaching's of the Buddha and end your suffering
forever."
A
friend once asked, "Doesn't playing the
harmonica break a Buddhist precept?" "Yes and
no" I
said,
"If I can play the blues and end some suffering, I
suppose you could call my playing, skillful means."
---
--- ---
An
interview with Kusala on his work and Practice.
In part 2 of his two part interview,
Kusala starts off with talking about playing his harmonica
at
juvenile hall and then plays some blues. This is a Flash
Movie and will auto-start when the page opens.
November
6, 2005 at "One
Spirit" in Simi Valley, California
MP3
File <--
512
KB / Rev. Kusala and
the One Spirit Band - "Harmonica Blues" MP3
file <-- 584
KB /
Harold
Payne and the One Spirit
Band - "The Urban
Dharma Blues"
Rev.
Kusala, "I
play the Lee
Oskar and the Suzuki BluesMaster
and ProMaster diatonic harmonicas.
Note: The more I play the Suzuki ProMaster harmonica,
the more I appreciate the quality
and
responsive
nature
on this harmonica. A page filled with a whole lot of useful
links
is the Blues
Harmonica Links Page. For more info on John
Popper see Blues
Traveler. A good
place to buy your next harmonica at a good price
is Coast2CoastMusic.com.
Walter Trout
I first met Walter and his family in April of 2008 at a church in Orange Country, California... I was giving a talk on community service and played a little blues on my harmonica... Walter came up after my talk and thanked me for my commitment to community service and sharing the blues... When he's not on the road playing the blues, you can often find Walter sharing the blues with skill and wisdom in workshops and seminars, helping young people play with heart.
Walter Trout - Live at the 'Paradiso in Amsterdam' Playing - "Dust My Broom".
"HI...
Just found the Harmonicast
Podcast on iTunes and downloaded
it... Really good stuff and it's free... The web
site has even more, with a great downloadable
Blues Harmonica program called the 'Supertutor'
(see below)... I wish there had been something
like this when I started playing."
Peace...
Rev.
Kusala
Blue Bary Teaches - Beginner Blues
Harmonica
If you would like harmonica lessons so you can learn
to play harmonica in the blues harp style, you've come
to the right place.
Hey, thanks for stopping by. I'm "Blue Barry" Faust.
Friends just call me Blue or Bluzman. I've been teaching
folks how to play harmonica for many years and I believe
that anybody, with practice, patience, and the right
instruction can learn to play blues-style harmonica
or "blues harp". These harmonica lessons
are my own methods that have worked well over my many
years of teaching. These lessons can help you or someone
you know get past simple tunes and really focus on
making that bluesy sound the harmonica is so famous
for.
Whether you are an absolute beginner who's never even
picked up a harmonica, or maybe you've tried to play
at some point without much success, or even if you're
pretty good and simply want to improve, you've found
the right place. At least, that's what my students
say!
Who Needs Lessons?
People
of all ages and from all walks of life are attracted
to this little 10-hole wonder. Anyone following
simple directions of blowing or drawing air through
a series of numbered holes can learn to play folk songs,
tunes andmelodies. It's very easy to do.
What happens to most people is this... they get a
harmonica, they read the little instruction insert
in the carrying case, they learn a couple songs, and
then they lose interest and put it down and never learn
the real art of playing harmonica. It's too easy to
get quick results and there's never enough of the right
instruction to really learn to play quality music.
Some people perceive the harmonica as a fun toy for
kids to play with and it works well for that. But for
those in the know, that very same instrument in the
hands of a skilled musician turns into one of the most
amazing instruments ever invented.
That's Where I Come In...
I've
taught many, many people to play blues-style harmonica
over the years and it's this style that people
are attracted to. They might not know it as blues-style,
but they know that sound. That deep, sometimes raspy, sometimes
sublime, almost vocal, emotionally charged sound.
You hear it in all varieties of music from country,
to jazz, gospel, folk, rap, reggae, and everything
in-between. But it all stems from the Blues.
Why? It has to do with the way the
harmonica is played. That way or method was discovered
by African-America
slaves and their descendants. Instead of blowing into
the instrument to create “harmonies”, they
found that by drawing air in, and using tongue and
throat movement, they could create pressure on the
reeds vibrating inside the instrument to change the
rate of vibration and play “bent” notes
in a scale they found more appealing. That scale is
what we call the “blues scale” and today
it is used in rock, jazz, gospel, country, and just
about any other type of music. Listen to the commercials
on TV and you’ll be amazed how much blues harp
you’ll hear.
*NOTE: Image
above has been reduced to fit. Actual display is large
and clear.
This program contains more than 70 minutes of clear
audio instruction with interactive on-screen reference
material. Everything is included here to give you a
firm foundation to build your blues harp playing.
Using Apple Computer's QuickTime™ Player
(free download PC or MAC) you are in charge of your
learning
sessions. Listen to an audio explanation using play/pause
and replay buttons. Go on to the next topic when you
are ready. Or go to the Menu and jump to the topic
you want to work on. It's up to you.
You will need a major diatonic 10-hole
harmonica in the Key of "A" to play along
and learn. Pick one up at your local music store
or get one online
and order this program today.
The only thing better than this would be one-on-one
sessions with me anytime you want, anywhere you want
and I just haven't figured out how to do that yet!
The
Harmonicast Web-Site --> www.Harmonicast.com *And
check out the free lessons on the Harmonicast
Podcast on
iTunes
The Maui
Xaphoon (pronounced “za foon”),
a "Bamboo Sax" for everyone who appreciates awesome
sound but doesn’t want to schlep around a bulky
instrument. The Xaphoon’s sound falls
somewhere between a saxophone and a clarinet with
a much richer sound than its size would suggest.
Using
the expressive power of a tenor sax reed, the Xaphoon
boasts a fully chromatic, 2-octave range; providing
an awesome sound with tremendous versatility. The
experienced player will find the Xaphoon capable
of all the subtle shadings and vibrant power of a
saxophone.
The
original Xaphoon was invented by Brian Lee Wittman,
a musician who lives in Maui, Hawaii. For over 25
years Brian has been making Xaphoons out of the bamboo
that grows wild on the island. Brian
estimates that he has made over 40,000 instruments
over the years.
The
Xaphoon uses a standard Tenor Sax reed, which is
available in any music store. The unit comes with
a #2½ strength reed, which is a good
generalpurpose strength. Experienced jazz sax musicians
might want to use the harder reeds like a #3 or #4
to get a stronger, more powerful sound. People who
are used to playing recorders might feel more comfortable
using a #1½ or 2 which is softer and easier
to play.
Sound
File / Free Download - Pocket Sax in C - Moonlight -
3.9 MB / 4min
While bowing up the Coast of California on a pilgrimage I attempted to subdue my taste for sweets by cutting
all sugar out of my diet. To encourage my resolve I
wrote this song, "Sweet Tooth Blues." Since
then I have added a bit of sugar to my diet, not too
much. -- Rev. Heng Sure
Sweet
Tooth Blues by Rev. Heng Sure
Sugar is this Bhikshu's bane,
Just one bite can fog my brain.
One sweet cookie melts my spine;
Gets me drunk as quick as wine.
Turned by sugar that I ate,
I forget to cultivate.
Red of face and short of breath,
Unconcerned by birth and death.
Sugar makes me want to rap,
Makes my tongue begin to flap,
Makes me want to laugh and play,
And wander from the Middle Way.
Sugar makes my thoughts run on,
'til concentration's lost and gone.
This monk's eaten his last dose of
Dextrose, syrup, and sucrose.
People like it good and sweet,
And sweeten everything we eat.
Read the label, yes it's true,
There's sweetener in the toothpaste, too.
People like it sweet and good,
We sweeten nearly all our food.
Not to pick and find a fault,
But why put dextrose in the salt?
Sugar's fine for one sweet lick,
But greed for pleasure makes me sick.
Sugar used to taste just great,
Now I would rather concentrate.
Of all the flavors, I confess,
I've grown more fond of bitterness.
So when it comes to sticky treats,
Forgive me when I pass on sweets.
One day to be really true,
I must put down no sugar, too.
Until then I am glad to be,
Bittersweet and sugar-free.
The
joys and teachings of dharma flow through every human
activity. The creation of sound and rhythm in the
midst of space and silence has always helped people
wake up to life. Music flourished in specific ways
in every culture around the world, and it has the
ability to cut through our perceived differences.
Insight Meditation Center brings together three Western
practitioners of Buddhism and of music. Their folk-rooted
acoustic music combines traditionand innovation much
as our practice here in California does the same.
But the bottom line is that we can share and enjoy
this music together. - Web
Page
"Crossroads" - Ralph Macchio, Joe Seneca, Jami Gertz -
"Crossroads"
@ Amazon.com -- The legend of Mississippi blues master
Robert Johnson has served as a fountainhead for generations
of blues and rock musicians, as well as a powerful fable for
the dark, often violent mysteries of delta blues. Johnson's
mythic deal with the Devil, in exchange for his extraordinary
musical gifts, has become a fixture in blues lore and an example
of the enduring pull of superstitions that can be traced back
to Mother Africa and Yoruba deities. Producer-director Walter
Hill (The Long Riders, Streets of Fire) sought to put this
uniquely American mystery on film, but when he was unable
to secure a script devoted directly to Johnson himself, Hill
bravely decided to proceed with a more oblique, allegorical
story that retold the Satanic bargain through a fictionalized
drama set in the present day. In this 1986 feature, the hero
is Eugene, a classically trained guitar virtuoso pulled toward
the earthier powers of blues. When he stumbles across a lost
blues legend, Willie Brown (a real blues figure and Johnson
peer known for his partnerships with Charley Patton and Son
House, among others), Eugene begins an odyssey back to the
delta country and the crossroads of the title, where both
Willie and Johnson had traded their souls for blues power.
An opening sequence, shot in sepia-toned black and white,
dramatizes Johnson's own supernatural encounter, as well as
one of the bluesman's historic Texas recording sessions, and
Hill's visuals combine with Ry Cooder's reliably authentic
slide guitar and Sonny Terry's blues harmonica to offer a
convincing link to blues history. -- edited Amazon.com review
"The American Folk Blues Festival 1962-1969" Volumes One, Two and Three
The
American Folk Blues Festival was an annual event that
featured the cream of American blues musicians barnstorming
their way across western Europe every fall from 1962 through
1969. Recorded live in a small TV studio in Germany, these
historic and unseen performances have been lost for nearly
40 years. Filmed with superb camera work and pristine sound,
each DVD contains 18 complete performances from the greatest
blues musicians of all time. Captured during their heyday
in an era of scant video documentation, these DVDs are truly
one of the most unique and precious visual documents of the
blues.
AFBF
- Volume 1 @ Amazon.com -- Songs: Call Me When You
Need Me (T-Bone Walker), Hootin' Blues (Sonny Terry & Brownie
McGhee), The Blues Is Everywhere (Memphis
Slim), I
Can't Quit You Baby (Otis Rush), Another Night to Cry (Lonnie
Johnson), Women Be Wise (Sippie Wallace), Hobo Blues (John
Lee Hooker), Five Long Years (Eddie Boyd), Shakey's Blues
(Walter 'Shakey' Horton), Hoodoo Man Blues (Junior
Wells),
Mean Stepfather (Big Joe Williams), Going Down to the River
(Mississippi Fred McDowell), Weak Brain and Narrow Mind (Willie
Dixon), Nine Below Zero (Sonny Boy Williamson), Spann's Blues
(Otis Spann), Got My Mojo Working (Muddy
Waters), Bye Bye
Blues (Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson, Memphis
Slim, Willie Dixon) --- Bonus track from Earl
Hooker in 1969, "Walking
the Floor Over You/Off the Hook
AFBF
- Volume 2 @ Amazon.com -- Songs: Bye Bye Bird, My
Younger Days (Sonny Boy Williamson), Come On Home Baby (Sunnyland
Slim), Nervous (Willie Dixon), Mojo Hand (Lightnin'
Hopkins),
Black Snake Blues (Victoria Spivey), Everyday I Have the Blues
(Memphis Slim), Don't Throw Your Love on Me so Strong (T-Bone
Walker), Tall Heavy Mama (Roosevelt Sykes), Sittin' and Cryin'
the Blues (Willie Dixon), Murphy's Boogie (Matt "Guitar"
Murphy), Stranger Blues (Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee),
Shake for Me, I'll Be Back Someday, Love Me Darlin (Howlin'
Wolf), Down Home Shakedown (Big Mama Thornton) --- Two bonus
tracks from Magic Sam in 1969: All Your Love and Magic Sam's
Boogie
AFBF
- Volume 3 @ Amazon.com -- Songs: Hound Dog (Big
Mama Thornton), Gulfport Boogie (Roosevelt
Sykes), Out of Sight
(Buddy Guy), Feel So Good (Dr. Isaiah
Ross), Flip, Flop &
Fly (Joe Turner), All Night Long (Skip
James), Crow Jane (Skip
James), Got Sick & Tired (Bukka White),
Death Letter Blues (Son House), Wild About
You (Hound
Dog Taylor/Little Walter on harp), Wang Dang
Doodle (Koko Taylor), Stranger Blues, Burnt
Child (Afraid of Fire), Move Across the River (Sonny
Terry & Brownie
McGhee), The Blues Ain't Nothin' But a Woman (Helen
Humes)
--- Bonus tracks: Earl's Boogie (Earl Hooker),
Long Distance Call, I Got My Mojo Working (Muddy
Waters)
Amazon.com
- Review: In any context, on any stage, these performers
all have presence to spare. Considering the source (Euro TV)
and the age of the film (some over 40 years old), I was completely
blown away. There's no disappointment anywhere in these DVDs,
and what a great variety of classic blues! Electric guitars,
acoustic guitars, slide guitar work, male vocalists, female
vocalists, Chicago style, Delta style, slow tunes, upbeat
tunes, these DVDs have it all, by the absolute best in the
business!
An
interview with Kusala on his work and Practice. 
