BLUES ASIA TV 6.1: John Ferreira and Howard Levy
Globe-trotting music producer John Ferreira and harmonica virtuoso Howard Levy featured in unprecedented show.
WE OFFER AN UNPRECEDENTED SHOW TODAY! Globe-trotting music producer John Ferreira popped up in Manila for 3 days, and Blues Asia Network was able to grab him for the show. John is also good friends with harmonica virtuoso Howard Levy. Ah ha, we said. Let’s also feature the work of Howard on the show, we proposed — and John within hours got personal permission from Howard for us to present some of his best video in today’s program. [ THANKS, HOWARD! ]
First, John fills us in, explaining WHY he is in Asia. In fact, he has even set up a recording studio in Singapore, joining his other production studios in Chicago and Cancun, Mexico. In his view, Asia will soon be emerging as a major international center of music. “There is so much talent out here,” John says. Check out Mix Magazine for an excellent profile of John.
John also shares some personal stories and insights into Howard Levy, who is recognized as one of the most awesome and innovative diatonic harmonica players in the world. I am particularly pleased to have this opportunity to bring Howard to the attention of musicians and fans in Asia, where he is not so very well known.
The harmonica is very popular throughout Asia, but interest is focused on chromatic and tremolo harmonica. The diatonic harmonica does not receive very much attention, except in Japan, Australia and New Zealand. At the 8th Asia-Pacific Harmonica Competition in Singapore in August 2010, each major category of competition attracted 80 competitors or more — except for diatonic, with less than 10. I hope that Howard Levy can help change that by challenging the gifted Asian players to tackle the diatonic as a real, and major instrument. Hopefully, more diatonic players will show up at the next Asia-Pacific Harmonica Competition, scheduled for August 2012 in Malaysia.
There is, by the way, some talk about Howard performing in Asia next August. We will inform our followers on our Facebook Page about developments in this regard.
IMPORTANT LINKS:
JOHN’S WEBSITE: www.genuinemusic.tv
HOWARD’S WEBSITE: www.levyland.com
HOWARD’S ONLINE SCHOOL: www.howardharmonica.com
PROGRAM CONTENTS:
00:02:16 – Who is John Ferreira?
00:06:25 – A tour of John’s Chicago recording studio
00:12:55 – John talks about his experience in Chicago, the future of music in Asia and what is the essence of the blues
00:22:20 – Introduction to Howard Levy, and Howard playing blues in many keys with one diatonic harp
00:27:12 – How John met Howard
00:32:23 – Video profile of Levy
00:45:15 – Tomcat discusses harmonica organizations and learning opportunities
00:51:00 – Howard plays “Amazing Grace”
00:57:46 – How to record harmonica, and harmonica “tone”
01:02:36 – A quick romp through the blues: Evanston Express
01:05:41 – An admonition: ALWAYS be working on something!
01:07:25 – Howard plays Beethoven Violin Concert, demonstrating advanced harmonica techniques
01:12.53 – Howard’s online harmonica school — Asian musicians can learn from Howard!
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