Last month Jimi Beavis started an east-coast tour promoting his anti-Abbott themed Double A release: ‘Python Squeeze, Cobra Strike’ and companion single ‘The Butcher’.
Casting off musical shackles – though still firmly rooted in blues – and picking up old-time American-folk influences, in particular blues banjo player Dock Boggs and an old-folk anthology by Harry Smith, as well as Mavis Staples and The Rolling Stones, Jimi found inspiration in the doom laden, struggling against the elements, Old Testament and Revelations-inspired poetry, with its flashes of humour.
Here, he selects his five coolest, harmonica songs ever.
‘Easy’ - Big Walter
Big Walter has his lips all over many classic, blues songs associated with Chess Records and other now defunct labels (such as Jimmy Rogers' Walkin By Myself). But this shows power, deep bends, beautiful vibrato and occasional aggression. Effortless.‘Break It Up’ - Little Walter
It is no secret to people who know me that I am a Little Walter acolyte. He has been the best teacher anyone could have, although he died in the late 1960s. For those who don't know him, he is a Jimi Hendrix or Miles Davis of the amplified harmonica. So I could choose any number of his songs, but currently this is a favourite. Playing in third position for a minor key solo of sizzling cool.‘Chromatic Jump’ - William Clarke
Like Little Walter, the big fella was one of those tragic stories of self-abuse that ended his life to soon, but not before a phenomenal output of blues harmonica. His chromatic harp work was particularly tasty here and he was a master of the repeated phrase.{youtube}B_cK7F4-n6o{/youtube}
‘Smokin Joint’ - Kim Wilson/ Fabulous Thunderbirds
I love mainly the live version um... because I haven't heard the recorded one. But when I saw Kim Wilson playing this in Melbourne in 2012 with the current T-birds line-up I was transfixed. I couldn't move. He started with the band, then everyone but the drummer left and then it was just him by himself before the band rejoined him later. And he didn't stop playing. I didn't know whether I was inspired to keep playing or just give up. But I walked away trembling.‘Tiger Rag’ - Freddie L Small
I know next to nothing about Freddie L Small other than he is a maestro of harmonica, finding this on a compilation of old, New Orleans music. He plays unaccompanied in a variety of styles that you really have to listen to in order to understand why it is cool. And it is.Jimi Beavis Tour Dates
Fri 9 Oct – The Milk Factory (Brisbane)Sat 10 Oct – The Rails (Byron Bay)
Sun 18 Oct – The Bison Bar (Sunshine Coast)
