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Happy Hour Harmonica Podcast

Laurent Maur interview

December 09, 2022 Neil Warren Season 1 Episode 75

Chapters

Laurent is a jazz chromatic player, originally from Paris, now living in Burgundy, France

First influence of jazz harmonica was through the Toots Thielemans and Bill Evans album, Affinity, given to him by a maths teacher

Bought first harmonica age 17 with Sugar Blue the first blues player he loved

JJ Milteau Diatonic and Chromatic Method book was first instructional material he used to learn diatonic

Started listening to the other diatonic players: with Sugar Blue and Big Walter his favourites

Blues scene in France was mainly in Paris, but he met two harmonica players in his town, including Dutch chromatic player Tim Welvaars

Spent a lot of time transcribing and essentials needed to learn jazz

Decision to switch over to focus on chromatic harmonica age 24

Blues is more accessible than jazz due to simpler chord structures

Busked and was in several bands playing diatonic from age 19 to 24

Switched to playing chromatic to learn jazz music

Learning curve the chromatic from being a diatonic player

Went to a jazz school in Paris

Practised a lot to make rapid progress and was living on the breadline as a musician

Moved from Paris to Bordeaux where he was able to perform more with jazz chromatic well received by jazz musicians

Playing in different types of bands in Bordeaux helped develop skills

Went to Trossingen in 2000 or 2001, winning the solo harmonica and jazz harmonica competitions

First recording was with the Francis Lockwood trio, harmonica with strings, after playing in a big band

Sent the album to Toots and JJ MIlteau and received encouraging responses back from both

After attending another jazz school, started playing with Orlando Pole in an Afro Venezuelan Latin jazz quintet

Playing with other bands, including Clem Cardenas and Yves Carbonne

Plays some Gypsy Jazz with Mayo Hubert and approach to playing this on chromatic

French player Vincent Bucher plays a lot with African musicians

Spent some years in China and Korea after financial crash of 2008

Popularity of people playing harmonica in China

Spent time in Korea and problematic pollution in Beijing

Played with a great Italian pianist in China and corporate gigs

Laurent played at a Jazz club in Beijing where he found his confidence and voice to play the music he wanted to play

Returned from the east and started releasing albums under his own name and with Youpi quartet

The Last Dance album, recorded live

Second live album: Chef Larry, with both albums including some French songs

How Laurent developed his fast playing

Had lessons with classical chromatic player Claude Garden, teaching him to use the pure sound with air, without lips or throat use

Recoded two albums with the Youpi Quartet

Great interaction between chromatic and flute

Latest album from Laurent is a duo with Emilie on flute: Fantaisie Improbable Pour Flutes et Harmonicas

Uses DM48 on this album

Also plays the Suzuki SSCH-56 (Compact Chord) and S-48B bass harmonica on the album

Plays harmonetta now

More on the DM48, with Laurent playing synthesised sounds, rather than instrument emulators

Has released some tuition videos on YouTube

Next album to be released recorded in Greece

10 minute question

How did he split his practise regime when practising 8 hours per day

Switching from 12 hole to 16 hole chromatic, which was a challenge

Advantages of 16 hole over 12 include playing octaves, making it sound like another instrument

Chromatic of choice is Suzuki Fabulous, also the Sirius

Still plays a little diatonic

Has a show for children where he plays some diatonic

Only plays C chromatics

Embouchre: mostly puckers but working on tongue switching

Amp used is a Roland Mobile Cube

Set-up when performing with DM48

Mic of choice is wireless Shure

Effects and Ableton Live

Wants to explore DM48 using a foot pedal

Info

Happy Hour Harmonica Podcast

Laurent Maur interview

Dec 09, 2022 Season 1 Episode 75

Neil Warren

Laurent Maur joins me on episode 75.

Laurent is a jazz chromatic player from France. He first started learning diatonic before moving on to the chromatic to pursue his love of jazz music. He had some lessons with the French classical chromatic player, Claude Garden, helping to advance his technique. Laurent played with a few different bands, touring and recording albums with them before releasing two albums under his own name, and two with the Youpi Quartet. Laurent teamed up with the flute player from this quartet to release his most recent album, of duets with flute.

Laurent makes use of different harmonicas beyond the chromatic and occasional diatonic, playing the recently released Suzuki bass and chord harmonicas as well as being one of the leading exponents of the DM48 midi chromatic harmonica.

Links:

Laurent’s website:
https://www.laurentmaur.com/

JJ Milteau Method for Diatonic and Chromatic Harmonica tuition book:
https://www.melbay.com/Products/20588BCD/method-for-diatonic-and-chromatic-harmonica.aspx

Suzuki SSCH-56: Compact Chord & S-48B (Bass):
http://www.suzukimusic.co.uk/products/harmonica/orchestral.html

Children’s show: The true Story of the Tchepperpou
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghtZ7VOmcus

Midi controller foot pedal:
https://www.keithmcmillen.com/products/softstep/

Videos:

La Cambiada with Orlando Pole:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJEKPe64BH8&list=PL027E88A8BFFE8871

Duo with Emilie Calme in Sunside Jazz Club, Paris:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8t63za4K1Kw

Tuition video on using the Dorian scale:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0A4_M-LNy30

Roland Mobile Cube amp:
https://www.roland.com/au/products/mobile_cube/

Children’s show teaser:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghtZ7VOmcus

Podcast website:
https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com

Donations:
If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB

Spotify Playlist:
Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ

Podcast sponsors:
This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS
and Blows Me Away Productions: http://www.blowsmeaway.com/

Support the show

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Laurent Maur joins me on episode 75.

Laurent is a jazz chromatic player from France. He first started learning diatonic before moving on to the chromatic to pursue his love of jazz music. He had some lessons with the French classical chromatic player, Claude Garden, helping to advance his technique. Laurent played with a few different bands, touring and recording albums with them before releasing two albums under his own name, and two with the Youpi Quartet. Laurent teamed up with the flute player from this quartet to release his most recent album, of duets with flute.

Laurent makes use of different harmonicas beyond the chromatic and occasional diatonic, playing the recently released Suzuki bass and chord harmonicas as well as being one of the leading exponents of the DM48 midi chromatic harmonica.

Links:

Laurent’s website:
https://www.laurentmaur.com/

JJ Milteau Method for Diatonic and Chromatic Harmonica tuition book:
https://www.melbay.com/Products/20588BCD/method-for-diatonic-and-chromatic-harmonica.aspx

Suzuki SSCH-56: Compact Chord & S-48B (Bass):
http://www.suzukimusic.co.uk/products/harmonica/orchestral.html

Children’s show: The true Story of the Tchepperpou
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghtZ7VOmcus

Midi controller foot pedal:
https://www.keithmcmillen.com/products/softstep/

Videos:

La Cambiada with Orlando Pole:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJEKPe64BH8&list=PL027E88A8BFFE8871

Duo with Emilie Calme in Sunside Jazz Club, Paris:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8t63za4K1Kw

Tuition video on using the Dorian scale:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0A4_M-LNy30

Roland Mobile Cube amp:
https://www.roland.com/au/products/mobile_cube/

Children’s show teaser:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghtZ7VOmcus

Podcast website:
https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com

Donations:
If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB

Spotify Playlist:
Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ

Podcast sponsors:
This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS
and Blows Me Away Productions: http://www.blowsmeaway.com/

Support the show

Laurent is a jazz chromatic player, originally from Paris, now living in Burgundy, France

First influence of jazz harmonica was through the Toots Thielemans and Bill Evans album, Affinity, given to him by a maths teacher

Bought first harmonica age 17 with Sugar Blue the first blues player he loved

JJ Milteau Diatonic and Chromatic Method book was first instructional material he used to learn diatonic

Started listening to the other diatonic players: with Sugar Blue and Big Walter his favourites

Blues scene in France was mainly in Paris, but he met two harmonica players in his town, including Dutch chromatic player Tim Welvaars

Spent a lot of time transcribing and essentials needed to learn jazz

Decision to switch over to focus on chromatic harmonica age 24

Blues is more accessible than jazz due to simpler chord structures

Busked and was in several bands playing diatonic from age 19 to 24

Switched to playing chromatic to learn jazz music

Learning curve the chromatic from being a diatonic player

Went to a jazz school in Paris

Practised a lot to make rapid progress and was living on the breadline as a musician

Moved from Paris to Bordeaux where he was able to perform more with jazz chromatic well received by jazz musicians

Playing in different types of bands in Bordeaux helped develop skills

Went to Trossingen in 2000 or 2001, winning the solo harmonica and jazz harmonica competitions

First recording was with the Francis Lockwood trio, harmonica with strings, after playing in a big band

Sent the album to Toots and JJ MIlteau and received encouraging responses back from both

After attending another jazz school, started playing with Orlando Pole in an Afro Venezuelan Latin jazz quintet

Playing with other bands, including Clem Cardenas and Yves Carbonne

Plays some Gypsy Jazz with Mayo Hubert and approach to playing this on chromatic

French player Vincent Bucher plays a lot with African musicians

Spent some years in China and Korea after financial crash of 2008

Popularity of people playing harmonica in China

Spent time in Korea and problematic pollution in Beijing

Played with a great Italian pianist in China and corporate gigs

Laurent played at a Jazz club in Beijing where he found his confidence and voice to play the music he wanted to play

Returned from the east and started releasing albums under his own name and with Youpi quartet

The Last Dance album, recorded live

Second live album: Chef Larry, with both albums including some French songs

How Laurent developed his fast playing

Had lessons with classical chromatic player Claude Garden, teaching him to use the pure sound with air, without lips or throat use

Recoded two albums with the Youpi Quartet

Great interaction between chromatic and flute

Latest album from Laurent is a duo with Emilie on flute: Fantaisie Improbable Pour Flutes et Harmonicas

Uses DM48 on this album

Also plays the Suzuki SSCH-56 (Compact Chord) and S-48B bass harmonica on the album

Plays harmonetta now

More on the DM48, with Laurent playing synthesised sounds, rather than instrument emulators

Has released some tuition videos on YouTube

Next album to be released recorded in Greece

10 minute question

How did he split his practise regime when practising 8 hours per day

Switching from 12 hole to 16 hole chromatic, which was a challenge

Advantages of 16 hole over 12 include playing octaves, making it sound like another instrument

Chromatic of choice is Suzuki Fabulous, also the Sirius

Still plays a little diatonic

Has a show for children where he plays some diatonic

Only plays C chromatics

Embouchre: mostly puckers but working on tongue switching

Amp used is a Roland Mobile Cube

Set-up when performing with DM48

Mic of choice is wireless Shure

Effects and Ableton Live

Future plans

Wants to explore DM48 using a foot pedal