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Happy Hour Harmonica Podcast

Mike Stevens interview

July 05, 2023 Neil Warren Season 1 Episode 89

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Mike is from Sarnia, Ontario, Canada

Drew on the music of nearby Detroit in his youth

Father had a harmonica lying around and Mike picked it up and really connected with it

Played a tremolo at first, before moving on to a Marine Band diatonic

Didn’t play the tremolo seriously, was just making noises

Mike has a condition called synesthesia, where he shapes shapes and colour when he hears music

Synesthesia is like a “superpower for music”, providing a very visual way that Mike perceives music

How Mike knew he had synesthesia

Loved black string band music early on

Didn’t learn any other instruments when young but maybe aspired to be a drummer

Mike was first drawn to pre-war harmonica, with DeFord Bailey an influence

Mike got into playing Bluegrass music when he answered an advertisement in the local paper

Only got to play three songs in the first Bluegrass band he joined as they were embarrassed to have a harmonica player

Joined another band who won awards, with Mike writing songs and leading the band

How did the harmonica fit into the strings-heavy Bluegrass music

Met the Lewis family Bluegrass band at a music festival, which led to Mike touring with that band without pay (but got lots in tips)

How Mike started playing with Jim & Jesse McReynolds, a famous Bluegrass act

Jesse told Mike he needed to play at the Grand Old Opry, the home of Country (and Bluegrass) music

Mike’s first time playing the Grand Old Opry, having now played over 300 times there

Mike’s gratitude to Jim & Jesse for giving him the opportunities they did

DeFord Bailey was (probably) the first harmonica player to perform at the Grand Old Opry, and Mike’s respect for him

DeFord Bailey was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame

Mike was recently the only musician to play at Jesse McReynolds’s funeral, which Jesse originally requested 34 years ago

The song Mike played at the funeral was ‘Jesse’s Request’

Tips for playing Bluegrass music on the harmonica

The rhythm is the critical part of Bluegrass, more so than just learning the melodies

Mike may well have been one of the first serious Bluegrass players on harmonica

Admires PT Gazell’s approach to playing Bluegrass

Mike’s first album released under his own name in 1990: Harmonica, won the Canadian Bluegrass Record of the Year

Blowin’ Up A Storm album from 1992: a change of direction as not entirely Bluegrass

Mandolin cross-picking technique played on the harmonica

Started the Mike Steven’s project in 1998, releasing the album Normally Anomaly

Mike has long produced looping and soundscape material, including art exhibitions with Larry Towell

Solo performances include looping

The World Is Only Air: an album of original and Canadian fiddle tunes

2005 Old Time Mojo album with Raymond McLain

Recorded two more blues-based albums with Matt Andersen

Album with African percussionist Okaidja Afroso

Gospel album called Life’s Road To Heaven

Latest album, from 2021: Breathe In The World…Breathe Out The Music

Has played with the Atlantic Ballet, composing a song which was choreographed for a ballet performance

Name of ballet piece (36 Hours) came from a meeting a indigenous person in the Arctic Circle

Founded Artscan Circle, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping youth indigenous communities in Canada, and has distributed fifty thousand harmonicas to these people

Documentary made about Mike, called ‘Harmonica Crossing’ about his time playing at The Grand Old Opry

Written a book: ‘Bluegrass Harmonica’, published by Hal Leonard, written from the car while touring

Has won many awards, including Canadian Bluegrass artist of the year for five consecutive years

10 minute question

Played Richter tuning for a long time and recently started playing Brendan Power’s Powerbender tuning

Played Joe Filisko custom harps, then Joe Spiers

Powerbender tuning made Mike approach playing the harmonica in a new way and adding overblows allows lots of different notes and chords

Doesn’t just use Powerbender. Uses whatever gets the job done

How Mike adapts to different tunings

Doesn’t favour any particular harmonica manufacturer

Lee Oskar harps are the only ones that function in the freezing temperatures of the Arctic

Likes to play natural minor tuned harmonicas for the chords

Does play overblows

Doesn’t play chromatic, but wants a robust one that would suit his needs

Recorded singing for first time on latest album

Embouchre: uses both

Amps: Schertler for acoustic, and different vintage amps

Mics: Beyer M88, Shure KSM8

Mike is having a documentary made about him next week

Upcoming gigs and expeditions!

Info

Happy Hour Harmonica Podcast

Mike Stevens interview

Jul 05, 2023 Season 1 Episode 89

Neil Warren

Mike Stevens joins me on episode 89.

Mike is a Canadian who made his name playing Bluegrass harmonica, performing with some of the biggest names in Bluegrass and playing at The Grand Old Opry over 300 times. Mike toured with Bluegrass legends, Jim & Jesse McReynolds, and recently played two songs on harmonica at Jesse’s funeral. Mike won the Canadian Bluegrass artist of the year for five consecutive years, and released a Bluegrass book with Hal Leonard.

But Bluegrass isn’t his only genre, also playing Americana, Blues, solo looping, soundscapes and even ballet and West African music.

Mike also tells us about synesthesia, a condition which means he sees music in colours and shapes, and how this has impacted his music.

On top of all this, Mike has been a leading figure in bringing music to indigenous communities in Canada, distributing some fifty thousands harmonicas to young people.

Links:
Mike’s website:
www.mikestevensmusic.com

Artscan Circle:
www.artscancircle.ca

A Walk In My Dream documentary:
https://mikestevensmusic.com/walk-in-my-dream

Videos:

Playing at the Grand Old Opry with Jim & Jesse:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YIpFQccOUo

Playing at Jesse McReynold’s funeral:
https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTY4NzgyMTYwMjI1ODU0MyZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJmNvcHlfbGluaw==

Playing with Matt Andersen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6iCgQoaViM

TED talk on Artscan Circle: bringing music to indigenous communities:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-4uQoNq4M4

Blue Sky music festival presentation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7s-x9tMn6Q

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

or sign-up to a monthly subscription to the podcast:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/995536/support

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

Support the Show.

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Mike Stevens joins me on episode 89.

Mike is a Canadian who made his name playing Bluegrass harmonica, performing with some of the biggest names in Bluegrass and playing at The Grand Old Opry over 300 times. Mike toured with Bluegrass legends, Jim & Jesse McReynolds, and recently played two songs on harmonica at Jesse’s funeral. Mike won the Canadian Bluegrass artist of the year for five consecutive years, and released a Bluegrass book with Hal Leonard.

But Bluegrass isn’t his only genre, also playing Americana, Blues, solo looping, soundscapes and even ballet and West African music.

Mike also tells us about synesthesia, a condition which means he sees music in colours and shapes, and how this has impacted his music.

On top of all this, Mike has been a leading figure in bringing music to indigenous communities in Canada, distributing some fifty thousands harmonicas to young people.

Links:
Mike’s website:
www.mikestevensmusic.com

Artscan Circle:
www.artscancircle.ca

A Walk In My Dream documentary:
https://mikestevensmusic.com/walk-in-my-dream

Videos:

Playing at the Grand Old Opry with Jim & Jesse:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YIpFQccOUo

Playing at Jesse McReynold’s funeral:
https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTY4NzgyMTYwMjI1ODU0MyZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJmNvcHlfbGluaw==

Playing with Matt Andersen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6iCgQoaViM

TED talk on Artscan Circle: bringing music to indigenous communities:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-4uQoNq4M4

Blue Sky music festival presentation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7s-x9tMn6Q

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

or sign-up to a monthly subscription to the podcast:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/995536/support

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

Support the Show.

Mike is from Sarnia, Ontario, Canada

Drew on the music of nearby Detroit in his youth

Father had a harmonica lying around and Mike picked it up and really connected with it

Played a tremolo at first, before moving on to a Marine Band diatonic

Didn’t play the tremolo seriously, was just making noises

Mike has a condition called synesthesia, where he shapes shapes and colour when he hears music

Synesthesia is like a “superpower for music”, providing a very visual way that Mike perceives music

How Mike knew he had synesthesia

Loved black string band music early on

Didn’t learn any other instruments when young but maybe aspired to be a drummer

Mike was first drawn to pre-war harmonica, with DeFord Bailey an influence

Mike got into playing Bluegrass music when he answered an advertisement in the local paper

Only got to play three songs in the first Bluegrass band he joined as they were embarrassed to have a harmonica player

Joined another band who won awards, with Mike writing songs and leading the band

How did the harmonica fit into the strings-heavy Bluegrass music

Met the Lewis family Bluegrass band at a music festival, which led to Mike touring with that band without pay (but got lots in tips)

How Mike started playing with Jim & Jesse McReynolds, a famous Bluegrass act

Jesse told Mike he needed to play at the Grand Old Opry, the home of Country (and Bluegrass) music

Mike’s first time playing the Grand Old Opry, having now played over 300 times there

Mike’s gratitude to Jim & Jesse for giving him the opportunities they did

DeFord Bailey was (probably) the first harmonica player to perform at the Grand Old Opry, and Mike’s respect for him

DeFord Bailey was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame

Mike was recently the only musician to play at Jesse McReynolds’s funeral, which Jesse originally requested 34 years ago

The song Mike played at the funeral was ‘Jesse’s Request’

Tips for playing Bluegrass music on the harmonica

The rhythm is the critical part of Bluegrass, more so than just learning the melodies

Mike may well have been one of the first serious Bluegrass players on harmonica

Admires PT Gazell’s approach to playing Bluegrass

Mike’s first album released under his own name in 1990: Harmonica, won the Canadian Bluegrass Record of the Year

Blowin’ Up A Storm album from 1992: a change of direction as not entirely Bluegrass

Mandolin cross-picking technique played on the harmonica

Started the Mike Steven’s project in 1998, releasing the album Normally Anomaly

Mike has long produced looping and soundscape material, including art exhibitions with Larry Towell

Solo performances include looping

The World Is Only Air: an album of original and Canadian fiddle tunes

2005 Old Time Mojo album with Raymond McLain

Recorded two more blues-based albums with Matt Andersen

Album with African percussionist Okaidja Afroso

Gospel album called Life’s Road To Heaven

Latest album, from 2021: Breathe In The World…Breathe Out The Music

Has played with the Atlantic Ballet, composing a song which was choreographed for a ballet performance

Name of ballet piece (36 Hours) came from a meeting a indigenous person in the Arctic Circle

Founded Artscan Circle, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping youth indigenous communities in Canada, and has distributed fifty thousand harmonicas to these people

Documentary made about Mike, called ‘Harmonica Crossing’ about his time playing at The Grand Old Opry

Written a book: ‘Bluegrass Harmonica’, published by Hal Leonard, written from the car while touring

Has won many awards, including Canadian Bluegrass artist of the year for five consecutive years

10 minute question

Played Richter tuning for a long time and recently started playing Brendan Power’s Powerbender tuning

Played Joe Filisko custom harps, then Joe Spiers

Powerbender tuning made Mike approach playing the harmonica in a new way and adding overblows allows lots of different notes and chords

Doesn’t just use Powerbender. Uses whatever gets the job done

How Mike adapts to different tunings

Doesn’t favour any particular harmonica manufacturer

Lee Oskar harps are the only ones that function in the freezing temperatures of the Arctic

Likes to play natural minor tuned harmonicas for the chords

Does play overblows

Doesn’t play chromatic, but wants a robust one that would suit his needs

Recorded singing for first time on latest album

Embouchre: uses both

Amps: Schertler for acoustic, and different vintage amps

Modelling amps

Mics: Beyer M88, Shure KSM8

Mike is having a documentary made about him next week

Upcoming gigs and expeditions!