RJ Mischo interview

RJ Mischo joins me on episode 56.
RJ hails from the twin cities of Minneapolis-St Paul, where he developed his craft with a little help from local player Slim Lynwood. He then teamed up with Mojo Buford to perform around the cities, including recording an album with Mojo.
With numerous albums out under his own name, RJ has also made a career out of performing gigs with ‘pick-up’ bands when he goes on tour, giving his live shows the freshness and spontaneity that he likes to bring out.
One thing that really stands out is the plentiful fine harmonica instrumentals across his album releases.
RJ is back to work so look out for one his gigs and be sure to check out this great player.


Website:
http://rjblues.com/

Videos:

Song from Mojo Buford Harpslinger album:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKjF_gMSQSs

Song from Blues Deluxe album:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTJCosoKm3g

Song from I Hope You’re Satisfied album:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YASa-rg3Bdg

Playing harmonica on a rack using RackIt:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYK1KPydSDc

RJ teaching at Harmonica Collective:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ee-e3WfqEoM

Playing with Junior Watson in 2021:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-v7y-_NK-M


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/

Chapters

• 1:14 RJ is based on the west coast of America, although originally from the twin cities of Minneapolis-St Paul
• 2:12 Started playing at the young age of 10 and professionally by age 19
• 3:01 Started playing harmonica when picked up his brother’s harmonica
• 3:52 Johnny Winter with Walter Horton was some of the first blues RJ heard
• 4:50 First started learning harmonica by playing along with records and difference of learning with vast resources available today
• 6:40 Hearing a Muddy Waters concert really turned RJ onto the blues, with Jerry Portnoy and Mojo Buford on the bill
• 7:59 Moved to the twin cities and met Lynwood Slim, where RJ made his first appearance with a blues band
• 9:15 Had appeared with Country and Western songs prior to this
• 10:25 RJ plays a lot of blues chromatic, which he initially heard from Lynwood Slim
• 11:46 RJ’s association with Mojo Buford, including recording the album Harpslinger with him
• 13:39 Where Mojo Buford got the stage name ‘Mojo’, and he was a harp player with Muddy Waters
• 14:43 RJ’s Ready To Go album from 1992, and before that had some albums with Blues Deluxe
• 15:36 Had some success with the Kid Morgan Blues band which led on to some touring in Europe for RJ with another band
• 17:58 Has used ‘pick-up’ bands extensively when touring
• 19:18 How RJ approaches playing with a pick-up band
• 20:48 Picked up by a German label, releasing several albums through them
• 22:34 Lot of instrumentals recorded by RJ
• 23:30 He Came To Play album
• 25:16 Always like to include a spontaneous recording on an album
• 26:18 Moved to California in 1998 and blues scene on west coast of US
• 27:44 Techniques he’s asked other players about
• 28:47 Started playing with Rusty Zinn when first moved to California
• 29:40 The advantage to being the singer as well as harmonica player
• 32:14 Knowledge You Don’t Get In School album
• 32:59 Make It Good album
• 33:23 How RJ comes up with his harmonica instrumentals
• 35:54 I Hope You’re Satisfied is RJ’s latest album
• 36:49 Everything I Need is a self-produced album
• 36:54 Working on a new album of mostly solo material
• 37:10 Playing harmonica on a rack including using the RackIt by Greg Heumann
• 40:12 RJ was shot at one time
• 41:06 Played with Trickbag in Sweden and on Mark Hummel’s Blues Harmonica Meltdowns
• 42:15 Recorded some parts for Dave Barrett’s Mel Bay harmonica tuition books
• 42:50 Listed in the Encyclopaedia of the Harmonica
• 43:00 Taught at several of Jon Gindick’s harmonica camps
• 43:42 10 minute question
• 44:17 Tone
• 47:08 Tongue blocking
• 47:54 RJ is a Hohner endorsee
• 48:24 Plays custom Marine Bands
• 50:12 Favourite key of diatonic
• 50:33 Different tunings
• 51:38 Chromatics of choice
• 52:21 Different positions
• 52:50 Overblows
• 53:10 Amps of choice
• 55:01 Doesn’t use effects pedals and travelling light
• 55:36 Small amps
• 56:02 Mics
• 56:55 Recording set-up
• 57:25 What has RJ been doing over pandemic and future plans