The interview with Jason Ricci continues on episode 94, part 2.
Jason shares how he has matured into his music, including on his 2021 album, City Country City, playing jazz, funk and blues with New Orleans musician Joe Krown.
Jason goes on to share what he considers to be his best work on harmonica, and the elements that make up a great performance.
He’s recorded two albums with JJ Appleton, and Bad Kind is Jason’s current band, having released two albums so far, and a new album coming out with Bad Kind at the end of the month: Behind The Veil.
Jason has a big social media presence, with Patreon the place to go for his teaching material, with over 600 harmonica related videos available.
And Jason has just released a signature harmonica in partnership with Blue Moon harmonicas.
Links:
Jason’s social media links::
https://mooncat.org/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonricci93/
https://twitter.com/jasonricci93
Patreon page:
https://www.patreon.com/jasonricci
Tip Jason:
PayPal.me/jasonricci
Bandcamp:
https://jasonricci.bandcamp.com/
Harp Gear amplification:
http://harpgear.com/
Videos:
Paul Butterfield induction into the rock ’n roll Hall of Fame:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zix79vpAjG0
2023 SPAH concert:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKPuDDJz66M
Pedal Board (2019):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8CeSabvTy0
Hip-Hug Her with Bad Kind:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMlB_rL8REU
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 Ins
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Jason doesn’t feel he has to prove himself anymore, although still has the drive to work on his music
Supporting his band members is one of his primary motivations
Recent album with Joe Krown, City Country City, is from a more settled Jason
Maturity comes from spiritual growth
City Country City is New Orleans themed music (and is where Jason now lives)
Hoping to make another album with Joe Krown, after a disagreement with him
Formed Bad Kind in 2011, while living in Indiana
Playing long solos on albums is trying to capture the essence of when that happens successfully in live gigs
Down That Road is a New Blood album recorded live from different gigs by a fan of the band
Live At Checkers Tavern is another live album
Doesn’t overdub on albums as he only ever plays completely improvised solos
How Jason tries to break out of musical habits is to practise lots of scales and arpeggios
Some of the songs Jason considers as his best work
The magic happens in Jason’s favourite recordings comes from a sense of freedom, of being able to fly
The importance of technique in playing with soul, and there’s beauty in playing lots of notes
Technique is the only thing that’s not subjective
The importance of delivering different aspects to our performance, and not focusing on just one
How much Jason’s obsessive personality has shaped his music, but life gets in the way of further development
How good a living does Jason make out of the harmonica
Found a tumour behind Jason’s eye in 2019
Finances are a struggle, probably more now than when he was first starting out
If had chosen the saxophone instead, would have been more difficult to rise to the top
Doesn’t think his playing is that technical, compared to other players he admires: Howard Levy, Filip Jers, Konstantin Reinfeld, Gregory Hommert
Filip Jers has just won SPAH player of the year
Two albums with JJ Appleton, which are more acoustic based
Played at Paul Butterfield induction into the rock ’n roll Hall of Fame
Mark Ford was also an influence on Jason
Jason’s sound is now sounding less overdriven, partly because he stopped using the Kinder anti-feedback pedal
Now plays in several different acts, not just one main band, as he did with New Blood, although Bad Kind still his main band
Has recently recorded for a Disney movie and the Netflix movie: A Jazzman’s Blues
New Orleans tends to hire musicians who are based in the city, so Jason is getting more session work, but can’t read music
Chromatic: going to play one song on next album
Disagrees with Howard Levy that the diatonic can be played as a fully chromatic instrument
Using different tunings doesn’t provide full chromaticism, that is needed on certain songs
Not that many people can play the chromatic that well. Jason mainly likes the 3rd position chromatic sound
Loves the micro bending ability of the diatonic
New album coming out end of September 2023: Behind The Veil
Jason has been using Patreon for his tutorial content for 16 years, with a new video every month. Now with over 600 videos
Does a lot of teaching, including scholarships (free tuition for some select students)
Recently appeared at the SPAH 60th anniversary event
Has won various awards, including best harmonica several times
Recently released signature harmonicas made by Blue Moon harmonicas and Jason has been closely involved in the specifications
Harmonica of choice: was Hohner, then Suzuki, now back to Hohner
There will be a choice to purchase the signature harmonicas either set-up for overblows, or not
The tuning of the signature harmonicas
Jason has a great relationship with Tom Halchak from Blue Moon harmonicas
Embouchre: uses pucker or tongue block according to what best suits the music being played
Has three Harp Gear HG50 amps, trying to sell on to buy a Fender Twin reverb to use with the HG50
Plays acoustic mics: currently plays the Lone Wolf Jason Ricci signature harmonica, and previously helped design the BlowsMeAway Ultimate 58
Doesn’t believe in modifying amps for harmonica
Plays the ‘acoustic’ type mics through tube amps, and not a PA, as thinks bullet mics have just one sound
Makes extensive use of effects pedals
