From: Christian N Michalek Date: Mon, 4 Mar 1996 11:20:51 -0600 (CST) Subject: R.J.Mischo/mpls harp scene
> I have a couple of recording by R.J Mischo (Gonna Rock Tonight) > and the (Ready to Go)albums. I never see his name mentioned on this list but > he seems to be pretty good and I certainly enjoy listening to him and his > group. Does anybody share my feelings or know him and I just wondered how he > ranks with some of the better known artists that play the blues harp.
RJ plays mostly around mpls and st. paul. Blue Loon record has sent him to europe a few times and he has played in iowa and kansas city on occasion.
He is a tradional-tongue block-stylist mostly playing within the realm of the sonnyboys, LW, BW.
He uses an old stock JT-30 through a 57 bassman and 65 fender spring reverb unit.
Aside from his own albums he can be found on a couple of albums with Percy Strothers. He also can be found on Mojo Bufords Harpslinger album which includes another local harper Curtis Blake ( a better harp player IMAO)
RJ is a solid performer, good tone and voice, but lacks the flash and presence of the big name performers like Piazza and clarke.
A few months back Blues Revue gave a fair review of RJ album. BAsically the article stated he was still a bit young but slowly risingthrough the ranks.
RJ is probably the busiest harp player in Mpls and can be heard on most mondays where he has lead a blues jam for some 6 years.
Anyone traveing through mpls can delight in the fact that we have many good to great local harmonica players in all styles.
If passing through town don't miss Curtis Blake Clint Hoover RJ Mishco Steve Grosshans Steve Vonderharr David Hytone (great name for a harp player)
Dave Hytone plays like John Popper quite effectively...
Curtis Blake is the best blues/rock harp player in town
Clint Hoover having spent several years out east studying under Mike Turk and Robert Bonfilio is a complete and total monster on both chromatic and diatonic. It is rumored that Clint is slightly responsible for the creation of John Popper during his stay out east. Clint does not deny this fact and maintains that he didn't give him too many lessons, however they were supposedly some of poppers first harmonica lessons.
Everybody else on the list is from the tradtional vein of blues with RJ being toward the top of the group.
Mlps is also the home of many great non performing harmonica players... Don Allen Dick Gardner Jack Bacon
All from the the chromatic old school and all responsible for making me the player I am today.
- -Chris MIchalek
I'm sure Harv wrote a response to this too so this message can be disregarded....
