People have been asking about harmonica being used for styles other than blues, country and jazz. Funny you should mention it.
At the SPAH convention, I'll be doing a seminar on harmonica as used in Irish, Scottish and French Canadian music (the latter fueled by a recent record-hunting expedition in Montreal), all closely related. I'll be playing plenty of records (including the Murphys, Brendan Power and Mark Graham, of whom you may have heard, and plenty of others you probably haven't heard of).
The other seminar I wanted to do but for which there was no time slot available was "Overblowing the Blues", so now I'm trying to see if I can shoehorn a seminar's worth of material into a 5-minute song to be delivered at the Thursday Blues Jam.
Two more reasons to come to St. Louis. Not to mention the presence of perennial attendees like Joe Filisko (master diatonic builder and sly musical wit), Buzz Krantz (someone you never forget once you've met him!), Danny Wilson (bass harmonicist, harmonica artist publicist, Harmonicats and Lee Oskar veteran, giver of positive vibes), Richard Farrell (harmonica merchant), Al Smith and Judy Simpson (performing duo, harmonica rhythm section and teachers), David Flack ("Flack-man" a true harmonica fanatic with some fascinating insights and a guitar signed by an amazing array of harmonica greats), and many, many others whose names may not appear on the list of official attractions, but nonetheless contribute an amazing array of riches to the fabric of every SPAH convention.
Not to mention the perennial surprises. Classical players from Hong Kong, clog-dancing harmonica players from Quebec, Argentinian tango harmonica, cute, quick-witted harmonica scientists from the hurricane belt - you'll miss out if you're not on the scene.
Wanna spend the better part of a week totally wired with a hotel full of resourceful harmonica nuts, and get so excited you can't breathe? You know where to come . . . . .
