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The
Ian Briggs Harmonica website:
www.btowers.freeserve.co.uk
This radio program on Sonny Boy Williamson (II) a.k.a. Rice
Miller is well worth a listen. http://www.southernmusic.net/sbw2.ram
Jimmy
Reed
Jimmy Reed was born
September 26, 1925 in Dunleith, Mississippi. After serving in the Navy during the
World War II he moved to Chicago, and worked in the steel mills.
It was in the early 50's that he hooked up with his old friend
Eddie Taylor. Reed's signature is easy to spot, the shrill harmonica, boogie
rhythm, Eddie Taylor's guitar fills and of course his wonderful
voice. His simple but
evocative sound of walking bass lines mixed with high and slow harp developed
into a unique, staccato style, with a harp blowing style with a lot less 'suck' than someone
such as Little Walter or Sonny
Boy Williamson#1
The Chess Label turned Jimmy down
in 1953, but he was directed to the Vee-Jay Label by Albert King, whose own career
was just starting. He was one of the first to have "cross-over" success
into the white market, and subsequently (13 times) Jimmy's singles made their
way into the Hot Hundred.
Reed's decline in the 60's is directly in line with the fall of Vee-Jay. He did
manage to produce some decent tracks in the next 10 years. He was hoping to record again but died of a heart attack in
1976. "Reed crammed in plenty
of sessions during his great decade. Though no-one could claim that every track
was a masterpiece, the standard was remarkably high. Jimmy Reed was a giant of
the Blues"
Here is a small sample of Jimmy Reed. The cut is in F and he is playing a B-flat
harp. The notation is straight forward, DB is draw bend, B is Blow, D is draw.
For you new harp players listen closely and you will here him quite clearly
vocalize with the harp which is in a rack (no hands).
"
You Don't Have To Go"
The start goes something like this:
do da daa doo doo ooo wah wah ah a do
2 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 1 1
DB B B D D DB D D DB D D
2 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 1 1
DB B B D D DB D D DB D D
3 4 4 5 6 6 6 5 6 6
D B D D DB D D D B D
5 4 4 3 2 2
D D D D D D
This
was recorded in December 1950 in Chicago. Jimmy Reed (Harp, Guitar, Vocals),
Eddie Taylor (Guitar), Morris Wilkerson (Drums). Vee-Jay LP 1004, reissue
Buddah-BDS 4003, reissue Charly, (CD) Charly Blues Masterworks, Vol.17 Jimmy
Reed -"Bright Lights, Big City"
Jimmy Reed's style
though was on the high end of the harp (more blow than suck) such as this sample
cut:
The Sun Is Shining Record
1957 in Chicago.
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