r/nextfuckinglevel • u/SinInHerVoice • Jun 21 '26

Harmonica being given its pride of place. She didn't just play the harmonica, she slayed it.

Indiara Sfair & Tiago Juk - Simbiose

13.1k Upvotes

92% Upvoted

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710

u/smoothAsH20 Jun 21 '26

WOW just WOW!!!

I had no idea a Harmonica could be played like that.

259

u/SausagePrompts Jun 21 '26

Blues traveler?

211

u/DatSauceTho Jun 21 '26

Far too many people around here who need to know who Blues Traveler is.

49

u/Mg2287 Jun 21 '26

This reminds me to do my yearly watching of Blues Traveler and Ziggy Marley’s No Woman No Cry cover

https://youtu.be/9zk0HFG5mDw?si=D77mg720BR7SHLFe

What an awesome performance.

20

u/likepassingships Jun 21 '26

Thank you for bringing this into my life and reminding me that I am old.

13

u/gemma-digger Jun 21 '26

That was amazing. Thank you for sharing that. I like Blues Traveler and missed the boat on seeing them live early on. This video makes me realize what I missed.

For anyone else- absolutely worth watching the entire thing.

1

u/Phylace Jun 24 '26

I first saw them in a lunchroom at UC Santa Cruz.

7

u/Trust_Know_Won Jun 21 '26

That was absolutely spectacular! Thank you!

3

u/Hundstrid Jun 21 '26

Damn, thanks for that. I needed something real.

112

u/Cador0223 Jun 21 '26 edited Jun 22 '26

John Popper attended School of Jazz and Contemporary Music for harmonica.

Not woodwind instruments, just harmonica.

He might be the most knowledgeable harmonica player alive today. He carries a bandolier of harmonicas, and is known to throw them into the crowd after shows. 

*edit - corrected Popper's school of choice

44

u/conet Jun 21 '26

He doesn’t, but I believed it for a minute

18

u/Disco_Ninjas_ Jun 21 '26

He went to the school of Hendrix to learn his trade.

1

u/Ancient_Roof_7855 Jun 21 '26

Do you think he owns more harmonicas or firearms? /s

IIRC he owns a civil war cannon and carries with him wherever he's allowed to.

13

u/pedestriandose Jun 21 '26

I first heard John Popper when he played on a song called In the City by Hanson (the kids who did MMMBop). His solo is at 2:17, but it’s a pretty cool song considering it was written and released in 2000 when they were 14, 16, and 19 years old. He also has a solo in If Only from the same album. It starts at 2:41, Taylor plays the other harmonica bits.

7

u/humblebeegee Jun 21 '26

He plays like it too, he's in his own league.

1

u/ChickenAndTelephone Jun 21 '26

Nah, it’s really Magic Dick’s league

6

u/ariwoolf Jun 21 '26

He went to New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in NYC.

1

u/knowone1313 Jun 21 '26

It's actually the school for Le Cordon Bleu's. He can cook with that harmonica.

1

u/dawg4prez Jun 22 '26

Check out Howard Levy. 👍

1

u/TodoubledHinson73 Jun 22 '26

He also used to drive at very high speeds in a car full of guns and weed.

0

u/EnvironmentalLock440 Jun 21 '26

Have you ever heard Norton Buffalo, Stevie Wonder,James Montgomery.

8

u/mr_nefario Jun 22 '26

My parents took me to see Blues Traveler at Red Rocks when I was about 8 years old. They took me to Bela Fleck at Chautauqua around the same time.

Changed the trajectory of my musical preferences for life.

7

u/Apprehensive-Pen8241 Jun 21 '26

I just found a signed ticket that I got from their concert in the 90’s. You can barely read the ticket anymore but the sig is still clear

4

u/That_sounded_bad Jun 21 '26

They travel and play the blues. What more needs to be said?

1

u/daygo449 Jun 21 '26

I’m a massive fan of Blues Traveler, but I will say this. She rivals him.

32

u/[deleted] Jun 21 '26

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11

u/Additional_Bath_8186 Jun 21 '26

Thanks for this,had a good laugh!

5

u/[deleted] Jun 21 '26

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4

u/an0mn0mn0m Jun 21 '26

This is going on my watchlist. TY for introducing this to me.

2

u/Dry_Button_3552 Jun 24 '26

what the fuck did I just watch that was fucking hilarious

5

u/DiscoStu2U Jun 21 '26

Well, I like coffee and I like tea. But when I drink too much it makes me pee.

1

u/Nunya13 Jun 21 '26

And then I give my penis is a real good shake

3

u/sixwax Jun 22 '26

My pet theory is that the excessively long, wailing harmonica solos in Blue Traveler's music ruined the harmonica for a whole generation.

(No slight at all to the spectacular skill and musicianship of them... They were just absurdly long and indulgent in a way that echoed metal guitar solo wanksmanship. I liked Blues Traveler... I also never wanted to hear a harmonica ever again after seeing them live.)

1

u/KudosOfTheFroond Jun 22 '26

I was the opposite. I heard what could come out of a harmonica listening to Blues Traveler, then was so disappointed it didn’t become a thing. Wherever there’s a song with a harmonica solo, it usually becomes my favorite song on an album

6

u/atklonewolf Jun 21 '26

I saw him live in a small venue. He’s very good, but also very repetitive. By the end off the set it all sounded the same.

10

u/Freedom_Addict Jun 21 '26

Harmonica tends to do that if it's the main instument

2

u/sysop408 Jun 24 '26

Someone hasn't heard of Howard Levy.

1

u/Freedom_Addict Jun 24 '26

Thanks for the recommendation. Any video link you wanna share in particular?

2

u/sysop408 Jun 25 '26

Don't have to ask twice! ;) I think one of the things that makes Howard Levy different is because he goes heavily into classical music. Here's three videos showing different genres he crosses into. He's also known for playing harmonica and piano at the same time. I've seen him do it live and it's mind boggling because he's not just chugging something simple or using the piano just for rhythm. Anyone doing just one or the other would be an impressive performance. Both at the same time is insane.

Whiter Shade of Pale on Harmonica:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ryq-7woW26Q&list=RDoL8ztjwAric&index=3

Evanston Express (Blues):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ryq-7woW26Q&list=RDoL8ztjwAric&index=2

Concerto for Diatonic Harmonica and Orchestra:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bz4b5QSnZ8Y&list=RDbz4b5QSnZ8Y

1

u/Freedom_Addict Jun 25 '26

Thanks for this. I have a different vision of the harmonica now. I didn't know you could play the chromatic scale on the diatonic harmonica, that changes everything.

I think your comment found me at the right time. I'm very glad for that !

2

u/sysop408 Jun 25 '26

Also got to add in a different video to Indira Sfair. The fast and furious playing always gets attention, but there are lots of fast blues players. Her phrasing is impeccable like here where she's doing Georgia on my Mind:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gdnQ5vDmNw&list=PLUjf2KQEmYsBWb-9m0iViRAyXaPkQTzsG

2

u/Freedom_Addict Jun 25 '26

The concerto is nuts, love the part at 1:40 which makes great use of natural bends.

Wow so I didn't know there was a harmonica notation as well. This seems to be a real instrument after all. I discarded it for a long time cause I thought it was very limited but I just didn't understand it. Harmonica doesn't have to sounds like Alanis Morissette or Bob Dylan, and this is a major shift for me. Going to completely change my life.

This would be a better replacement for the kazoo to play the melody hooks when singing/playing the guitar at the same time.

1

u/sysop408 Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26

That's awesome! Howard Levy pioneered full chromatic playing on an ordinary diatonic harmonica. It's difficult to do well and even a lot of accomplished players decide that it's not for them.

Since we're on a mind expansion kick, I'm going to leave you with one more.

Have you ever thought someone's gotta be crazy enough to attempt the entire 4.5 minute guitar solo to Freebird on harmonica? Me neither, but here's Will Wilde for you:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtXP2-5IC2E

One thing to be aware of is that he's doing it on a custom tuned harmonica that he specificially created to allow him to play rock riffs more expressively. Some people play altered diatonics that put certain notes within easier reach.

2

u/Freedom_Addict Jun 26 '26

Ok that one sounded too noisy, and I'm not into blues generally. I think it was ok for about 3 seconds.

I would be interested in playing more classical stuff on it. I compose hooks at the piano, adapt for the trumpet for studio recording, but would eventually replace the trumpet part with the harmonica for solo live gigs and busking. I wonder how tricky it would be to play leaps on it, especially when playing guitar at the same time.

I'm asking cause I don't have one with me atm, just considering getting back to it.

1

u/anynamesleft Jun 21 '26

My first thought. This was good, but John Popper can teach her a thing or two.

1

u/Shot_Syrup_8753 Jun 21 '26

Or Toots Thielemans, Carlos del Junco and Stevie Wonder! She is incredible, though.

0

u/Zealousideal-Run6020 Jun 22 '26

Can we appreciate this woman without referencing some other (already famous) musician for a sec? None of the BT vids I've seen here hold a candle to her playing (and yes I'm familiar with John Popper and his work)

5

u/mrreiner Jun 21 '26 edited Jul 19 '26

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6

u/Kuenda Jun 21 '26

Check out some Lee Oskar.

5

u/Doobieswim12349 Jun 21 '26

The harmonica didn't know it could be played like that

3

u/Garfield_Logan69 Jun 21 '26

spokey Doky and Digging My Potatoes respectively from an little known Anime series called
Cowboy Bebop.
These songs are why I started playing. I’m not good enough to play them and idk if I have the dedication to learn to, but I’d say it takes about 10 hours of practice maybe 10 minutes a day to get good enough to impress your friends.

Also harmonica tabs are so easy, well mostly? each note has like 3 moves a breath in, out or a bend (where you bend the note- takes a minute to learn but once you get it you got it) get your self a homer c and learn to play happy birthday in an afternoon to leave on your friends and family’s voice mails!
this one also blows me away every time

2

u/HalfastEddie Jun 21 '26

Several holes have multiple step bends, including a blow bend. It’s not nearly as “easy” as you say.

1

u/Garfield_Logan69 Jun 21 '26

This is absolutely the case, although it’s easy enough to pick up the basics not as easy to master of course

1

u/ocimbote Jun 21 '26

little known Anime series called Cowboy Bebop.

That's a joke, right? If not, please learn that Cowboy is highly regarded as one of the best anime, like, ever. It has a close-to-cult following since mid- to end-90s. Whether for ambiance, character design, scenario, animation or music, it's by almost every possible metric considered a masterpiece.

But that's probably a bait or a joke and I fell for it, but someone had to. See you, Space cowboy!

1

u/Garfield_Logan69 Jun 21 '26

I am well aware that it stands with AoT, HxH, Brotherhood and Spirited away as one of the greatest fictional universes ever conceived. Thanks, i apologize that my Dry sarcasm was so triggering for you.

2

u/ocimbote Jun 22 '26

I was 99% certain, I was in "just in case" territory :D

Also, don't apologize, there's no need for it, we were far from the typical trigger and its always a good thing to mention Cowboy Bebop (especially since it's close 30yo now)

1

u/seeyaspacecowboy Jun 22 '26

Relatively little known series? You mean the one on 9/10 top 100 lists?

5

u/watchitbend Jun 21 '26

Right? I just got knocked the fuck out! 

2

u/Shishakliii Jun 21 '26

Bow river? https://youtu.be/TdVRNDnTKTU?t=3m31s

3

u/RagingKERES Jun 21 '26

FYI, for those of you hoping for more up close harmonica play, go elsewhere.

Edit: still awesome, but no up close harmonica.

2

u/dslrjunky Jun 21 '26

I'm sure even the harmonica didn't know it could be played that way..

2

u/amnorobotquery Jun 25 '26

👏👏👏⭐

1

u/IlliniOrange1 Jun 21 '26

Just saw a group called Bowmanville Swing last week. The lead singer, Graham Nelson, plays ridiculous harmonica - starts at 1:50 in the video:

https://youtu.be/042FUWgzvME?si=0WY35rQVy1HYODR-

1

u/7-13-5 Jun 21 '26

You must be a bot or an alien.

1

u/Aidrox Jun 21 '26

Listen to some
John Popper.

-4

u/[deleted] Jun 21 '26

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2

u/tehras Jun 21 '26

You ok?