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| Harmonica Groups, Trios, & Bands |
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You've never heard a band with just harmonicas before? Use the following links to visit the websites of the world's finest harmonica groups, trios, and bands past and present. The only instruments you will find in these ensembles are harmonicas.
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- Jerry Murad's Harmonicats
- "With their first hit, "Peg O' My Heart" in 1947, The Harmonicats gained international recognition as one of the premier harmonica talents in show business history. They have been listed in the Encylopedia Brittanica, Guinness Book Of World Records and enjoy a place at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC."
- Borrah Minevitch Harmonica Rascals w/Johnny Puleo
- "As a former member of the Borrah Minevitch Harmonica Rascals, I have amassed a considerable library of collectables, including many photos, posters, playbills, autographs, etc."- Bill Walden. Click for more on Johnny Puleo and here also.
- New World Harmonica Trio
- Quoting Libby Huebner in Just Jazz: "Backed by a driving rhythm section, these three jazz virtuosos blow up a storm on their bass, chord and chromatic harmonicas while masterfully interpreting contemporary and classic jazz arrangements, pop and country tunes. The sheer novelty of this unusual group draws people in and its exceptional music keeps 'em glued to their seats... If you've never heard jazz harmonica before, do yourself a favor and check out this trio and its top notch rhythm men: the harmonica never sounded so sophisticated."
- Original Harmonica Band
- The Original Harmonica Band was a Los Angeles-based group, formed in 1976, and was featured at two SPAH Conventions (1986 & 1988) during their tenure. Sadly, they are no longer together, but they were recognized as one of the top performing/recording groups. Based on the Minevitch/Puleo act, they included a female bass harper, Conley Day, who was supreme. Their music and arrangements were nonpareil. The arranging was handled primarily by both Bill McLean and Dave McKelvy, but all members shared their input. Originally formed with Michael Scott (leader), Michael Burton (chord), Jimmy Curtale (chromatic), Don Powell (chromatic), Conley Day (bass) and Felix Silla (little guy - comedy), they did have some personnel changes over their 14 years of existence. There were three members who remained thruout: Michael Scott, Conley Day and Michael Burton. Later members included Bill McLean, Eddie Gordon, Dave McKelvy, Gary Popenoe, Kevin Thompson and Joe Gibb.
- The Strnad Brothers
- "The three musical brothers, Gerry on bass, Don on rhythm chord, and Frank on lead, started at an early age . . . as perfectionists of tone quality as well as electronic enthusiasts, the three consistantly strive to produce the "big band sound" on harmonicas."
- Swiss Tramps Trio
- "A trio from Olten, Switzerland in the style of Jerry Murad's Harmonicats. The group consists of Rudy Frey (lead), Heinz Stampfli (bass), and Ernst Duerler (chord). The group was formed at the testimonial of April 1981 in Danvers, MA, USA which included Pete Pedersen and Norm Dobson. The Tramps Trio specializes in 'the American sound' in their homeland of Switzerland."
- picca-trio
- The "picca-trio" is a harmonica-trio from Leichlingen (near Cologne) in Germany and consists of the following members: Uli Ott (lead-harmonica), Moses Post (chord-harmonica), and Rainer Wolter (bass-harmonica).
- Troupe da Gaita
- "A professional harmonica group in Brazil called "Troupe da Gaita" (the name in English is similar to Harmonica Troupe or Harmonica Gang)".
- The Society Boys
- "Professional performing trio for Festivals, Shows, Concerts, Corporate Functions, etc. Light Classical, Popular Standards, Blues, Jazz- 1920s to the present. CD, video and audio cassettes available to purchase."
- Fata Morgana
- "Fata Morgana is a harmonica quartet from the Netherlands. The group plays
musical pieces from various styles in arrangements that are written
exclusively for the quartet by two of its members, Rob Janssen and Ronald
Kamminga. Since the group started in 1980, they played over 300 concerts in
9 different countries. "Fata Morgana" competed in the senior group section
of international harmonica competitons five times and reached three first
and two second places. So far, they have released 3 CD's."
- The Adler Trio
- "The Adler Trio has become an integral part of IsraelÕs cultural scene and has won international reputation as harmonica virtuosos. The Trio's rich repertoire ranges from classics to pop, from soul to country and western, the sound of Israel, Ethnic and the Jewish music. With Michal Adler-Gronich on Lead, Dror Adler on Chords and Jacob Kol on Bass, The Adler Trio has thrilled audiences in the United States, Germany, France, Canada, South Africa, Belgium, Switzerland, Netherlands England Uruguay, Japan Taiwan, Hong Kong and, of course Israel itself. The Adler Trio has released 8 LP records and 7 CDs."
- The HARPbeats
- "The HARPbeats is a contemporary harmonica trio covering a variety of great songs once recorded and performed by great harmonica ensembles of the past. Phil Caltabellotta (chromatic harmonica), Walter "Wally" Peterman (chord harmonica), and George Miklas (bass harmonica)."
- Dave McKelvy Trio
- Featured on cable's E! Entertainment channel (five times over the 1999 New Year's weekend as the "Five Year Harmonica Band", celebrating five years of E! Music News), and several times on the 97.1 FM Talk Radio Saturday night program, "C Notes". Both shows are hosted by David Adelson, editor of Hits Magazine, and are broadcast internationally. Adelson has proclaimed on the air numerous times that the Dave McKelvy Trio is his "favorite band on the Planet"!
- Trio Allegro de Armonicas
- "South American Professional Harmonica Trio from Chile. At the site you can see our biography, photos and MP3s. For the moment, the site is only in Spanish, but no problem to send commentaries in English. We will soon also have a site in English."
- Harmonicos
- "Our objectives are, cultivate, promote and preserve the history of Harmonica, the way to play as the trios and groups of old, always with HARMONICAS different and forgotten, that many harp players the new generation, never had contact, saw or heard something like . We want to demonstrate that the harmonic had a glorious past, even before Tuesday its acceptance as a musical instrument. We know that it comes in several styles of music, ranging through its sound of the countries of Blues, Jazz, Country, Classical and Popular Music. The harmonica can be considered alone or accompanied, what few know is that it may be accompanied same!"
- Fresco Harmonica Ensemble
- "A harmonica ensemble from Malaysia that play with various styles of music."
- Walterama
- "The project Walterama began when a group of musicians felt the need to celebrate one of the most revolutionary harmonica players of the Blues, Little Walter. However, the idea of a simple tribute didn't please and these musicians decided to go beyond that. Settled that, six musicians formed the project Walterama, which is based on the songs of Little Walter to produce original compositions, which show the harmonica potential into musical experiences still little explored by the instrument, such as the use of the instrument like a horn section..."
- Svang
- "This Harmonica Quartet called Svang offers a fresh and unusual take on Finnish folk and popular styles like the tango, and on Balkan, Swedish and completely original folk music, by using only the mouth harp, the harmonica, in forms small and large including the chromatic, diatonic, harmonetta and bass."
- The Nostalgics, Harmonica Trio + One
- "From Mesa, Arizona, meet The Nostalgics, Harmonica Trio + One, through the website of drummer Jack Sheldon. Led by Dick Lawrence, the Nostalgics have performed in the Phoenix metropolitan area for well over 30 years. They brought Jack on in November 2001, recorded a CD, and continue to please audiences at public and private functions state-wide. Giving back to their community over the past 6 months, Dick Lawrence (chord) and bassist Terry Lewis taught a group of 75 grade school children to play, and they made a big local splash with a well-attended concert at the end of their school year!"
If you have a harmonica-related website and would like it listed here, please email us with the web address, site title (or player's name), brief description, and the page it should be included on. Also, if you find any 'dead' links or have changed the URL to your site, let us know so we can make the update.
To open any of the pages in a new browser window, right-click and select "OPEN LINK IN NEW WINDOW" ("NEW WINDOW WITH THIS LINK" in Netscape). Macintosh users should click and hold on the link until you can select the same option.
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