"Over the Rainbow" - chromatic harmonica jazz

"Over the Rainbow" played by Phil Caltabellotta is a legendary standard that works well with a smooth jazz feel. I'm giving it a try here. This is what I'm thinking at this moment and am projecting it from my brain to my harmonica. Hey...this is what makes jazz so cool, whether one is playing fast or slow!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• jazz
• chromatic harmonica
• Over the Rainbow
• smooth jazz
• Phil Caltabellotta
• garden state harmonica club
• harmonica

[ElizabethGS]

terrific, Phil. I loved it. I played along..but as usual, had to use my A chromatic (I cheated) :) Now if only 'cheating' could get me close to your tone, vibrato...anything remotely similar ..I'd be a happy camper! :)

[philcaltabellotta]

This song is one of my favorites. Glad you enjoyed it!

[MUKERJEE70]

I am getting amazed day by day by the sweetness and soul of your renditions. I will need a rebirth to have this tone. Awesome.

[philcaltabellotta]

Thanks for your kind and inspiring words. It's great to have comments from fellow harmonica players around the world!

[kkkkeyur]

What an excellent play Sir ! Thank you very much.

[philcaltabellotta]

Once again, I'm glad you liked it!

[Nirethel]

@SuzukiHarpmaster

the title of the video is "chromatic harmonica jazz" so im assuming it is a chromatic harmonica.

[Themaddprof]

Good job my brother Chromaticist. I was never able to hold the mike and play at the same time. That really requires talent. Plus, your tone sounds great.

[ElizabethGS]

@MUKERJEE70 I made the EBay suggestion solely as a way to provide a solution for making your own repairs, perhaps also using youtube videos for instruction, especially since instruments are so costly and replacement parts difficult to obtain in your area, not for profit. A lot of people here who can't spend money on repairs or new instruments do the same. Chromatic players from countries in Africa have written about similar problems to yours. Only wish I knew of a better solution.

[MUKERJEE70]

@ElizabethGS Thank you Mam for the advice. But as the number of serious players is very limited here business related to Harmonica repair is still not profitable. But I will look after the ebay things for myself.

[freereeder]

@ElizabethGS Thanks.

[ElizabethGS]

@MUKERJEE70 I'm curious: do you have any access to EBay in India as we do here? People do sell older (and cheaper) chromatics such as 260's, 270's and 280's on EBay (but beware of cracked combs - ask for close up photos of the back of them before making a bid). I've bought several in the past for around the $30 American range - which can certainly be used for parts (reedplates, mouthpiece parts, slide buttons, reeds,etc). A comb can be repaired IF left on while the glue sets up too.

[ElizabethGS]

@freereeder If you'd read any of my other comments here you might know that I'm a very good friend of Phil's and know full well what instrument he's playing (as I've specified in several posts). He played a 280 for years until switching to a Suzuki. I don't care what you'd 'recommend' or not for what 'I' use to play along. In fact Phil agrees - whatever works for me, works for me and he's all for me using my favourite A chromatic when we play together at the Club meetings.

[watermelonsmoothies]

That was beautiful. Great tone and fabulous runs. Rags.

[freereeder]

@ElizabethGS We can certainly agree that my good friend Phil is a sensational player. But as a bit of advice, I wouldn’t recommend an A instrument for playing along in this instance. He’s playing in Eb (the usual key for “Over the Rainbow”) and Eb also happens to be my favorite key for facility on a C harmonica...as a matter of fact I find it easier than playing in C. If you know him, ask what key instrument he's using here...looks like a 16-hole C.

[ElizabethGS]

@SuzukiHarpmaster Phil only plays a C Chromatic. He always played a 280 Hohner until switching to Suzukis a couple of years ago. He also plays Chords and the occasional diatonic. He's so good a musician he taught himself to play Chord and is now a fabulous chord harmonica player - allowing other chromatic players to play lead in duets. He does this all 'by ear', working out the arrangements in his head. It's just astonishing to be present to hear him Live.