David "Honeyboy" Edwards Shares a Big/Little Walter Story

David "Honeyboy" Edwards Compares and Contrasts Big Walter and Little Walter
11/2005
(Transcription below with some paraphrasing for meaning)

"FAT MAMA" Walter Horton and Johnny Shines

Pictures and Video taken by BIG ALEX

The question I asked "Honeyboy" was this: Please describe your experiences, and time with Big Walter and Little Walter? Can you compare and contrast them?

Note: Sound maybe a little grainy, but the details are there please listen very closely for details.

David "Honeyboy" Edwards (DHE)

0:56sec DHE First mentions Little Walter

1:23sec DHE First Mentions Big Walter

1:25sec DHE Mentions that Big Walter was the BEST harp player in Chicago

1:29sec DHE Mentions that it was Little Walter who had the best sound

1:37sec DHE Mentions that Little Walter could make the Harp sound like a "SAX".

1:42sec DHE Mentions (I believe I heard) That Big Walter could play trough the strength of the harp (I believe he means the limits of the harp).

1:44sec DHE Mentions that Big Walter could take ONLY THREE HARPS (Into a set or gig) and play with ANY band or man.

1:50sec DHE Mentions that most harp players have many harps all along their waist, in their pocket and everywhere.

1:55sec DHE Mentions or continues to say that Big Walter only needed but three (three harps)

2:05sec DHE Mentions that it didn't matter what band Big Walter played with... his ability to play was so good ...that it would shine through the band...very clear...you could look through the music
(I believe he is saying that Big Walters music stood out like an orange jacket in the woods) ( Holds his hand to his eye mimicking a direct point or target).
Big Walter was good. He was Good. But that's the problem if you play to much harmonica. He played too much.

2:16sec DHE Mentions that Little Walter would sit on one KEY (sustain a note), just like a guitar player would. You take a guitar player. You take a good guitar player...he can play all over and everything on there (points to his guitar...meaning on the guitar). That same guitar player can take one string and kill em' dead. One String (as he moves his finger over one string). Just like Little Walter did (on that one note/sustain note)...he would stop them in their tracks (Paraphrasing)

Chicago, IL
11/2005
http://www.davidhoneyboyedwards.com/

Category:

Music

Tags:

• blues
• harmonica
• Blues
• Harmonica
• Folk
• Chicago
• Lake
• Shore
• Drive

[hbvold]

Nice to see honeyboy talking, and thanks to you big alex for telling us about the video, It`s not easy too understand his talking

[BigAlexB1Blues]

I believe he was really sick;this made for a bad sound. But if you read the transcription and review the film it should make sense the second time around. Thank you for your comments. I actually asked the question and it took off. You can see that the person who was also to document him was sitting with a camera by him, meaning I'm the only person who has this video clip (bad documentation on her part).I do have this clip to share with you all. I'm planning to interview him at his home soon.

[tweezee]

maaaaan I luv Honeyboy music. That ol' delta blues gets me. I wish I could play like that.

[arjhendrix]

thank you.

Peace

[cedricleecason]

another lesson, let the blues settle and you dont have to play many notes, just good tone, timing and feel...thanks honeyboy!!!!!

[zanzibu]

This is good stuff! Real dedication to the guys who really made it happen for us to enjoy!