Magic Dick explains "Whammer Jammer"

Excerpt from an interview with Magic Dick of the J. Geils Band, conducted by Adam Gussow on March 2, 2008. The subject is the classic 1970s blues harp instrumental, "Whammer Jammer."

The complete interview is available as a free mp3 download here:

http://www.tradebit.com/filedetail.php/2833394-Documents-eBooks-Music-Tutorials

Another Modern Blues Harmonica production (http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com)

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Magic
• Dick
• Whammer
• Jammer
• Adam
• Gussow
• blues
• harmonica
• harp
• Geils
• Band

[ncbmullan]

I'm 58 today.

Started blowing harp when I was in 7th grade after listening to KAAY "Mighty 1090 am radio" from Arkansas thru the radio in the 1960s.

Grew up in small midwest twn where @ Grinnell College in 1966-67 Paul Butterfield Blues Band played. Snuck backstage/listened w/kid wonder @ the Chicago Blues and Butterfield's harp. Vowed I'd learn "work song" and I did! Walked to bball practice @ 6am I'd play harp on cold/lonely&dark st. Magic Dick & Lee Oskar, thx 4 your inspiration too

[KudzuRunner]

@ncbmullan: You're welcome.  I'm honored to have been a part of your journey.

[zombyzapper]

There are no shortcuts to creative musicality, whether its woodwinds or guitars...practice, expansion with better players, practice and public performance. Everyone will tell you that. Magic Dick wasn't an "overnight" success! He blew his noids out for years, cross-pollination with horn arrangements like Roy Eldridge and others. Get out there and practice til your brains fall out. As Paul Butterfield always said, never blow hard blow easy and use a mike or tin can for volume.

[KudzuRunner]

@zombyzapper

I agree with everything you've said EXCEPT the final sentence. I blow hard. I played with a guy named Mr. Satan who played hard as heck. It's in my blood. But you're right about MD. He's a horn player. One of the best (and unacknowledged) comping harp players ever. His solo on "Icebreaker" is amazingly spare and hip. No other harp player phrases like that.

[JxT1957]

best rhythm & blues band ever...i remember sno-cone its on their first album

[KudzuRunner]

Sno-Cone is one of my favorite bits of Magic Dick playing.

[Magnum2525]

Once again the greatness of Magic Dick is shown. Holy moly, that guy is a wizard on the stick! Great stuff and I wish there was more out there about his talents! Geils for the Hall of Fame!!!!!

[clrn2mt]

OMG Thanks! I really do think that harmonica players should learn tongue blocking AND lip pursing if they want to mimic accurately specific voicings. Great interview!

[49skate]

very good interview, explaining the secrets to this song :D this is real good for the history of harmonica

[JePpETwintupp]

hji i øopbve tyhjre vbiofde4op casn io hjavbe4 s hjuig ?`

[KTVBOSTON]

THIS is an awesome interview.. Seeing the J Geils Band tonight in Boston.. So psyched..

[rebelfan1216]

kudzurunner: You mention Jimmi Lee,is this the one from Austin,TX.?I met him at the SPAH convention when it was here in Milwaukee,WI..Very nice man.I have 4 of his CD's.I am not a musician by any means.I have taught myself some nice blues & train stuff but I can never get the side to side either blow or draw quite right.I love playing along to different songs.Have you herd of Cadillac Pete? I just meet him this past Sunday.I played a little for him.I was so excited when he said "I'm impressed"

[koschmar1]

This was cool......listened to this song for 40 years, never tried to play it myself , and never really tried to figure out exactly what he was doing in each part , but it was really interesting to hear it "broken down".

Love when MD says about one particular lick - "no it's really simple". Maybe for you my friend....Play on!

[StellarChi]

About the comment that Adam was full of himself here....Adam was simply truly excited to be breaking the song down with the Master.... He actually covers a lot of ground without it taking all night on the phone call. Great harp players like Adam listen well. I was blessed... Jimmy Cotton taught me a couple riffs in Boston and said I was a good listener ....not I was a good student ! It took me years to understand that.... Bravo Mr. Gussow..... Your knowledge of every note, chord and technique h