Sam Hinton-2-CDs-Master Of Diatonic Harmonica

Subject: Folklore: SAM HINTON-2-CDs-Master Of Diat.Harmonic
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 20 Jun 05 - 09:27 PM

Well, that ought to read SAM HINTON -- MASTER OF THE SOLO DIATONIC HARMONICA !! And this new 2-CD set is all of that and more.

Folks, this is a paraphrase of a post I just made at the Sam Hinton website telling Sam how much Carol and I enjoyed all of it.

We just spent an afternoon listening intently to the new set of CDs. Sam Hinton does some unbelievable things with that venerable and versatile instrument. Before hearing the recordings, and reading the fine notes, I had no idea that a person could actually play two different parts of tunes, one harmony and rhythm PLUS an alternating bass, with the two different sides of the mouth---all the while blocking wrong notes from sounding with your tongue! What Sam has accomplished here, musically and technically, is mostly lightyears beyond me, but just rest assured that I now realize that playing styles in this new century are, not now, (and probably never were) confined to what I, ignorantly, thought was just a basic "suck-blow, suck-blow, suck blow". It's really astounding what Sam is able to achieve on his numerous harmonicas--even the rare "pipe harmonica" which sounds rather like a steamboat caliope--especially on the riverboat song about "THE GLENDY BURK". The no-longer-manufactured Hohner 2-button Chordomonica is here also---in all it's mesmerizing glory.

For me, one of the great aspects of this set are the spoken introductions for the over 120 songs. We get to hear Sam tell of the musicians he learned from, and the lineage that brought the tunes through time from then to now and from person to person. That traditional pathway has always been important to Sam Hinton, so, of course, it's a big part of this good package. We get to experience the thoroughness that Sam, I suspect, has always exhibited in every project he has taken on---including his marine biology book called Seashore Life Of Southern California. (At age eighty-eight, Sam has a new edition of that volume readt for release quite soon I've heard.)---- As a "mentor-from-afar" and through the mail--Sam Hinton's musical example and work ethic shines through for me like a torch illuminating a pitch black, miles deep, coal mine--at midnight.

As always, I must thank Sam for enlightening me (pun intended) yet again--as he has always done through the decades.

A great extra to this set is that it includes Sam Hinton's appearance on the career igniting radio program, The Major Bowes Original Amateur Hour in 1937. While ON THE AIR, Major Bowes hires Sam to join his traveling shows. Pretty amazing listening, me thinks. I had just about given up hope of ever being gifted with the pleasure of hearing that moment from the early days of our folk song revival in the U.S.A..

Yes, for what it's worth, "I give it a TEN---out of TEN." (I do that because it's "easy to dance to" ;-) But first you'll need to learn the steps to about 100 different dances (almost) expertly rendered here by Mr. Hinton.

And thanks to Adam Miller, and all the others for helping to make this set of two CDs happen. --- Sam has created an important musical gestalt!

To look into ordering it, go to Sam Hinton's website:

http://www.samhinton.org

PEACE,

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: SAM HINTON-2-CDs-Master Of Diatonic Harmonica
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Jun 05 - 10:26 PM

Thanks for the review, Art!

http://www.samhinton.org/

SRS

Subject: RE: SAM HINTON-2-CDs-Master Of Diatonic Harmonica
From: GUEST,Art Thieme again
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 03:50 PM

I just printed a great sketch by Sam Hinton that I found at his website. It depicts Woody Guthrie, and I'd be willing to bet it was done from life. I plan to frame it. Thanks again, Sam.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: SAM HINTON
From: Felipa
Date: 22 Jun 05 - 07:09 AM

here's a thread about a song I learned from a Sam Hinton recording.

Subject: RE: SAM HINTON-2-CDs-Master Of Diatonic Harmonica
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 23 Jun 05 - 06:19 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: SAM HINTON-2-CDs-Master Of Diatonic Harmonica
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 Apr 09 - 04:30 PM

I came across this album while I was researching Whoever Shall Have Some Good Peanuts (which is on another album). It's available for download (cheap!) at Amazon, and the background notes are available at georgewinston.com. I can't quite figure out the connection between Sam Hinton (harmonica) and George Winston (piano), but I like both musicians very much.

This is the most amazing harmonica music I have ever heard. It's hard to believe that this is just one harmonica playing. How does he DO that?

-Joe-

Subject: RE: SAM HINTON-2-CDs-Master Of Diatonic Harmonica
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 01 Apr 09 - 04:43 PM

There is a series of videos that George Winston produced with Sam and posted on YouTube -- l7 lessons on the harmonica, "Sam Hinton's Amazing Diatonic Harmonica Styles". The first one has an introduction by George.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: SAM HINTON-2-CDs-Master Of Diatonic Harmonica
From: astro
Date: 01 Apr 09 - 06:04 PM

One of my students in my general physics course saw the set of Sam Hinton lessons in her High School physics course...sounds like a progressive physics course!

Astro in class looking at Mudcat while students are doing labs....

Subject: RE: SAM HINTON-2-CDs-Master Of Diatonic Harmonica
From: Amos
Date: 01 Apr 09 - 06:09 PM

Sam retired recently--I had the great pleasure of singing, with a number of other locals, at his birthday party and general life-celebration at Scripps a couple of years back. I believe he has moved to a retirement home up in the Bay area; I found a huge pile of his old Sing Out magazines at a local bookshop in La Jolla for three dollars apiece. They have a lot of his books there, those that have not been sold. Every folkie in town must have been haunting the place when the word got out.

A

Subject: RE: SAM HINTON-2-CDs-Master Of Diatonic Harmonica
From: Art Thieme
Date: 01 Apr 09 - 07:16 PM

Somewhere there I found my cookie---and for sure it tastes way better than any Orio !

To whoever found this 2005 notice I posted, thanks so much for resurrecting it. Sam is a great big part of my folk experiences through these numerous revival years. I truly hope that more of you get to know and enjoy his music.

I do hope that Sam is feeling some better.

Art

.

Subject: RE: SAM HINTON-2-CDs-Master Of Diatonic Harmonica
From: DADGBE
Date: 01 Apr 09 - 09:00 PM

Joe,

The connection between Sam and George Winston is through Adam Miller, story teller, autoharpist, guitarist and the hardest working folk singer in the business. He was just visiting here and we were talking about introducing George Winston to Sam's music.

Best,
Ray

---

Threads combined. Messages below are from a new thread.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Sam Hinton Harmonica CD
From: deadfrett
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 11:28 AM

I just received this yesterday and it just knocked me out. It is a 2 CD set entiled "Master of the Solo Diatonic Harmonica".
Each cut has an explanation of what he is doing on the harp. There is also informative booklet which helps, as there are over a hundred cuts on the album. He was truly a Master and will be much missed.Cheers,,Dave

Subject: RE: Sam Hinton Harmonica CD
From: deadfrett
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 11:32 AM

Sorry forgot to add the info Dancing Cat Records EWM-1001. I got my copy from Elderly Instruments in Lansing MI. Dave

Subject: RE: Sam Hinton Harmonica CD
From: Stringsinger
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 01:10 PM

I think it shows that an accomplished artist is often accomplished in many different areas.
Sam was truly a wonder in that he embodied so much talent that it overflowed.

Thanks to Adam Miller for producing this classic recording.

Frank Hamilton