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Kim Field interview
Manage episode 479118798 series 3646035
Kim Field joins me on episode 133.
Kim’s 1994 book ‘Harmonicas, Harps and Heavy Breathers: The History of the People’s Instrument’ was the first book released on the history of the harmonica. And Kim has recently written the book: The Blues Dream of Billy Boy Arnold, telling the story of Billy Boy in his own words.
Ever on the lookout to meet and learn from the great players, Kim shares the time he spent with Deford Bailey and also when he played on stage with Walter Horton.
Kim has been in several blues bands, and a country band, and has just released a new album with his latest band, The Perfect Gentleman, featuring Kim’s harmonica, vocals and songwriting talents.
Links:
Kim’s website: https://www.kimfield.com/
Harmonica Northwest weekend, Oct 23-26, 2025: https://menucha.org/programs/harmonica-northwest
Kim’s life in music: https://www.kimfield.com/my-life-in-music
Harmonicas, Harps and Heavy Breathers: The History of the People’s Instrument book: https://www.kimfield.com/harmonicas-harps-and-heavy-breathers
PT Gazell review of Don’t Need But One album: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ModernBluesHarmonica/permalink/10162253953062225/
The Blues Dream of Billy Boy Arnold book: https://www.kimfield.com/the-blues-dream-of-billy-boy-arnold
Videos:
James Cotton playing Blues In My Sleep live in 1967: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgS6FG2rtas
David Waldman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eD8EArw7peM
The Slamhound Hunters band - Lawnmower: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjr6YLKKmqY
Podcast website:
https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com
Donations:
If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB
Spotify Playlist:
Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ
Podcast sponsors:
This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS
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Blue Moon Harmonicas: https://bluemoonharmonicas.com
Chapters
1. Kim Field interview (00:00:00)
2. Kim is the author of Harmonicas, Harps and Heavy Breathers: The History of the People’s Instrument, which partly inspired this podcast (00:01:52)
3. Is originally from Seattle (00:02:10)
4. Mother played violin and father played the drums (00:02:24)
5. Learnt the trumpet at school and had a great teacher who focused heavily on tone, which helped when switched to the harmonica (00:02:58)
6. The trumpet made Kim appreciate the advantage of the harmonica, where you breathe both in and out (00:03:34)
7. Was inspired to take up the harmonica after seeing James Cotton in concert in 1968 (00:04:33)
8. Was exposed blues on the Seattle concert circuit (00:04:57)
9. The great band James Cotton when recording for the Verve label and Cotton was so vigorous on stage (00:05:38)
10. Cotton’s Blues In My Sleep was the song that really turned Kim onto harmonica (00:06:16)
11. Great section on Kim’s website where he writes about his life with the harmonica (00:07:33)
12. Kim’s ‘Heavy Breathers’ book was written before the advent of the internet, so all the research carried out was done either in libraries or by interviewing people (00:07:56)
13. The book was a great excuse to talk to many of his harmonica heroes (00:09:29)
14. The book is divided into the different genres of harmonica, and different want the blues to dominate the book (00:10:21)
15. The book just covers mainly American players (00:11:16)
16. Had to reduce the number of pages at the directive of the publisher (00:11:34)
17. Had a companion CD added to the book as wanted to introduce people to the music of the players (00:13:00)
18. Covers the early history of the harmonica with information on the instrument and players who are no longer with us, as well as interviews with contemporary players (00:13:44)
19. Free reed instruments (including the harmonica) were burnt when they first appeared in Germany in the 1820s (00:14:20)
20. The Hohner Little Lady harmonica was the first instrument in space taken surreptitiously by astronaut Wally Schirra, who played Jingle Bells at Christmas time, and he was disappointed not to be endorsed by Hohner after that (00:14:57)
21. Example of Kim’s great writing (00:16:13)
22. Did a minor update to the Heavy Breathers book in 2000, but has no plans to make further updates (00:16:39)
23. Moved from Seattle to attend college in New York, joining first band there including with guitarist Louis Erlanger (00:17:20)
24. Amazing harmonica scene around New York at that time, including David Waldman who recommended Kim take some lessons with Paul Oscher (00:17:48)
25. Other good harmonica players in New York at that time, included Sugar Blue (00:19:03)
26. In lesson with Paul Oscher he learnt about tongue blocking (00:19:15)
27. The time Kim met Deford Bailey (00:19:46)
28. How Kim eventually got Deford to play some harmonica for him (00:22:56)
29. The time Kim got to play with Walter Horton (00:24:41)
30. Sadly there was no recording made of Kim playing with Walter Horton (00:27:50)
31. Kim was in The Slamhound Hunter’s Band in the late 1980s in Seattle, and did a tour of Europe with them (00:28:20)
32. Interviewed chromatic player Charles Leighton, who then helped Kim get the Heavy Breathers book published (00:29:50)
33. After a break from music formed a band called Kim Field and the Mighty Titans of Tone (00:33:03)
34. An issue with harmonica is not being able to play chords properly in a band setting (00:34:39)
35. Was also in a country band, The Titans of Twang, with Kim having a real love of country music (00:35:24)
36. Now living in Portland and has formed the band: Kim Field and The Perfect Gentlemen and has just released the album: Don’t Need But One (00:37:28)
37. PT Gazell posted a good review of the album on Facebook (00:38:17)
38. The Perfect Gentlemen band is centred on Kim, the first time Kim has been in such a band (00:39:17)
39. Ten of the eleven tunes on the album are originals and four instrumentals (00:40:13)
40. The horn section used on the album, including Chris Mercer who has played with John Mayall’s band (00:40:49)
41. How to get hold of the new Perfect Gentlemen album (00:42:15)
42. The producer of the album was introduced to Kim by Ross Garren (00:42:33)
43. The Blues Dream of Billy Boy Arnold book, which came together with the help of Mark Hummel (00:43:22)
44. Billy Boy Arnold was a huge John Lee Williamson fan and met him twice (00:45:29)
45. Due to Covid the 60 plus hours of interviews with Billy Boy were done over the phone and Kim wrote the book in Billy’s words, just piecing them together (00:46:55)
46. Billy Boy has been around the blues scene longer than any other living harmonica player (00:47:23)
47. The two times Billy Boy met John Lee Williamson before he was murdered (00:48:17)
48. Billy Boy was on the blues scene ten years before Muddy Waters and Little Walter hit the scene in the early 1950s (00:49:22)
49. Billy Boy is also a stone-cold ‘harmaniac’ too and met so many of the great harmonica players, including Little Walter (00:50:36)
50. Kim has written for various musical publications (00:50:48)
51. Ten minute question (00:50:58)
52. Harmonica of choice is the Hohner Marine Band (00:51:59)
53. Doesn’t perform using any overblows, but has tried them out, and overblows are a pucker technique, whereas Kim plays tongue blocked (00:52:16)
54. Doesn’t play much chromatic, but took some lessons with Magic Dick and there is a little chromatic on the new album (00:52:58)
55. Mics and amps: has a couple of vintage Fender Bassman’s and some vintage mics from Dennis Gruenling and a Bulletini mic (00:53:44)
56. Likes to use some effects pedals (00:54:32)
57. Urges all harmonica players to learn how to sing as it really helps with the tone on harmonica (00:54:52)
58. Effects pedals are another way to vary your sound. Uses some delay and reverb and uses the Sub ’n Up Octave pedal organ sound on one song on the new album (00:55:41)
59. Plans to tour the new album, playing outside Portland (00:57:02)
60. Is hosting the North West (USA) Harmonica workshops in October 2025 (00:57:09)
133 episodes
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