News
Route 66 Harmonica Club and the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame present
Harmonica Summit 2012
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Doors open 11 am - midnight
Tulsa's 3rd Harmonica Summit will feature harmonica aces RJ Mischo, Adam Gussow, Ronnie Shellist and Todd Parrot. The 2012 Harmonica Summit, presented by the Route 66 Harmonica Club and the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame will take place on Saturday, February 25th at the Jazz Depot, 111 E. 1st St., Tulsa, OK. Doors open at 11 am and programs start at noon, continuing well into the evening. Admission is $15 for the entire event, kids under 14 are free with an adult.
This celebration of the harmonica will include a Kids Harmonica Workshop at noon, with free harmonicas and lessons for the first 50 participants, presented by award-winning Blues Educator David Berntson. Headlining artists are nationally recognized harmonica educators and will be presenting ongoing workshops throughout the afternoon, featuring Blues harmonica, soloing, theory, note bending, overblowing/overdrawing and gospel harmonica. Other workshops will include harmonica care and repair by local harmonica customizer Mike Peace, electric harmonica, microphone and amplifier workshops by Kansas City's “Mr. Microphone” Dennis Oellig. Product displays and harmonica related giveaways will take place throughout the event.
Opportunities will abound for harmonica players to jam with a featured combo during the day. The evening festivities will be hosted by 2006 Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame inductee Jimmy “Junior” Markham, beginning with a Tulsa harmonica showcase at 6:30 pm, featuring the finest local harmonica players, backed by some of Tulsa’s best musicians. The evening showcase event, beginning at 8 pm, will feature performances with North Carolina gospel harmonica player Todd Parrott, Chicago Blues style harpist Ronnie Shellist of Boulder, Colorado, Adam Gussow, busker extraordinaire from Oxford, Mississippi, and international Blues star RJ Mischo of Fayetteville, Arkansas. Each of these world renowned harmonica players will bring their own magic and style to the Jazz Depot.
Full event schedule and details will be posted soon on the Route 66 Harmonica Club website.
Sponsors for this event include:
Route 66 Harmonica Club - www.route66harmonicaclub.com
Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame -www.okjazz.org
Blues Society of Tulsa - www.bluessocietyoftulsa.com
Hohner Harmonicas USA - www.hohnerusa.com
The Music Store - www.musicstoreinc.com
For sponsorship opportunities, contact David Berntson, bernesto@sbcglobal.net, 918-381-8999
As the great Sonny Boy Williamson said….”Don’t just meet me there, beat me there.”
Artists
RJ Mischo – Fayetteville, AR
R. J. Mischo began singing and playing harmonica in the Minneapolis area in the late '70s. His 1992 album Ready to Go, won praises far and near and still has an unmatched magic about it. Mischo was nominated for several Minnesota Music Academy Awards while in Minneapolis, and in 1996, he won the award for Best Harmonica Player. After living in San Francisco for several years, RJ recently relocated to Fayetteville. RJ's electric harmonica workshop will be a favorite for players looking for big, fat harmonica tone. A prolific recording artist, RJ is currently touring the US and Europe. RJ's newest recording on the Delta Groove label is scheduled for 2012 release.
Adam Gussow – Oxford, MS
http://youtu.be/_FstQRCw93Y
Ronnie Shellist – Boulder, CO
The blues has been a part of Ronnie's life for over 15 years now. It all began in Austin, Tx where he was exposed to some great blues artists and eventually picked up the harmonica in search of that bluesy sound that lured him in. Blues harmonica has been Ronnie's focus from the beginning. He carries the torch of the classic blues sound with his own unique modern approach. Ronnie's harmonica instruction at his website harmonica123.com resonates with thousands of students around the world. We are excited to have Ronnie sharing his talents as an educator and musician at the Jazz Depot.
Todd Parrott – North Carolina
A multi-talented musician with a genuine love for people, Todd has an amazingly wide repertoire of songs and sounds geared towards those who are in need of little encouragement, reassurance, or even a laugh. The harmonica, generally perceived as an insignificant or accompaniment instrument, comes to life as Todd demonstrates its power and versatility through an array of musical styles. Be prepared to hear the gospel, blues, country, classical, jazz, trains, and a few other harmonica surprises thrown into the mix. His workshop will focus on gospel harmonica and advanced techniques.
http://youtu.be/dZj5hCsx8vo
Jimmy “Junior” Markham – Tulsa, OK
Oklahoma Blues legend and Jazz Hall of Fame inductee, Jimmy Markham is the heart and soul of harmonica in Tulsa. Known as the caretaker of the Tulsa Sound, Jimmy's connection to Tulsa's iconic musicians spans decades. Jimmy continues to entertain and carry on the tradition that makes the Tulsa Sound recognized around the world. He is responsible for bringing this Harmonica Summit to life.
http://youtu.be/8dE9qFiwdk0
David Berntson – Tulsa, OK
Blues Educator and musician, David Berntson is the recipient of the Blues Foundation’s 2006 Keeping the Blues Alive in Education Award. David has been performing and presenting Blues Education for over 25 years. David's gifts at connecting with people, especially children, and his passion for blues and empowering young people are apparent in every one of his presentations
Dennis Oellig – Kansas City, MO
Dennis Oellig, aka Mr. Microphone, is an expert at building and repairing custom and vintage harmonica microphones. Dennis' knowledge, gained over decades with a solder gun, helps harmonica players achieve that much sought after, horn-like, harmonica tone. His workshops are fun and loud!
Tulsa Harmonica Summit 2012
Workshop and Performance Program
11:00 am Doors Open – Registration for Kids Harmonica Class
Limited to first 50 participants.
12:00-12:45 pm Blues Harmonica Class for Kids - David Berntson – Crossroads Learning Experience (Library
1:00 pm “Jameteria” opens – Café – 4 hours of open jam sessions for anyone with a
desire to play. Guitar accompaniment provided
1:00-2:00 pm Blues & Gospel Harmonica Workshop – Todd Parrott (Library)
2:15-3:15 pm Blues Harmonica Workshop – Ronnie Shellist (Library)
3:30-4:30 pm Blues Harmonica Workshop – Adam Gussow (Library)
4:30-5:30 pm Amplified Harmonica Techniques – RJ Mischo & Dennis Oellig – DJ’s
Custom Electronics (the Studio)
ongoing Harmonica Repair – Mike Peace (Main Lobby)
5:30-6:00 pm Break
6:00-7:30 pm Tulsa Harmonica Showcase – Ray D. Rowe, Mike Peace, Pat Cuinn,
Hewlett Nash, Chuck Caton, James “Stretch” Moon, Robert Riggs, Gary
Eldridge, Steve Corbett, Mike Travelletti, Little Sonny Hill (Concert Hall)
7:45 pm Blues Harmonica Blowout-
7:45-8:00 pm – Rudy Scott
8:00-8:15 pm – Junior Markham
8:20-8:50 pm – Todd Parrott
9:00-9:30 pm – Ronnie Shellist
9:40-10:10 pm - Adam Gussow
10:20-10:50 pm – RJ Mischo
11:00-11:30 pm – Finale
**Schedule subject to change
