From: cpharr~fsu.edu Date: Wed, 27 Nov 1996 00:26:52 -0600 (CST) Subject: Re: Chris Smith: Jazz Harmonica
On Tue Nov 26 08:21:56 1996 CST, Michael Polesky M.P.A. wrote: >I read an interesting inquiry in the jazz newsgroup. Someone asked about >a harp player named Chris Smith. He has escaped my attention (almost >everything does. . .) and I was wondering if anybody knew anything about >him? I'd love to find out what he is about. Thanks > >Michael
Chris "Hammer" Smith is good diatonic/chromatic player based (still?) in Southern California. He has occasionally ventured north to San Francisco, where I had the opportunity to see him once. His act at the time featured predominately blues rock diatonic, but he did play some chromatic. I believe I've heard some of his chromatic recorded as a guest on some prominent rock artist's album (anyone know who,where,what?) I remember it sounding a lot like Stevie Wonder.
His claim to fame is having played the (diatonic) solo on a Michael Jackson hit from several years back, (was it the duet with Paul McCartney??) but true harmonica aficionados will identify him more importantly by Mr. Smith's possession of one of the few specially made brass comb 64 chromatics crafted by Frank Huang (Chamber's brother). Other players wielding this axe are Charlie Leighton, Roberto Abularach, and Stevie Wonder(?).
