| . Brazil is a long way from Chicago (a | | | | excited about the sound that we have going on |
| measured 5276 miles as the crow flies), | | | | today, very swingy and jazzy, with lots of |
| but not so far that this young artist didn't | | | | other American Roots influences but always |
| feel that Chicago blues influence. He | | | | with traditional blues as the center element. |
| started playing the blues harp at 15, by | | | | |
| listening to harmonica blues masters such as | | | | Â CHC How important was William Clarke for |
| Little Walter, and Big Walter Horton, and | | | | you? |
| learned the basics from Brazil's leading | | | | |
| harmonica players. At 17 years of age, | | | | JR Bill Clarke was a huge influence on me, he |
| Johnny played at what has been Brazil's | | | | taught me how to play the chromatic harp and |
| largest blues festival. Once he picked up | | | | 3rd position diatonic in that George Smith |
| the harp he could not put it down. | | | | style, and hanging out with him at his house |
| "Addicted" to playing the harp, he followed | | | | listening to records and watching videos was |
| the pull of its magic north until he had | | | | a priceless education. He really got me |
| arrived in California where he had discovered | | | | "addicted" to that bluesy Jazz sound, and we |
| many of the contemporary blues harp masters | | | | talked a lot about the saxophone approach to |
| lived. (It is 6206 miles from Rio de | | | | the harmonica. And that was kind of like the |
| Janeiro, Brazil to San Diego, CA, or twice | | | | same education that he got from George Smith, |
| as far as San Diego is from Bangor, Maine. ) | | | | he shared with me lots of great stories about |
| Johnny studied under William Clarke to play | | | | George and Shakey Jake and his mentors. |
| a jazz influenced harp in the style of George | | | | |
| "Harmonica" Smith. After arriving in | | | | Â CHC Can you describe the feeling of |
| California he was invited to join Jaimie | | | | playing the 13th Annual Battle of the Blues |
| Wood's band, a steady gig since he made | | | | Harps with other harp greats as Rod Piazza, |
| California. He has since played with blues | | | | James Harman, etc... |
| harp masters such as Johnny Dyer, James | | | | |
| Harman, Gary Primich, Rod Piazza, James | | | | JR In the same manner that Clarke was an |
| Cotton, Billy Branch, among others. This | | | | influence on me, Johnny Dyer, Rod Piazza and |
| young performer has a promising career ahead | | | | James Harman have been wonderful to me by |
| of him. | | | | sharing their collective wealth of musical |
| | | | knowledge. It was an honor for me to play |
| CHC How is it possible that a young kid in | | | | along side them in this premier blues harp |
| Brazil discovers George Smith, Sonny Boy, | | | | show that has been going on for so many years |
| Walter Horton, etc... | | | | here in California. Also, that year Jamie |
| | | | had the distinction of being the first female |
| JR It definitely wasn't a type of music that | | | | to front a band at that event, and we were |
| young kids in Brazil, specially back in the | | | | asked to return this past year for the 15th |
| late 80's and before the internet, had easy | | | | annual battle of the blues harps. |
| access to. Luckily, I came across a record | | | | |
| store in Ipanema that had some blues vinyls | | | | CHC Can you tell us some more about your |
| for sale. So it was fortunate that for the | | | | other musical projects beside playing in |
| first year I was learning to play the harp, | | | | Jamie's band? |
| all I had was Sonny Boy's LP with the | | | | |
| Yardbirds, Little Walter's double LP "Boss | | | | JR Our band collaborates with Johnny Dyer |
| Blues Harmonica", and Big Walter Horton with | | | | quite a bit, and he really likes to have me |
| Carey Bell. | | | | playing harp while he's singing, to get that |
| | | | Muddy Waters sound. It's a privilege and a |
| CHC Why did you chose the harp as your | | | | lot of fun to trade harp licks with him! I |
| instrument? | | | | also occasionally play in a country blues duo |
| | | | setting with Nathan James, my partner in |
| JR My brother had a friend who was putting | | | | Jamie's band for many years, he sings and |
| together a band and I was hanging out with | | | | plays that fingerpickin' acoustic delta |
| them at their first couple of rehearsals. | | | | guitar style. In addition to that, I intend |
| They came up with a song that called for a | | | | to release my own CD with several harp |
| harmonica, so I figured I would buy me a harp | | | | instrumentals plus some special guests and |
| and be a part of the band. By the time I got | | | | friends, just a fun project with lots of |
| any good they no longer had that band, but I | | | | different styles from straight ahead blues |
| never stopped playing. | | | | shuffles to soul jazz with organ and |
| | | | saxophone. I already have a few songs |
| CHC Â Was it because of the music that you | | | | recorded, so maybe sometime next year it will |
| moved to the US? | | | | be ready for release. |
| | | | |
| JR Yes, once I was "addicted" to this music, | | | | Â CHC What's the difference between Hering |
| I wanted more of it than was available to me | | | | harmonicas and Hohner or Lee Oskar? |
| in Brazil at that time. Once I discovered | | | | |
| that many of the contemporary blues harp | | | | JR Hohner harmonicas have been around for |
| masters lived in California, I figured that | | | | over a hundred years as the number one |
| was the place for me. So I have been living | | | | harmonica manufacturer and they make great |
| in California for the past 10 years, and it | | | | harps. I have not had much experience with |
| has been real good for me. But since the | | | | Lee Oskars. Hering has been improving their |
| "internet revolution", the blues scene in | | | | harps in a great way these past few years, |
| Brazil has grown a lot and I have had the | | | | I'm officially sponsored by Hering and |
| good fortune to return home with Jamie Wood | | | | endorse their "Special 48" chromatics and the |
| and tour Brazil and Argentina three times in | | | | "1923 Vintage" diatonic harps with sealed |
| the last three years. I'm very happy to be | | | | wood combs. I am really happy with the fine |
| playing in Jamie's band. She is a great | | | | work they have done with their harps, almost |
| vocalist and entertainer, and I'm very | | | | treating them as customized harps. |