Our upcoming Harp Attack night is promising to be another bumper event. Not only do we have the FREE workshop at 7.00pm, but we've also managed to secure some great prizes for two lucky patrons.
Local business and regular supporter of the Perth Blues Club Concept Music has again provided the major raffle prize for our Harp Attack night. Last year they gave a Bob Dylan Signature Series harp and this year it's a limited edition 240-page commemorative copy of the book Hohner The Living Legend, by Haik Wenzel and Martin Häffner.
This fascinating book was published in 2007 to mark the 150 years since Matthias Hohner founded the company that bears his name. In both German and English, it traces the history of the Hohner company and the development of their harmonicas and accordions, with interviews with Hohner's Chairman, photos of their harmonica production line, a list of some of the Hohner harmonica models produced since 1894 and, as they say, much much more. The highlight of the book is a 60+ page chapter of stunning colour photographs of Hohner instruments, although almost every other page is copiously illustrated. As well as favorites such as the 'Trumpet Call', 'Hohnerphone' and various 'Marine Band' harmonicas, there are also rarities such as the bejewelled 'Red Rose' and the beautifully enamelled 'Echo-Luxe' series. This book belongs on the bookshelf of every harmonica collector, or on the coffee table of anyone who loves good photography.
Kurt Jacob & Co Pty Ltd (KJ Music) of NSW was founded in January 1937 when Kurt Jacob (1911 - 1997) was sent to Australia by M. Hohner to manage the importation, distribution and sales of Hohner Harmonicas and Accordions in Australia and the Southern Pacific region, including parts of Asia. The company remains a family run business, though Kurt sold it to the Smits family in 1981.
Now, partner Jac Smits (who travelled to WA especially for last year's Harp Attack, has kindly supplied a special limited edition copy of the 52-CD set ABC of the Blues, which comes c/w an historic Hohner 'Puck' harmonica.
This rare product will be silently auctioned during the show, so dig deep and support your local blues club.
Finally, if you own an Apple iPhone or iPad, there's a new app available for those wanting to learn the Blues Harp. Entitled "Hohner - How to Blow the Blues", this app has been developed by Claymon Edwards of Hohner Inc. Users can learn how to blow a 12-bar blues riff, play harp over cool Jams, play a virtual on-screen harp, learn about the greatest blues harp players, see the most popular harmonica models, and learn about Hohner, the world’s largest harmonica maker.