User:Tcb247sbaby/Martin Lang (harmonicist)

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Martin Lang (1971- ) is a blues harmonica player and vocalist in Chicago, Illinois. He plays in the Chicago blues scene and tours the United States and abroad.

Life and Career[edit]

Martin was born on November 29, 1971 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, where he spent his childhood years. His early musical instruction included playing classical French Horn, which he played from age eight to sixteen. He began playing harmonica at age 14 after his mother gave him a Hohner Marine Band harmonica. At first, he learned to play acoustic blues. Then, while attending The Mountain School in Vermont at age 17, he discovered electric blues after being given Muddy Waters' Fathers and Sons record. He attended University of Chicago, where he graduated on the dean's list with a major in philosophy. He made a short-lived effort at law school in 2001.

His influences include Little Walter, Big Leon Brooks, Mad Dog, Slim Willis, and John Lee Williamson. Martin Lang has played with many traditional blues artists from 1990 to 2011, including Sam Lay, Pinetop Perkins, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, Lurrie Bell, The Midnight Ramblers, Good Rockin' Johnny, Eddie "Guitar" Burns, and Tail Dragger. His recording credits include Eddie Taylor, Jr., Jimmy Burns, Tail Dragger, Little Arthur Duncan, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, and the late David Myers, with whom he spent five years with both in Chicago and on tour. Many of these recordings are on the Chicago-based Delmark label, founded by Bob Koester in 1953, where Martin was the house harmonica player for the years of 1996-1999.

Martin Lang's recordings have been used in David Barrett's harmonica master classes in learning to play harmonica.[1] He has provided harmonica backing behind Tail Dragger (James Yancey Jones) on award-winning[2][3] on projects for twenty years. Yet, he has been described by one critic as "the best harmonica player you've never heard of," [4] despite tours during the years of 1997 through 2007 of the U.S and abroad, including appearances at such prestigious venues as the Monte Carlo Jazz Festival in 2007 and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in 2001.

Discography[edit]

  • 1996 Jimmy Burns: Leavin' Here Walking (Delmark)
  • 1997 Blues Before Sunrise - Vol. 1 (Delmark)
  • 1998 Rockin' Johnny Band: Straight Out of Chicago (Delmark)
  • 1999 Little Arthur Duncan: Singin' With the Sun (Delmark)
  • 1999 Rockin' Johnny Band: Man's Temptation (Delmark)
  • 1999 Tail Dragger: American People (Delmark)
  • 2000 This Is The Blues Harmonica Vol. I (Delmark)
  • 2001 The Best of Harmonica Blues (Wolf)
  • 2002 Harmonica Blues Orgy (Random Chance)
  • 2004 This Is The Blues Harmonica Vol. II (Delmark)
  • 2009 Tail Dragger: Live at Rooster's Lounge (Delmark)

References[edit]

  1. ^ Barrett, David. "Various Artist Listing - Harmonica Masterclass Co". Retrieved 2011-03-23.
  2. ^ "Les Production le Moulin" (in French). L'Association Le Moulin de la Baie Sainte Marie. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
  3. ^ "Living Blues Awards". Living Blues. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
  4. ^ Johnson, Kevin. "The Return of Rockin' Johnny". Chicago Blues Guide. www.chicagobluesguide.com. Retrieved 2011-03-23. the best harmonica player you're never heard of

External links[edit]


Category:1971 births Category:American blues harmonica players Category:Electric blues musicians Category:Harmonica blues musicians

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