Ive been playing the harmonica, as a hobby for over thirty years now.

You earned every second of my watch time.

I used to play a Hohner Vestpocket in my itinerant years---when I had put the guitar aside until I was about 18. I soon played regular diatonic Hohner Bluesharp or Marinebands with a brace to accompany guitar and voice (yes, Dylan needs lessons!). I learned way back that if you can't bend notes you can't really play ---unless you have a belt-full of harps. I used to gig with a poet and songwriter, labour union songs at those kind of gigs. One time an old logger came up to me after a gig in an old church that was moved to a museum. I played a couple train songs my buddy wrote with by axe and harp and this old fella said, "This is my grandson---and now I know what to get him for his birthday"---he meant the harmonica! I haven't the lungs to play very long on the harp anymore, but I can still do a couple tunes. (Lucky I play guitar---I'll always play that, no matter what.)  thnx for the vid!!

This is a great documentary. Very well researched and put together, and very informative.

The harmonica, I've discovered, is an amazingly expressive instrument, with a haunting tone. I play several instruments, and have recently picked up the chromatic harmonica, after studying the music of the amazing Toots Thielemans. I love it!

Really good doco. Thanks.

I enjoyed the heck out of getting to watch this documentary, thanks for posting it!

Great film. Howard Levy is a jenius❤

Hohner has respectable German competition in the excellent Seydel harmonicas right now. Hohner is not the only game in town anymore. Japan’s Suzuki harmonicas, and several excellent Chinese makers - Eastop, JDR, Huang make great harps.

There's some great stuff here.  The harmonica is an instrument that seems to be taken most seriously in the far East.  Look up RedBricks (Korea), or Judy's Harmonica Ensemble (Taiwan).  They're both pretty good, with bass, chord and two or three lead chromatics.

I'm a little surprised that you didn't mention how popular are the mouth harp or French harp was during the American Civil war.

33:27 This has just blown my mind

Wonderful video, great documentary.  As a longtime harmonica player and lifetime musician, I found this video extremely interesting and informative.  Thanks for posting.

Many Thx to all of you who have put this wonderful history of my favorite instrument together for the world to see and hear ! <3

The Larry Adler tribute to Gershwin album is astonishing. Highly recommended ❤

52:09 ok, holy crap arab harmonica omfg

Wow, thanks John! I SO LOVED getting to see this again - it's been much too long since my first viewing - can't even remember when I first saw it - certain parts spoke to me more than others of course --but ending with Charley Leighton and his Leighton's Leightons was the creme de la creme. Perhaps Val (maybe Redler at the time?) even filmed it - since Charley hadn't allowed filming of the Tuesday night sessions. One day when she and hubby Phil Caltabellotta showed up she decided to ask if it'd be ok and he gave her permission. Luckily - since it wasn't too long after that he passed on. Val then dedicated her first Garden State Festival as President/Founder of that Festival TO Charley - and it was absolutely brilliant, with his music playing throughout the hotel as well as some of these same musicians playing his songs on the Saturday Night. I caught much of that on film - but have no idea where to find them now. Good days - so many terrific players. Brings back so many memories and is making me want to get back to playing (Fred's had a lot of medical problems so it's been difficult). But the LOVE is still there. Seeing Will Galison (whom I still stay in touch with off and on  - via Facebook) is such a treat. SO young and handsome in this film. What a brilliant player he is. Hope everyone is well, and Happy New Year to all. :)

I play a bit of diatonic but mostly slower sax style melodies on the Chromatic so watching these masters was a real treat.  It really is a great instrument and for anyone who is just a bit curious, go buy one and watch a few YouTube  videos - playing harp is addictive!

This is yet ANOTHER interesting and instructive video SPOILT by having constant frantic music playing at the same time as people are talking.  ONE or the OTHER - NOT both at the same time!

Pity they didn't bring in Buddy Greene. Another genius with the tin sandwich. Carnegie Hall, 2004.