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Happy Hour Harmonica Podcast

Wade Schuman interview

May 04, 2022 Neil Warren Season 1 Episode 60

Chapters

Origins of Wade’s name

Now lives in New York, where in settled in the 1990s. Originally from Michigan

Influence’s on Wade’s music

Enjoys music from all different cultures and styles

Started playing harmonica around age 10 and first harmonicas owned

Hohner made some of their harmonicas in Ireland

What drew Wade to playing the harmonica

Wade’s generation of players learnt to play by ear and were self-taught

Where blues music originated from and why Wade writes his own music

Harmonica was part of the immigrant culture of the USA

Wade’s approach to playing the harmonica

Harmonica is usually self-taught, with few structured lessons and why that is

What Wade sees as the strengths of the harmonica

Is the singer in Hazmat Modine

Started the band with another harmonica player, Randy Weinstein

After playing harmonica from 10, stopped playing for a few years due to quality issues with the instrument

Got back into playing harmonica in the late 80s and discovered minor key harmonicas

A group of US harmonica players discovered each other in the early 90s, including Joe Filisko, Kim Field, Howard Levy and Pat Missin

Wade’s strengths on the harmonica

Discovered overblows and incorporated some into his playing

Some of the younger players have great technique now, helped by online resources

When became a bandleader became really interested in songwriting

The origin of the name Hazmat Modine

A group of harmonica players started meeting in New York: The New York Reedsters Club

The harmonica group is where he met Randy Weinstein, and they formed Hazmat Modine

Other instruments were added to the band, eventually making eight members

The role of the harmonica in such a big band and having two harmonicas in the band

Wade is now the only harmonica player in the band

The different genres played by the band and where Wade drew inspiration for that

First album from the band is Bahamut, crafted over seven years at great expense

About to record a new album

Lots of virtuoso playing now, but it’s niche

Songwriting is the primary goal of music for Wade

Second album is Cicada and then a live album was released

Box Of Breathe album is the most recent, with Extra Deluxe Supreme released before that

Extra Deluxe Supreme song

Song with Son of Dave

Harmonica players obsession with gear

Dark River song uses a cheap karaoke mic with the harmonica

Has used a wireless mic from the beginning

Uses octave pedal and being a forerunner of using pedals

Jason Ricci has encouraged more harmonica players to use effects

Uses clean microphone and sound

The sort of sound favoured by the other harmonica players in band

Lost Fox Train song dedicated to Joe Filisko

The harmonica community is very supportive of each other

Steve Baker book revolutionised the harmonica scene

Doesn’t do much session work, but has done a little

More on the collaborations Hazmat Modine have done

Ten minute question

Amp taking on tour and autowah pedal

Harmonicas of choice: plays Filisko customised harmonicas

Off-the-shelf harmonicas are such good quality now

Influence Steve Baker has had on harmonicas community

Using low tuned harmonicas recently

Used Seydel harmonicas for a time and likes them

Still uses a lot of minor tuned harmonicas

Strengths of Wade’s harmonica playing

Embouchre and over emphasis on technique these days

Touring Europe in June / July 22 and plans for new album

Happy Hour Harmonica Podcast

Wade Schuman interview

May 04, 2022 Season 1 Episode 60

Neil Warren

Wade Schuman joins me on episode 60.

Wade is the singer / songwriter and leader, and of course harmonica player, of the New York based 8-piece band, Hazmat Modine, with the harmonica playing a pivotal role in the sound of such a big band. In fact, there is often a second harmonica player in the band.

Wade absorbed many musical genres from a young age, which helped shape the eclectic styles of music played by Hazmat Modine, from African, Asian, Klezmer, Caribbean, all with an American roots core. The band has released five albums, with another in the pipeline.

Wade started out learning pre-war harmonica, an approach he has integrated so well into the big band line-up. And he was a central part of the New York harmonica scene in the early 1990s, mixing with many of players who have gone on to establish themselves as the leading players in the harmonica community of today.

Links:
http://www.hazmatmodine.com/

Yazoo album of 1920s & 30s harmonica:
https://www.downhomemusic.com/product/harmonica-blues-great-harmonica-performances-of-the-1920s-and-30s/

Harmonicas, Harps and Heavy Breathers book by Kim Field:
https://www.kimfield.com/new-page-2

Pat. Missin website:
https://www.patmissin.com

Hog2 Octave pedal:
https://www.ehx.com/products/hog2/

European tour 2022:
http://www.hazmatmodine.com/tour-summer22.html

Videos:
Wade playing with Hog 2 octave pedal:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjEgH7YAmEw

Live at the BBC:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeiWUMpVdpQ

Outdoor concert filmed for the Nobel Laureate Committee:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llL5v5PL9dA

Solo piece at Stockholm Jazz festival:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwgN8IgLNI4&t=13s

Podcast website:
https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com

Donations:
If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB

Spotify Playlist:
Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ

Podcast sponsors:
This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS
and Blows Me Away Productions: http://www.blowsmeaway.com/

Support the Show.

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Wade Schuman joins me on episode 60.

Wade is the singer / songwriter and leader, and of course harmonica player, of the New York based 8-piece band, Hazmat Modine, with the harmonica playing a pivotal role in the sound of such a big band. In fact, there is often a second harmonica player in the band.

Wade absorbed many musical genres from a young age, which helped shape the eclectic styles of music played by Hazmat Modine, from African, Asian, Klezmer, Caribbean, all with an American roots core. The band has released five albums, with another in the pipeline.

Wade started out learning pre-war harmonica, an approach he has integrated so well into the big band line-up. And he was a central part of the New York harmonica scene in the early 1990s, mixing with many of players who have gone on to establish themselves as the leading players in the harmonica community of today.

Links:
http://www.hazmatmodine.com/

Yazoo album of 1920s & 30s harmonica:
https://www.downhomemusic.com/product/harmonica-blues-great-harmonica-performances-of-the-1920s-and-30s/

Harmonicas, Harps and Heavy Breathers book by Kim Field:
https://www.kimfield.com/new-page-2

Pat. Missin website:
https://www.patmissin.com

Hog2 Octave pedal:
https://www.ehx.com/products/hog2/

European tour 2022:
http://www.hazmatmodine.com/tour-summer22.html

Videos:
Wade playing with Hog 2 octave pedal:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjEgH7YAmEw

Live at the BBC:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeiWUMpVdpQ

Outdoor concert filmed for the Nobel Laureate Committee:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llL5v5PL9dA

Solo piece at Stockholm Jazz festival:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwgN8IgLNI4&t=13s

Podcast website:
https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com

Donations:
If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB

Spotify Playlist:
Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ

Podcast sponsors:
This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS
and Blows Me Away Productions: http://www.blowsmeaway.com/

Support the Show.

Origins of Wade’s name

Now lives in New York, where in settled in the 1990s. Originally from Michigan

Influence’s on Wade’s music

Enjoys music from all different cultures and styles

Started playing harmonica around age 10 and first harmonicas owned

Hohner made some of their harmonicas in Ireland

What drew Wade to playing the harmonica

Wade’s generation of players learnt to play by ear and were self-taught

Where blues music originated from and why Wade writes his own music

Harmonica was part of the immigrant culture of the USA

Wade’s approach to playing the harmonica

Harmonica is usually self-taught, with few structured lessons and why that is

What Wade sees as the strengths of the harmonica

Is the singer in Hazmat Modine

Started the band with another harmonica player, Randy Weinstein

After playing harmonica from 10, stopped playing for a few years due to quality issues with the instrument

Got back into playing harmonica in the late 80s and discovered minor key harmonicas

A group of US harmonica players discovered each other in the early 90s, including Joe Filisko, Kim Field, Howard Levy and Pat Missin

Wade’s strengths on the harmonica

Discovered overblows and incorporated some into his playing

Some of the younger players have great technique now, helped by online resources

When became a bandleader became really interested in songwriting

The origin of the name Hazmat Modine

A group of harmonica players started meeting in New York: The New York Reedsters Club

The harmonica group is where he met Randy Weinstein, and they formed Hazmat Modine

Other instruments were added to the band, eventually making eight members

The role of the harmonica in such a big band and having two harmonicas in the band

Wade is now the only harmonica player in the band

The different genres played by the band and where Wade drew inspiration for that

First album from the band is Bahamut, crafted over seven years at great expense

About to record a new album

Lots of virtuoso playing now, but it’s niche

Songwriting is the primary goal of music for Wade

Second album is Cicada and then a live album was released

Box Of Breathe album is the most recent, with Extra Deluxe Supreme released before that

Extra Deluxe Supreme song

Song with Son of Dave

Harmonica players obsession with gear

Dark River song uses a cheap karaoke mic with the harmonica

Has used a wireless mic from the beginning

Uses octave pedal and being a forerunner of using pedals

Jason Ricci has encouraged more harmonica players to use effects

Uses clean microphone and sound

The sort of sound favoured by the other harmonica players in band

Lost Fox Train song dedicated to Joe Filisko

The harmonica community is very supportive of each other

Steve Baker book revolutionised the harmonica scene

Doesn’t do much session work, but has done a little

More on the collaborations Hazmat Modine have done

Ten minute question

Amp taking on tour and autowah pedal

Harmonicas of choice: plays Filisko customised harmonicas

Off-the-shelf harmonicas are such good quality now

Influence Steve Baker has had on harmonicas community

Using low tuned harmonicas recently

Used Seydel harmonicas for a time and likes them

Still uses a lot of minor tuned harmonicas

Strengths of Wade’s harmonica playing

Embouchre and over emphasis on technique these days

Touring Europe in June / July 22 and plans for new album