Pocket Full of Soul: A Harmonica Documentary

The evolution of the harmonica from toy to bona fide musical instrument has taken the music world by storm and you can discover it directly from the masters themselves.

Today, the harmonica is tour de force, with musicians and entertainers capturing the spotlight again for this portable and highly entertaining musical instrument.

The revolution has begun.

Blowing your way in 2008.

The little ten-hole diatonic harmonica is an instrument that you can hide in your pocket and play on a mountain top, in a jail cell - or on a space shuttle.

Originally used as a polka instrument in Germany, the harmonica quickly emigrated to the United States and inspired genius.

It's no toy.

For proof, witness Little Walter Jacob, James Cotton, Jerry Murad and the Harmonicats, John Popper, Kim Wilson, and an amazing kid named Jason Ricci, and just about anybody who ever blew the house down with a "harp."

Narrated by Huey Lewis.

The harmonica revolution has begun.

The filmmakers traveled across the globe to Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Germany, Houston, Itally, Los Angeles, New York, Oaklan, San Francisco, St. Louis, Taiwan, and everywhere in between documenting the greatest and most inspiring harmonica players. Below is an sample of some of the players who have joined the revolution and were personally interviewd for the film.

Clint Black (born Clint Patrick Black, February 4, 1962) is a Grammy Award-winning American country music singer-songwriter, record producer, and actor. Signed to RCA Records in 1989, Black made his debut with his Killin' Time album, which produced four straight Number One singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts.

Although his momentum gradually slowed throughout the 1990s, Black consistently charted hit songs into the 2000s. To date, he has amassed more than thirty singles on the U.S. Billboard country charts (of which thirteen have reached Number One), in addition to releasing nine studio albums and several compilation albums. In 2003, Black founded his own record label, Equity Music Group, whose roster also includes Little Big Town, Carolina Rain, Kevin Fowler, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, and Mark Wills.

Black has also ventured into acting, having made a cameo appearance in the 1994 film Maverick, as well as a starring role in 1998's Still Holding On: The Legend of Cadillac Jack.

- Wikipedia

Raised in Portland, Maine, Ricci placed first in the Sonny Boy Blues Society contest at 21 years of age, and recorded his first album, he has quickly found his way among some of the best harmonica players in the blues arena. Ricci is openly gay.[1]

He has played with blues greats Junior Kimbrough, R. L. Burnside and Nick Curran. In 1999, he won the Mars National Harmonica Contest, and began playing with Keith Brown. In 2000, Jason received a two page write up in Blues Access magazine by Adam Gussow (harmonica player for Satan and Adam) saying:

"I am convinced he along with New Jersey's Dennis Gruenling is one of the best harmonica players of his generation."

After 15 months with Big Al and the Heavyweights, he started his own band Jason Ricci & New Blood in 2002. In 2005, Jason was honored with the Muddy Waters Most Promising New Blues Artist award. He can be found playing in cities all over the United States, almost 300 days per year.

New Blood's repertoire includes standard-length songs, epic improvisational jams, sharp original lyrics, as well as melodic instrumental pieces. The setlist changes every night and may feature any of the dozens of songs in the band's catalog, including some classic blues, jazz, and funk covers like "Cissy Strut" (The Meters), "Get Up, Stand Up" (Bob Marley), "Shake Your Hips" (Slim Harpo), and "Turkish Coffee" (Herbie Mann).

Jason encourages audience taping and has many shows available for free download at Archive.org. These shows have been downloaded by thousands of music fans around the world, according to the site statistics. Jason Ricci & New Blood's live shows may best be described by Blake Taylor, writer for Cincinnati City Beat:

"As a lover of live music, a JRNB show is absolutely exhilarating. Imagine the best virtuoso-filled "jam band" you've ever seen (think early '90's Phish, old Flecktones, Allmans, Robert Randolph, Derek Trucks, etc.) and then double the energy and stage presence."

Recently,[when?] Ricci and New Blood were signed to Electro Groove, a new Sub Division of Delta Groove Records. His first album with the label, appropriately titled "Rocket Number Nine," will be released October 23, 2007.

James Cotton (born July 1, 1935, Tunica, Mississippi[1]), is an American blues harmonica player, singer, and songwriter who is the bandleader for the James Cotton Blues Band. He also writes songs alone, and his solo career continues to this day. His work includes the following genres: blues, delta blues, harmonica blues, and electric harmonica blues.

- Wikipedia

Taylor Reuben Hicks (October 7, 1976) is an American singer who achieved fame in 2006 as a contestant on the fifth season of American Idol, which he won later that year. Hicks got his start as a professional musician in his late teens and performed around the Southeastern United States for well over the span of a decade, during which he also released two independent albums. Upon winning Idol, he was signed to Arista Records, under which his self-titled major label debut was released on December 12, 2006. His energetic stage performances and influences derived from classic soul, blues, and R&B music had earned him a following of devout fans, who have been dubbed the "Soul Patrol."

- Wikipedia

John Popper (born March 29, 1967) is an American musician and songwriter.

He is most famous for his role as frontman of rock band Blues Traveler performing harmonica, guitar and vocals. He is widely considered a harmonica virtuoso, and is listed by harmonica manufacturer Hohner as a "Featured Artist", an accolade reserved for only the best and most successful harmonica players.

As front man for the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Kim Wilson has proven to be a consummate performer and devoted blues lover.

But it's in his solo work that he truly shines.

A musician's musician, many consider Wilson to be one of the premier blues harmonica players in America. His style is grounded in the past -- as evidenced by the many classic blues and R&B tunes he covers -- but it's also uniquely his own. And his vocal style rivals -- or outshines -- any blues singer out there today: his tone is buttery and rich, slightly scarred, and never in a hurry.

Raw and yet refined, this contemporary blues will make you be glad that you've got the blues.

http://www.myspace.com/kimwilsonblues

HOUSTON, May 24 /PRNewswire/ --

The producers of the independent film, "Pocket Full of Soul: The Harmonica Documentary," have announced a Song Contest along with the launch of the film's website. The winner or winners of the Song Contest, also known as "Operation Creation," will have their song featured in the film. Contest entrants are requested to enter an original song featuring the harmonica and using the words "pocket full of soul" into the Contest before July 31, 2007. For more details on the Song Contest, would-be contestants should go to http://www.pocketfullofsoulmovie.com/

The film, now in post-production, will enter the film festival circuit in the Fall. Featured performers in the film include well known musicians like Clint Black, James Cotton, Magic Dick (from the J. Geils Band), Taylor Hicks (from American Idol), Robert Klein (the comedian), Huey Lewis (from Huey Lewis and the News), Lee Oskar (from War), John Popper (from Blues Traveler), and Kim Wilson (from the Fabulous Thunderbirds), as well as other not so well known harmonica players. The film takes viewers on a journey through the unique and entertaining world of the harmonica. "The harmonica is the people's instrument. Not to minimize the skills of the masters, but if you can breathe, you can play the harmonica," says Marc Lempert, co-creator of the film.

The Song Contest is designed to show off the playing styles of all types of harmonica players. "We wanted to give players around the world an opportunity to get involved and help create the film's soundtrack," says Todd Slobin, co-creator of the film. The success of the Song Contest is already apparent as American and International harmonica players have expressed interest and have already submitted some amazing songs. "I'm definitely looking forward to seeing [the] finished product whether my song makes it...or not," said Peter Madcat Ruth, a celebrated harmonica player.

SONG CONTEST TERMS AND CONDITIONS