When I'm not preparing lectures, grading papers, and researching books and articles, I teach blues harmonica. Please see my new website, MODERN BLUES HARMONICA (www.modernbluesharmonica.com). I'm also a competitive distance runner, delighted to be living in the beautiful hill country of North Mississippi.
Music
Albert Collins, Michel Camilo, Jimmy McGriff, Cowboy Troy, Ernestine Anderson, Soulive, Lyle Lovett, Bonnie Raitt, Houston Person, Hank Crawford, Denise LaSalle, Norah Jones, Wynton Marsalis, Del McCoury, Michael Hill and the Blues Mob, Frankie Paris, Irving Louis Lattin, Lonnie Johnson, Abraham Yameogo......
Oh yes: and the harmonica: Little Walter, Big Walter Horton, James Cotton, Nat Riddles, William Clarke, Carey Bell, Jason Ricci, Dennis Gruenling, Kim Wilson
About me: My life and career path have been an unusual journey. At 25 I was an English grad student at Columbia, freelance literary journalist, and marathoner. At 30 I was a street blues harmonica player in Harlem, partnered with Sterling "Mister Satan" Magee; a pit musician with the bus-and-truck tour of "Big River"; and a harmonica instructor at the Guitar Study Center in New York. At 35 I was Adam of "Satan and Adam," a suddenly-successful blues duo--touring with Bo Diddley, playing the New Orleans JazzFest and the Philadelphia River Blues festival, with a first CD, "Harlem Blues," nominated for a W. C. Handy Award. At 40 I was an English grad student at Princeton, a cover story (with Mr. Satan) in LIVING BLUES magazine, and the author of a memoir, MISTER SATAN'S APPRENTICE. At 45, after Mr. Satan's disappearance down in Virginia and my own unexpected visit to the intensive care unit of a Florida hospital, I was a credentialed Ph.D., author of an academic study entitled SEEMS LIKE MURDER HERE: SOUTHERN VIOLENCE AND THE BLUES TRADITION, and an assistant professor at Vassar. Now, at 50, I'm an associate professor of English and Southern Studies at the University of Mississippi; happily married; a proud father (Shaun David Gussow was born March 17, 2006); and back in my running shoes again. I am also performing, and delightedly, with Sterling Magee, who now lives in Gulfport, Fla. Many of these life-chapters, particularly my formative experience in the New York City blues scene, are touched on in my new book, JOURNEYMAN'S ROAD: MODERN BLUES LIVES FROM FAULKNER'S MISSISSIPPI TO POST-9/11 NEW YORK, published in June 2007.
Adam,how are ya----I'm still blowin that ole harp--it's a dark wet night here in Belfast---I'm on my out to practice some new songs--I practice in an old victorian swimming club--round the corner from me--I set beside the damp empty pool and play my heart out---the acoustics are excellent------you can see the pool on my pics---Love and best whishes from Belfast!
HERES the UK's,. MR. GILES KING BLOWIN THROUGH A SIMPLY UNIQUE KUSTOM BUILT MIC,.CALLED "MEMPHIS BLOOD" ,... A Shure low Z to high Z element Hotrodded with My Super Boost Mod,.. ENJOY,..
You need to check out the new Victoria "Blowbox" Harp amp! I was instrumental in designing and getting into their line of top shelf amps. Go to youtube and search me "James Reeser" and there are a couple of recent vids featuring it.
It is a 45 watt 2X8 amp. It looks like a tweed head but yes it has 2 8" speakers in it. No one can believe such a fat rich tone comes from a little amp. It is versatile... light weight... It can be plugged into any speaker cab as it has 2, 4 and 8 ohm output taps. It also has a switch that makes it either a stock 59 Bassman if that is your tone (also for guitar if desired) or flip the switch for the harp special circuits and rich fat harp tone! And yes has plenty of power as a stand alone to keep up with just about any band.
Hey Adam, the summer is over time for me to get back to songwriting&practising harp--Hope you and your family are well--the thing I love about you is,you took time out to give folks a new begining, a new interest,your good at opening doors.Cheers Mate!
Adam, Thanks for the add! Great cuts! If you're ever in NJ, make sure you stop by ROBIN'S NEST RHYTHM & BLUES-I'd love to Jam with you!!! Remember-"The BLUES is the ROOTS, everything else is just the FRUITS"!! Peace!!
