Zac Harmon signs with Northern Blues Records - May 31, 2008
Northern Blues Records is proud to announce the signing of Zac Harmon. The first release is expected in the first quarter of 2008.
News
Isabel Records Release - May 25, 2008
The legendary Isabel Records of Paris France announces the release of "Shot In The Kill Zone" by Zac Harmon. This album was recorded live in Paris France. Isabel Records is famous for recording Blue's greats such as Junior Wells, Buddy Guy and a host of others.
Zac Harmon endorses Category 5 Amps - July 23, 2007
For Immediate Release
Category 5 Amplification adds Zac Harmon to List of Endorsing Artist’s
Dallas Texas
7/25/07
Category 5 Amplification has added Zac Harmon, the 2004 International Blues Challenge winner, 2005 best new Blues artist winner,- XM radio, and Blues Music Awards 2006 best new blues artist debut winner to the list of accomplished artists endorsing Category 5 Amplification. Zac will be playing the Andrew model amp, a 2 channel, 44 watt, 2 x 12 amp, powered by 2 – KT-66 tubes. Zac spends a majority of the time on Channel 2, voiced closely to a Blackface era Super.
“This amp covers both rhythm and lead tones with ease. It has a nice chime and rich harmonics for the rhythm chord work, and when I need to let lose with my PRS, it just sings. I noticed these amps at the International Blues Challenge, which I was hosting. They sounded so good, I just had to have one.” As I live in the Dallas area, Don at Category 5 worked with me to get the right tube configuration for my sound – and I think we got it!”
“We are proud to have Zac playing our amps”, remarked Don Ritter, Artist Relations for Category 5 Amps. “Zac is not only a great guitar player, but a phenomenal entertainer and band leader. Once you’ve seen a Zac Harmon show, your instantly converted to a fan. His extensive experience in the business of producing records shines through. The band is tight and he is quickly building an international following, with approx 200 nights a year on the road. Just the kind of artist that a Category 5 amp is designed for – a true road warrior.”
Zac is touring in support of his critically acclaimed album, “The Blues According to Zacariah” Zac’s album is available through his website and through iTunes. He will be doing a European leg this fall in Switzerland. Zac’s touring schedule can be found at www.Zacharmon.com
Category 5 Amplification specializes in creating professional quality hand wired tube amps with vintage tones and modern features. The company was formed in part to be a vehicle for giving back to the blues community and to assist in hurricane relief, (hence Category 5). Information on other popular models and artists can be found at www.category5amps.com
Category 5 Amplification adds Zac Harmon to List of Endorsing Artist’s
Dallas Texas
7/25/07
Category 5 Amplification has added Zac Harmon, the 2004 International Blues Challenge winner, 2005 best new Blues artist winner,- XM radio, and Blues Music Awards 2006 best new blues artist debut winner to the list of accomplished artists endorsing Category 5 Amplification. Zac will be playing the Andrew model amp, a 2 channel, 44 watt, 2 x 12 amp, powered by 2 – KT-66 tubes. Zac spends a majority of the time on Channel 2, voiced closely to a Blackface era Super.
“This amp covers both rhythm and lead tones with ease. It has a nice chime and rich harmonics for the rhythm chord work, and when I need to let lose with my PRS, it just sings. I noticed these amps at the International Blues Challenge, which I was hosting. They sounded so good, I just had to have one.” As I live in the Dallas area, Don at Category 5 worked with me to get the right tube configuration for my sound – and I think we got it!”
“We are proud to have Zac playing our amps”, remarked Don Ritter, Artist Relations for Category 5 Amps. “Zac is not only a great guitar player, but a phenomenal entertainer and band leader. Once you’ve seen a Zac Harmon show, your instantly converted to a fan. His extensive experience in the business of producing records shines through. The band is tight and he is quickly building an international following, with approx 200 nights a year on the road. Just the kind of artist that a Category 5 amp is designed for – a true road warrior.”
Zac is touring in support of his critically acclaimed album, “The Blues According to Zacariah” Zac’s album is available through his website and through iTunes. He will be doing a European leg this fall in Switzerland. Zac’s touring schedule can be found at www.Zacharmon.com
Category 5 Amplification specializes in creating professional quality hand wired tube amps with vintage tones and modern features. The company was formed in part to be a vehicle for giving back to the blues community and to assist in hurricane relief, (hence Category 5). Information on other popular models and artists can be found at www.category5amps.com
BluesWax Article cont. - September 7, 2006
BluesWax Is Sittin' In With
Zac Harmon
An interview from the
Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise
Part Two
By Adam Harris
Zac Harmon
Photo by Scott Allen/Jen Taylor
www.vividpix.com
Last week we began our conversation with Zac Harmon (if you missed last week's Part One click HERE to read it now in our ARCHIVES). This week we pick up our conversation with...
Adam Harris for BluesWax: It's beautiful to watch these younger kids, guys like Slick Ballinger, for instance, who are observant. What's important is that without being a purist you have to know where it all comes from, right?
Zac Harmon: Let me tell you something, Slick is studying what the guys did. He is still finding himself, three or four years from now what you're going to hear from him is gonna be his expression of the Blues, respecting the roots. He's studying the roots. He's done lived with Othar Turner and all those guys. But his expression will not be what they did, it's gonna be what he does. It's gonna be an evolution and I hope that they give him an even break.
BW: So you've got two records out, is transitioning into the businessman, the solo artist, hard?
ZH: It's not all that difficult. I've been in the record business a long time; I've had experience being involved in other people's records. I guess the most difficult thing has been gaining acceptance. I've never had a problem with the people. I'm here today because of the people. My problems, if you can call them problems, have always been with the people who call themselves the "Blues Police." [laughter]
BW: I don't know. Some of those guys may have lesser qualifications than the people they're trying to chastise.
ZH: Mmhmm. Power is a corrupting thing. And if you have the power to limit exposure of one person over the next, it can be corrupting.
BW: It's true. What label are you recording with now?
ZH: Bluestone Records. It's a new label owned by Jeff Stone and Larry Davis. They pretty much believed in what I was doing. We pretty much clicked and they support me. And that's what it's all about. They're behind it, totally.
"As you get older, life has a way
of introducing yourself to yourself."
BW: There's no pressure for output?
ZH: No, I'm basically in control of that. The beauty of being on a smaller label like Bluestone is that I get the attention and my shelf life is much longer. So many of the corporate labels are concentrated on things like first-week sales and all these numbers, so if a record doesn't do well, there's no more support. I pretty much control the output on my own, even though I will be making another record this year.
BW: Are you going to do it on the road?
ZH: No, I'm relocating to Texas. I'm going to do it after I go to Texas. I'm currently working on a live DVD that I'm doing in conjunction with Harvelle's in Santa Monica. It's owned by a guy by the name of Seven, who is truly a visionary when it comes to the Blues. He's a torchbearer. He's doing a legends series and I'm going to be a part of that series. He's done one on Guitar Shorty and Café R&B, you'll be hearing about it. He's doing great work.
BW: He's calling you a legend now?
ZH: Well, he's one of the guys that believe in me and he believes that I'm going to be one of the next greats, and I'm doing everything I can do not to let him down.
BW: And that's really all you can do. First I want to ask you if that brings pressure to you, but there's really no pressure if you're doing it from the heart, right? This is what you're going to do.
ZH: This is what I'm going to do regardless. I love doing what I do. Just like everything else, I take it to the people. I take it to the people.
Zac Harmon's The Blues According To Zacariah
Click Cover For More Info
BW: It shows that you're having a good time up there and I appreciate that so much. I have to ask now, because you just told me you were on the road at 14. And then this year you're recognized as "Best Emerging Artist."
ZH: Well, of course, I haven't been touring continuously since I was 14. When I first moved to L.A. my first break was as a studio musician. So for 15 years all I did was write and produce records, I didn't do one tour. I didn't leave L.A. Which was good, you know. But I always say as you get older life has a way of introducing yourself to yourself. And the older you get the more difficult it is to do anything other than what you are truly blessed to do. I just got to a point in my life where it was time to return to the Blues. And I haven't regretted it; I'm having the time of my life.
BW: But to be recognized as a newcomer, does that make you feel like you've got another forty, fifty years ahead of you?
ZH: Well maybe. I mean, just to be recognized for anything by anybody is fine with me. I mean, we all want to be appreciated for what we do. I come on this cruise and I got people stopping me every 25 steps, someone that just wants to shake my hand, just say hello, or talk about a show that they attended. Man, that's invaluable. I couldn't buy that! You can't pick that up at Wal-Mart. [laughter] As long as the fans are giving me that kind of love back that fuels me to just roll.
BW: Well, 2005 has been very good to you it seems.
ZH: 2005 has been a good year for me. I was named XM Satellite Radio Listener's Poll best "New Blues Artist of the Year." That blew me away. I won by 74% and I thought that was just awesome. That was purely genuine. But a lot of it was due to this Blues Cruise because a lot of the XM listeners are Blues Cruisers, and they were weighin' in.
I've been nominated for a Blues Music Award, Best New Artist Debut of the Year. And that blows me away. Once again, it's always wonderful to be recognized by your peers and the people that are part of this whole network. I count it off as a good year.
BW: And for 2006?
ZH: We're lookin' to spend more time in Europe this year, which is an important market for us. I'm excited; we're going to be touring with Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne. We're going to be in an all-star band together.
BW: Fifteen years ago, could you have seen yourself here?
ZH: To be honest with you, no. Fifteen years ago I was so involved in producing records, I couldn't even think about making my own. And even when I did have time I didn't have time to make it. Thinkin' about it was all I got done.
BW: So you're going to move to Texas, cut a record and tour Europe this year?
ZH: I've always been one of those folks that have more on my plate than it seems like is humanly possible to accomplish. But I function like that. I'm a multi-tasker. I have to have all that going on to be happy, you know?
BW: I always like to ask people what they're listening to, and I understand you're a touring musician; you're not going to the record store all the time. But if you were going to put something on in the evening time, what would it be?
ZH: I listen to Kenny Neal and Billy Branch, the acoustic record; they're both friends of mine, but I listen to that record. I like Anthony Gomes, I listen to him, Tommy Castro, Tommy is so cool.
Right now my favorite contemporary Blues guy is Ronnie Baker Brooks. Ronnie blows me away. He truly blows me away. But there are so many good guys out there, but Ronnie is the one that blows me away right now.
Adam Harris is a contributing editor at BluesWax. You may contact Adam at blueswax@visnat.com.
Zac Harmon
An interview from the
Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise
Part Two
By Adam Harris
Zac Harmon
Photo by Scott Allen/Jen Taylor
www.vividpix.com
Last week we began our conversation with Zac Harmon (if you missed last week's Part One click HERE to read it now in our ARCHIVES). This week we pick up our conversation with...
Adam Harris for BluesWax: It's beautiful to watch these younger kids, guys like Slick Ballinger, for instance, who are observant. What's important is that without being a purist you have to know where it all comes from, right?
Zac Harmon: Let me tell you something, Slick is studying what the guys did. He is still finding himself, three or four years from now what you're going to hear from him is gonna be his expression of the Blues, respecting the roots. He's studying the roots. He's done lived with Othar Turner and all those guys. But his expression will not be what they did, it's gonna be what he does. It's gonna be an evolution and I hope that they give him an even break.
BW: So you've got two records out, is transitioning into the businessman, the solo artist, hard?
ZH: It's not all that difficult. I've been in the record business a long time; I've had experience being involved in other people's records. I guess the most difficult thing has been gaining acceptance. I've never had a problem with the people. I'm here today because of the people. My problems, if you can call them problems, have always been with the people who call themselves the "Blues Police." [laughter]
BW: I don't know. Some of those guys may have lesser qualifications than the people they're trying to chastise.
ZH: Mmhmm. Power is a corrupting thing. And if you have the power to limit exposure of one person over the next, it can be corrupting.
BW: It's true. What label are you recording with now?
ZH: Bluestone Records. It's a new label owned by Jeff Stone and Larry Davis. They pretty much believed in what I was doing. We pretty much clicked and they support me. And that's what it's all about. They're behind it, totally.
"As you get older, life has a way
of introducing yourself to yourself."
BW: There's no pressure for output?
ZH: No, I'm basically in control of that. The beauty of being on a smaller label like Bluestone is that I get the attention and my shelf life is much longer. So many of the corporate labels are concentrated on things like first-week sales and all these numbers, so if a record doesn't do well, there's no more support. I pretty much control the output on my own, even though I will be making another record this year.
BW: Are you going to do it on the road?
ZH: No, I'm relocating to Texas. I'm going to do it after I go to Texas. I'm currently working on a live DVD that I'm doing in conjunction with Harvelle's in Santa Monica. It's owned by a guy by the name of Seven, who is truly a visionary when it comes to the Blues. He's a torchbearer. He's doing a legends series and I'm going to be a part of that series. He's done one on Guitar Shorty and Café R&B, you'll be hearing about it. He's doing great work.
BW: He's calling you a legend now?
ZH: Well, he's one of the guys that believe in me and he believes that I'm going to be one of the next greats, and I'm doing everything I can do not to let him down.
BW: And that's really all you can do. First I want to ask you if that brings pressure to you, but there's really no pressure if you're doing it from the heart, right? This is what you're going to do.
ZH: This is what I'm going to do regardless. I love doing what I do. Just like everything else, I take it to the people. I take it to the people.
Zac Harmon's The Blues According To Zacariah
Click Cover For More Info
BW: It shows that you're having a good time up there and I appreciate that so much. I have to ask now, because you just told me you were on the road at 14. And then this year you're recognized as "Best Emerging Artist."
ZH: Well, of course, I haven't been touring continuously since I was 14. When I first moved to L.A. my first break was as a studio musician. So for 15 years all I did was write and produce records, I didn't do one tour. I didn't leave L.A. Which was good, you know. But I always say as you get older life has a way of introducing yourself to yourself. And the older you get the more difficult it is to do anything other than what you are truly blessed to do. I just got to a point in my life where it was time to return to the Blues. And I haven't regretted it; I'm having the time of my life.
BW: But to be recognized as a newcomer, does that make you feel like you've got another forty, fifty years ahead of you?
ZH: Well maybe. I mean, just to be recognized for anything by anybody is fine with me. I mean, we all want to be appreciated for what we do. I come on this cruise and I got people stopping me every 25 steps, someone that just wants to shake my hand, just say hello, or talk about a show that they attended. Man, that's invaluable. I couldn't buy that! You can't pick that up at Wal-Mart. [laughter] As long as the fans are giving me that kind of love back that fuels me to just roll.
BW: Well, 2005 has been very good to you it seems.
ZH: 2005 has been a good year for me. I was named XM Satellite Radio Listener's Poll best "New Blues Artist of the Year." That blew me away. I won by 74% and I thought that was just awesome. That was purely genuine. But a lot of it was due to this Blues Cruise because a lot of the XM listeners are Blues Cruisers, and they were weighin' in.
I've been nominated for a Blues Music Award, Best New Artist Debut of the Year. And that blows me away. Once again, it's always wonderful to be recognized by your peers and the people that are part of this whole network. I count it off as a good year.
BW: And for 2006?
ZH: We're lookin' to spend more time in Europe this year, which is an important market for us. I'm excited; we're going to be touring with Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne. We're going to be in an all-star band together.
BW: Fifteen years ago, could you have seen yourself here?
ZH: To be honest with you, no. Fifteen years ago I was so involved in producing records, I couldn't even think about making my own. And even when I did have time I didn't have time to make it. Thinkin' about it was all I got done.
BW: So you're going to move to Texas, cut a record and tour Europe this year?
ZH: I've always been one of those folks that have more on my plate than it seems like is humanly possible to accomplish. But I function like that. I'm a multi-tasker. I have to have all that going on to be happy, you know?
BW: I always like to ask people what they're listening to, and I understand you're a touring musician; you're not going to the record store all the time. But if you were going to put something on in the evening time, what would it be?
ZH: I listen to Kenny Neal and Billy Branch, the acoustic record; they're both friends of mine, but I listen to that record. I like Anthony Gomes, I listen to him, Tommy Castro, Tommy is so cool.
Right now my favorite contemporary Blues guy is Ronnie Baker Brooks. Ronnie blows me away. He truly blows me away. But there are so many good guys out there, but Ronnie is the one that blows me away right now.
Adam Harris is a contributing editor at BluesWax. You may contact Adam at blueswax@visnat.com.
BluesWax Article - August 31, 2006
BluesWax Sittin' In With
Zac Harmon
An interview from the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise
By Adam Harris
Zac Harmon
Photo by Scott Allen/Jen Taylor
www.vividpix.com
Zac Harmon's hands are high above his head, outstretched towards a captivated crew of blissful Blues Cruisers witnessing one of many "Pro-Am Jams" aboard the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise. "Can I bring it down just a bit," Harmon requests as he lowers his arms slowly, as if hushing the sound with this hands. His crew of amateur, yet competent backers, oblige nicely. Stratocaster hanging around his neck, the heels of his boots tap on beats two and four as Harmon sways his shoulders. He's leading this jam the way an evangelical minister leads a Southern Baptist tent revival, conducting his band the way a maestro oversees his orchestra. This is the kind of spirituality only found upon a cruise booked tight with Blues fans and musicians, professional or otherwise. "What I need to hear right now, is this keyboard right here," Harmon commands, pointing back to the man on the electric 88s, who has undoubtedly caught the spirit. "Awwww yeah," Harmon coos, "That's nice."
Winning an award as a "rising star" has to be sweet for Harmon, who makes his return to the Blues only now, after 15 or so years of producing hit records in the Pop music world for the likes of Freddie Jackson, KC & JoJo, and others. Two records into his solo career, Harmon's got a Blues Music Award for "Best Debut Artist" and the listeners of XM Satellite Radio have just voted him "Best New Blues Artist." Not bad considering he first hit the road at age 19.
His latest record, The Blues According to Zacariah, is an incredibly tight testament to one of Blues' inspired visionaries. The southern R&B Soul of Ray Charles, the Windy City echo of Buddy Guy's guitar, some West Coast harp, and a fervent, youthful voice are all etched deeply into the book of Zac Harmon. He is, indeed, a "Mannish Boy."
Yet for everything Harmon has received, he's genuinely grateful and eternally motivated to create. I sat down with Harmon, both of us deeply enchanted by the Blues Cruise experience. In the midst of our conversation Harmon sung the praises of some of the current players that he admires: Joe Bonamassa, Tommy Castro, Anthony Gomes, Ronnie Baker Brooks, and Daniel "Slick" Ballinger - and compared chatting with Hubert Sumlin to being "the kid in the candy store." It's this observance of the Blues greats that came before, mixed with his inherent support and optimism for the torchbearers of modern Blues that makes Harmon such an inspired leader for the next generation of Blues players.
Adam Harris for BluesWax: Tell me about the jams here on the boat; it looks like such a good time, leadin' those young guys around. You're quite the maestro.
Zac Harmon: I enjoy teaching and it's an opportunity to teach. Some of the guys who come on here are actually very good players and some of them are developing players. It's kind of fun mixing and matching different skill levels and helping those guys that aren't quite as good as the others rise to the occasion.
"Blues is like a fine crystal. It depends on how you
look at it in the light. You see a different shade."
BW: What's your musical training; the Blues and actual music training?
ZH: I started playing violin when I was eight years old. That lasted for about a year because walking home with that little violin, man, I had to fight too much. I got really uninterested in that and started playing guitar. Now, of course, that was cool.
I took formal guitar lessons from a gentleman by the name of Herman Folks, he is Cassandra Wilson's father; Cassandra and I studied together.
From there I took it further. I also play keyboards and drums, but that's stuff that I kind of picked up. From there I started playing in church and then I started playin' in the streets as I got older.
BW: One of the things you hear in all the Blues circles is about payin' dues, and no one pays the same dues. . .
ZH: No.
BW: Even still, people are always learning, going back, searching out influences. What I want to know is how you consider your dues paid.
ZH: Well, my dues ain't paid. I don't think you ever stop payin' dues. I started playing professionally at 14. I used to play with Sam Myers and other guys around Jackson [Mississippi], Mel Browne, they taught me, pretty much, how to play the Blues. I learned how to play quartet Gospel from Frank Williams and Haron Griffin, who were part of the Jackson Southernaires.
So I played all the jukes, you know, in Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana. I went on the road with Dorothy Moore when I was 19, and she was opening for Bobby Bland and B.B. King when they did that second live record. I didn't know how to appreciate it though because I was a kid. I was interested in what's going on after the show. [laughter]
BW: What about your record collection growing up, where did the influential records come from in your life?
ZH: My father was a big Slim Harpo fan, so there was always lots of Slim Harpo. I mean he loves the Blues period. He loved Ace Cannon, B.B. King of course, Bobby Bland, Little Milton; those records were always around the house.
My sister did an exchange program in school one semester and went to Brown University. And when she came back she had all these records that she'd gotten from up there. And it blew my mind because it was at that point that I discovered John Lee Hooker. And this is around 1969, 1970 and John Lee just totally blew my mind. She brought back the record Hooker 'n' Heat [1971 Liberty], the record that he did with Canned Heat. She also turned me on to some of the West Coast guys like Lowell Folsom.
My record collection was really broad. I was into Ritchie Havens, I was into Bob Dylan big time, and of course I was into Jimi Hendrix, what guitar player wasn't. In Cold Blood... I was into groups like that.
BW: Diversity is a big thing. I was going to ask about diversity in the Blues, to start with. Coming from Mississippi, now you're in California, is it important to incorporate that West Coast sound as well?
ZH: Yeah, Blues is like a fine crystal. It depends on how you look at it in the light. You see a different shade. It's changing. John Lee played pretty much the Hill Country Blues. Little Milton and B.B. and all of them were playin' the urban Blues. Then you had guys like T-Bone Walker who were doing jump-swing, that West Coast thing. They were all different shades of the Blues, but it was all the Blues.
Zac Harmon's The Blues According To Zacariah
Click Cover For More Info
BW: I don't know if you agree with me on this or not, but the Blues seems to me like a very credibility oriented audience. A lot of them are interested in who's paid their dues, and "What's the real Blues; what's authentic?" Do you find that to be true?
ZH: I find it to be true, but not so much the audiences. The quote-unquote "Blues purists" that feel they have to put a stamp of approval on the Blues. I've even had my expression of the Blues questioned. "I don't know if that's real Blues."
My answer to that is I grew up in the Blues. I was playin' it before I knew it was called "Blues." So, by default, whatever I do is the Blues cause I can't help myself. But I'm not doing what Muddy did. I'm not even doing what Albert King did. The reason not is because I'm in a different generation and we have a different expression, but its Blues. You know the Blues evolves just like any other musical form. And I think the Blues purists have not allowed the Blues to evolve. You know the Blues was almost dead before Stevie Ray Vaughan came and resurrected it. And the Blues purists did not like him at all. They tried to discredit him, but he resurrected the whole market, and he was playin' the Blues, believe me!
BW: I never questioned it at all and it almost breaks your heart to hear someone question it. But when you think about the number of people he brought to the Blues, there were a lot of people that said, "I like this, I wonder what he listened to."
ZH: One of the things I get all the time is people that come to my show not necessarily knowing what I do. And at the end of the show they tell me "I didn't like the Blues, but I really like what you're doing" and they buy my CDs. And I tell myself it's only because they haven't been exposed to the evolving Blues and that is what's happened to the Blues market. These Blues purists try to keep this 1950s, 1960s sound by attrition. The audience that's into that is fading. You got to let it evolve to bring in new folks.
BW: Is that frustrating to get people that are trying to question your approach?
ZH: It is a little frustrating, but you gotta keep pushing past it because I'm gonna to be doing this 'til I die. I got an 8 year old that plays the Blues. He's performed with me at several festivals and he's really good. And he's gonna be part of the next generation of the Blues. I don't know what his interpretation is going to be, you know what I'm sayin, but it's gonna be Blues, you can believe that.
Zac Harmon
An interview from the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise
By Adam Harris
Zac Harmon
Photo by Scott Allen/Jen Taylor
www.vividpix.com
Zac Harmon's hands are high above his head, outstretched towards a captivated crew of blissful Blues Cruisers witnessing one of many "Pro-Am Jams" aboard the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise. "Can I bring it down just a bit," Harmon requests as he lowers his arms slowly, as if hushing the sound with this hands. His crew of amateur, yet competent backers, oblige nicely. Stratocaster hanging around his neck, the heels of his boots tap on beats two and four as Harmon sways his shoulders. He's leading this jam the way an evangelical minister leads a Southern Baptist tent revival, conducting his band the way a maestro oversees his orchestra. This is the kind of spirituality only found upon a cruise booked tight with Blues fans and musicians, professional or otherwise. "What I need to hear right now, is this keyboard right here," Harmon commands, pointing back to the man on the electric 88s, who has undoubtedly caught the spirit. "Awwww yeah," Harmon coos, "That's nice."
Winning an award as a "rising star" has to be sweet for Harmon, who makes his return to the Blues only now, after 15 or so years of producing hit records in the Pop music world for the likes of Freddie Jackson, KC & JoJo, and others. Two records into his solo career, Harmon's got a Blues Music Award for "Best Debut Artist" and the listeners of XM Satellite Radio have just voted him "Best New Blues Artist." Not bad considering he first hit the road at age 19.
His latest record, The Blues According to Zacariah, is an incredibly tight testament to one of Blues' inspired visionaries. The southern R&B Soul of Ray Charles, the Windy City echo of Buddy Guy's guitar, some West Coast harp, and a fervent, youthful voice are all etched deeply into the book of Zac Harmon. He is, indeed, a "Mannish Boy."
Yet for everything Harmon has received, he's genuinely grateful and eternally motivated to create. I sat down with Harmon, both of us deeply enchanted by the Blues Cruise experience. In the midst of our conversation Harmon sung the praises of some of the current players that he admires: Joe Bonamassa, Tommy Castro, Anthony Gomes, Ronnie Baker Brooks, and Daniel "Slick" Ballinger - and compared chatting with Hubert Sumlin to being "the kid in the candy store." It's this observance of the Blues greats that came before, mixed with his inherent support and optimism for the torchbearers of modern Blues that makes Harmon such an inspired leader for the next generation of Blues players.
Adam Harris for BluesWax: Tell me about the jams here on the boat; it looks like such a good time, leadin' those young guys around. You're quite the maestro.
Zac Harmon: I enjoy teaching and it's an opportunity to teach. Some of the guys who come on here are actually very good players and some of them are developing players. It's kind of fun mixing and matching different skill levels and helping those guys that aren't quite as good as the others rise to the occasion.
"Blues is like a fine crystal. It depends on how you
look at it in the light. You see a different shade."
BW: What's your musical training; the Blues and actual music training?
ZH: I started playing violin when I was eight years old. That lasted for about a year because walking home with that little violin, man, I had to fight too much. I got really uninterested in that and started playing guitar. Now, of course, that was cool.
I took formal guitar lessons from a gentleman by the name of Herman Folks, he is Cassandra Wilson's father; Cassandra and I studied together.
From there I took it further. I also play keyboards and drums, but that's stuff that I kind of picked up. From there I started playing in church and then I started playin' in the streets as I got older.
BW: One of the things you hear in all the Blues circles is about payin' dues, and no one pays the same dues. . .
ZH: No.
BW: Even still, people are always learning, going back, searching out influences. What I want to know is how you consider your dues paid.
ZH: Well, my dues ain't paid. I don't think you ever stop payin' dues. I started playing professionally at 14. I used to play with Sam Myers and other guys around Jackson [Mississippi], Mel Browne, they taught me, pretty much, how to play the Blues. I learned how to play quartet Gospel from Frank Williams and Haron Griffin, who were part of the Jackson Southernaires.
So I played all the jukes, you know, in Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana. I went on the road with Dorothy Moore when I was 19, and she was opening for Bobby Bland and B.B. King when they did that second live record. I didn't know how to appreciate it though because I was a kid. I was interested in what's going on after the show. [laughter]
BW: What about your record collection growing up, where did the influential records come from in your life?
ZH: My father was a big Slim Harpo fan, so there was always lots of Slim Harpo. I mean he loves the Blues period. He loved Ace Cannon, B.B. King of course, Bobby Bland, Little Milton; those records were always around the house.
My sister did an exchange program in school one semester and went to Brown University. And when she came back she had all these records that she'd gotten from up there. And it blew my mind because it was at that point that I discovered John Lee Hooker. And this is around 1969, 1970 and John Lee just totally blew my mind. She brought back the record Hooker 'n' Heat [1971 Liberty], the record that he did with Canned Heat. She also turned me on to some of the West Coast guys like Lowell Folsom.
My record collection was really broad. I was into Ritchie Havens, I was into Bob Dylan big time, and of course I was into Jimi Hendrix, what guitar player wasn't. In Cold Blood... I was into groups like that.
BW: Diversity is a big thing. I was going to ask about diversity in the Blues, to start with. Coming from Mississippi, now you're in California, is it important to incorporate that West Coast sound as well?
ZH: Yeah, Blues is like a fine crystal. It depends on how you look at it in the light. You see a different shade. It's changing. John Lee played pretty much the Hill Country Blues. Little Milton and B.B. and all of them were playin' the urban Blues. Then you had guys like T-Bone Walker who were doing jump-swing, that West Coast thing. They were all different shades of the Blues, but it was all the Blues.
Zac Harmon's The Blues According To Zacariah
Click Cover For More Info
BW: I don't know if you agree with me on this or not, but the Blues seems to me like a very credibility oriented audience. A lot of them are interested in who's paid their dues, and "What's the real Blues; what's authentic?" Do you find that to be true?
ZH: I find it to be true, but not so much the audiences. The quote-unquote "Blues purists" that feel they have to put a stamp of approval on the Blues. I've even had my expression of the Blues questioned. "I don't know if that's real Blues."
My answer to that is I grew up in the Blues. I was playin' it before I knew it was called "Blues." So, by default, whatever I do is the Blues cause I can't help myself. But I'm not doing what Muddy did. I'm not even doing what Albert King did. The reason not is because I'm in a different generation and we have a different expression, but its Blues. You know the Blues evolves just like any other musical form. And I think the Blues purists have not allowed the Blues to evolve. You know the Blues was almost dead before Stevie Ray Vaughan came and resurrected it. And the Blues purists did not like him at all. They tried to discredit him, but he resurrected the whole market, and he was playin' the Blues, believe me!
BW: I never questioned it at all and it almost breaks your heart to hear someone question it. But when you think about the number of people he brought to the Blues, there were a lot of people that said, "I like this, I wonder what he listened to."
ZH: One of the things I get all the time is people that come to my show not necessarily knowing what I do. And at the end of the show they tell me "I didn't like the Blues, but I really like what you're doing" and they buy my CDs. And I tell myself it's only because they haven't been exposed to the evolving Blues and that is what's happened to the Blues market. These Blues purists try to keep this 1950s, 1960s sound by attrition. The audience that's into that is fading. You got to let it evolve to bring in new folks.
BW: Is that frustrating to get people that are trying to question your approach?
ZH: It is a little frustrating, but you gotta keep pushing past it because I'm gonna to be doing this 'til I die. I got an 8 year old that plays the Blues. He's performed with me at several festivals and he's really good. And he's gonna be part of the next generation of the Blues. I don't know what his interpretation is going to be, you know what I'm sayin, but it's gonna be Blues, you can believe that.
Photo Contest Winner!!!!!!!!!!! - August 31, 2006
Bluestone Records is proud to announce the winner of the Zac Harmon photo contest. The prize goes to Dusty Scott of www.dustyblues.com. Dusty's photo will appear on the upcoming Zac Harmon tour t-shirt. Special thanks to Dusty.
A Word from Zac - July 20, 2006
On July 17th the Blues world lost a truly great Artist. Sam Myers went home to be with the Lord and he will surely be missed. I first met Sam at the age of 6. He was friends with my father down on Farish street in Jackson Mississippi. Sam sang the Blues with true Mississippi style. With his passing, America has lost a true national treasure. Rest in Peace Sam.
Zac
Zac
Zac Harmon wins a Blues Music Award - May 13, 2006
Zac Harmon won a Blues Music Award for "Best New Debut Artist on Thursday May 11th. Thanks to all Blues fans for your support.
A Word from Zac - April 24, 2006
Well I am finally going home to perform in my home town of Jackson Mississippi. I am so excited. I will be performing in Jackson on May 13th at Hal and Mal's. This is going to be a burning show. I'm also headed to Memphis to perform on the Blues Music Awards. I hope to see you at one of these events. If not check my calender because i will probably be in your area soon. Until then, keep the blues alive.
Zac Harmon
Zac Harmon
Bluewax Magazine Article - December 9, 2005
Zac Harmon Named Best New Blues Artist
Zac Harmon has been named Best New Blues Artist by the listeners of XM Satellite Radio in their First Annual XM Nation Music Awards. The nominees were chosen by the staff, and the winner was chosen by 1.4 million voting fans. The interesting aspect is that Harmon had a long track record as a sideman, studio musician, and songwriter before he and his MidSouth Blues Revue were named Best Unsigned Blues Band at the International Blues Challenge a couple of years ago. So he's an overnight sensation with quite a few years of experience! His albums include Live At Babe & Ricky's Inn in 2002, and this year's The Blues According To Zacariah. Congratulations, Zac! The voters chose B.B. King as Blues Artist Of The Year.
http://www.xmradio.com/xmnation/viewneighborhoodwinners.jsp?catid=9
Blueswax News Page
December 8, 2005
Zac Harmon has been named Best New Blues Artist by the listeners of XM Satellite Radio in their First Annual XM Nation Music Awards. The nominees were chosen by the staff, and the winner was chosen by 1.4 million voting fans. The interesting aspect is that Harmon had a long track record as a sideman, studio musician, and songwriter before he and his MidSouth Blues Revue were named Best Unsigned Blues Band at the International Blues Challenge a couple of years ago. So he's an overnight sensation with quite a few years of experience! His albums include Live At Babe & Ricky's Inn in 2002, and this year's The Blues According To Zacariah. Congratulations, Zac! The voters chose B.B. King as Blues Artist Of The Year.
http://www.xmradio.com/xmnation/viewneighborhoodwinners.jsp?catid=9
Blueswax News Page
December 8, 2005
Zac Harmon named "Best New Blues Artist" by Xmradio - December 7, 2005
Because of your overwhelming support, Xmradio has named Zac Harmon "The Best New Blues Artist of 2005". Thank you so much for all of you love and support. You are the real winners.
http://www.xmradio.com/xmnation/viewneighborhoodwinners.jsp?catid=9
http://www.xmradio.com/xmnation/viewneighborhoodwinners.jsp?catid=9
Zac Harmon nominated for Best New Blues Artist - November 4, 2005
Zac Harmon has just been nominated for "BEST NEW BLUES ARTIST" by
XM Satellite Radio for it's 2005 XM NATION AWARDS.
From now until Nov. 27th, you can vote as many times as you like.
Please LOG ON AND VOTE:
http://www.xmradio.com/xmnation/selectneighborhood.jsp?neighborhoodid=9
Thanks to all of you for your continued support &
XM Satellite Radio for it's 2005 XM NATION AWARDS.
From now until Nov. 27th, you can vote as many times as you like.
Please LOG ON AND VOTE:
http://www.xmradio.com/xmnation/selectneighborhood.jsp?neighborhoodid=9
Thanks to all of you for your continued support &
News Flash - October 9, 2005
The Blues According to Zacariah can now be found at Tower Records, Wherehouse Records, Best Buy, Barnes & Nobles, & Borders. If none of these stores are in your area, just request it at your local record stores. They will order it. Thanks for helping us make this CD a success.
Zac
Zac
A Word from Zac - August 30, 2005
Hey Blues Fans,
I just got back from Edmonton Canada playing at the Labatts Blues Festival. Man did I have a blast. The fans in Canada are incredible and I truly fell in love with them. All of the musicians were great which made for a wonderful festival. Fortunately I got to live out a life long fantasy of playing with Muddy Waters. Well almost, I got to jam with Bob Margolin and Willie "Big Eyes Smith" from Muddy's band. Wow this was a treat for me. When we played "Got My Mojo Workin", I closed my eyes and I could hear Muddy screamin, Work!!! I also met some other great folks like Delbert McClinton, and my man Mukkie from the Bob Margolin band. But none of this was complete without the fans of Edmonton. They were the greatest part of the show.
Well its time to close now but until next time, KEEP THE BLUES ALIVE.
P.S.
Thanks to all of the fans that supported the benefit for Sam Myers. God Bless you all.
Zac
I just got back from Edmonton Canada playing at the Labatts Blues Festival. Man did I have a blast. The fans in Canada are incredible and I truly fell in love with them. All of the musicians were great which made for a wonderful festival. Fortunately I got to live out a life long fantasy of playing with Muddy Waters. Well almost, I got to jam with Bob Margolin and Willie "Big Eyes Smith" from Muddy's band. Wow this was a treat for me. When we played "Got My Mojo Workin", I closed my eyes and I could hear Muddy screamin, Work!!! I also met some other great folks like Delbert McClinton, and my man Mukkie from the Bob Margolin band. But none of this was complete without the fans of Edmonton. They were the greatest part of the show.
Well its time to close now but until next time, KEEP THE BLUES ALIVE.
P.S.
Thanks to all of the fans that supported the benefit for Sam Myers. God Bless you all.
Zac
A Word From Zac - August 4, 2005
Greetings My Friends,
I am sad to report that the great Little Milton Campbell has passed. Little Milton was one of the greatest bluesmen to ever touch a guitar. His music was a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Everytime the door opened at the Birdland Cafe in Jackson Mississippi back in the 60's & 70's, you would here a Little Milton song blasting from the jukebox. Milton would come to Jackson about 5 times a year and I would see him when he would come into my Father's store on Farish street. The first time I got to see Little Milton play will be forever in my mind as if it were yesterday. My Mom took me to the Jackson Coliseum when I was 9 years old to see BB King, Albert King, & of course Little Milton. This show was incredible. BB did his thing and of course Albert was smokin but I was captured by the vocal and guitar style of Little Milton Campbell. From that point forward I was hooked. In 1977 I almost got the opportunity to join Little Milton's band. I had just completed a tour with Dorothy Moore and was called by London Moffet who was Milton's music director at the time. I wanted to take the gig so bad but I had promised my Mother that I would return to college as soon as Dorothy's tour was complete. Finally at the 2004 Handy Awards, I got the opportunity to hang out with Little Milton. He watched my performance before the award show and came over to tell me how good he thought I was. You know hearing him say that put me up on a cloud. He gave me great advice and positive encouragement to keep the Blues tradition alive. I'm gonna miss Little Milton. God Bless his soul and I know he's headlining in Heaven.
Zac Harmon
I am sad to report that the great Little Milton Campbell has passed. Little Milton was one of the greatest bluesmen to ever touch a guitar. His music was a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Everytime the door opened at the Birdland Cafe in Jackson Mississippi back in the 60's & 70's, you would here a Little Milton song blasting from the jukebox. Milton would come to Jackson about 5 times a year and I would see him when he would come into my Father's store on Farish street. The first time I got to see Little Milton play will be forever in my mind as if it were yesterday. My Mom took me to the Jackson Coliseum when I was 9 years old to see BB King, Albert King, & of course Little Milton. This show was incredible. BB did his thing and of course Albert was smokin but I was captured by the vocal and guitar style of Little Milton Campbell. From that point forward I was hooked. In 1977 I almost got the opportunity to join Little Milton's band. I had just completed a tour with Dorothy Moore and was called by London Moffet who was Milton's music director at the time. I wanted to take the gig so bad but I had promised my Mother that I would return to college as soon as Dorothy's tour was complete. Finally at the 2004 Handy Awards, I got the opportunity to hang out with Little Milton. He watched my performance before the award show and came over to tell me how good he thought I was. You know hearing him say that put me up on a cloud. He gave me great advice and positive encouragement to keep the Blues tradition alive. I'm gonna miss Little Milton. God Bless his soul and I know he's headlining in Heaven.
Zac Harmon