With MySpace picking up there's now more harmonica players there than you can shake a stick at. I was very happy to see however that New Jersey's own Rob Paparozzi has finally opened his MySpace site with several cool tunes available including an unreleased version of I Drink Muddy Waters recorded with Howard Levy... on piano (and Rob on Vocals and Harp) during a harmonica seminar in 98 or 99. Listen to Howard saying "I wasn't warmed up at all..." at the end. Typical Howard, I'd say!
I was lucky enough to meet Rob in NYC in 99. We attended a Paul Oscher gig, and I still have fond memories of that evening. Rob is not only a stunning harmonica player and one of the best blues singers I've ever heard, he's also a genuinely kind soul. While he may not be that famous under his own name, he's been fronting the original Blues Brothers Band for quite a few years now, and if that's not saying something...
Oh, no! Not MySpace!! :D (OK, I'm something of a MySpace o-phobe...) but seriously...
Rob is not only a stunning harmonica player and one of the best blues singers I've ever heard, he's also a genuinely kind soul.
I really really really have to second that, especially the last part. Not to take anything away from Rob's playing, but he's such a nice guy, that it's really remarkable. When I lived in NYC, Rob was (and probably still is) something of the glue in the NYC harp scene, such as it was. He just knew everyone, appreciated everyone without getting into silly chromatic vs. diatonic arguments (he plays both beautifully) or old-school vs. overblowers shenanigans, and was very supportive of new players (like myself). Every harp player I met in NYC knew him (even though he's in Jersey) and he was at every major show I ever checked out, supporting the musicians just like a regular harp fan.
And of course, I think he's vastly underrated not just as a player, but as an overall musician. I've seen him... I dunno, 3 or 4 times now, and he's never disappointed. Even when he was playing with Madcat Ruth or Howard Levy, he never looked like the lesser player, and of course, he can sing the pants of all those guys.
So... check out his MySpace page, and buy one of his albums, people!
Posted by: Jp | January 22, 2007 at 02:44 PM
I meant for the sentence I quoted from the original post to be in italics. Oops.
Posted by: Jp | January 22, 2007 at 02:45 PM
And the guy is everywhere--I discovered his name in the liner notes of Nellie McKay's last CD. He was one of the first people to respond to me on Harp-L and has always taken the time to be supportive and write back even though he doesn't know me from Adam. I don't know if the harmonica community is unique in this aspect, but it's wonderful to see such accomplished, talented professionals remaining so humble, accessible, and welcoming to newcomers.
Posted by: marc | January 23, 2007 at 09:48 PM
saw rob last night, (7-4-08) in albuquerque, nm, with bs@t
IT WAS GREAT!
Posted by: willetta | July 06, 2008 at 04:16 AM
I just saw Rob with BS&T in Grants Pass, OR. Rob is GREAT in anything he does. He is multi-talented and a SUPERB harmonica player and blues singer. He is great on stage and gives a whopper of a performance. Rob has a heart of gold. He is kind and gentle and gives from the heart. There is NO phoniness with Rob Paparozzi. He really appreciates and cares about other people. How lucky we are that God put Rob on this earth. He is INCREDIBLE!!!!
Posted by: Lin | August 18, 2008 at 05:47 AM