Harmonica Colorist

Hideout Harmonica Hoedown – 2/19

kesslerbk — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:36:32 +0000

this is going to be great! I’m honored to be sharing the stage with such great players as Jim & Joe. Joe is a blues master. Jim’s specialty is Celtic music. And, some of our special guests should be just as great. I’m still getting those lined up but it looks like someone very special will swing by.

I’m working on a classical piece, a jazz piece, a solo piece involving bass/standard harmonica with looping, plus two original works. See you there! Click here to visit the Hideout’s website for tickets.

Merry Christmas!

kesslerbk — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 04:31:16 +0000

Ramsey Lewis has been an incredible mentor to me. We go back a few years. I was his writer/producer on his radio show from 1997-2009. When he asked me to sit in on a Christmas video series for his Facebook page this year, it was a big honor. This is what we created in one take…

Music Samples

kesslerbk — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 20:27:05 +0000

Some of my work on diatonic harmonica, bass harmonica, looped/processed/electronically treated harmonica, clarinet with various groups: the BlackWilloughbys, Short Punks in Love, & Bakelite 78. Selections were recorded at Strobe Recording Chicago, WGN-AM Radio Chicago, Pearl & Brian’s living room and Delta Recording Service in Como, MS; between 2006-2011.

The BlackWilloughbys Live at FitzGerald’s

kesslerbk — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 20:22:53 +0000

from Chris & Heather’s Country Calendar Showcase at FitzGerald’s. We learned some classic Ferlin Husky.

“Beyond Brokeback” at the Auditorium Theater, Chicago – Nov. 13

kesslerbk — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 21:49:30 +0000

I’m very excited to be performing in this production, a series of dramatic readings written by everyday people responding to the film “Brokeback Mountain.” Shawn Kirchner, who wrote and arranged the music will be in this production. Shawn’s original recording of these works featured harmonica legend Tommy Morgan (Beach Boys, Carpenters and just about any other pop recording featuring harmonica in the 60s, 70s and beyond), so I have a lot to live up to! Find out more about it here.

Collaboration with visual artist Gregg Coffey

kesslerbk — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 21:47:08 +0000

Gregg Coffey is a world-class artist and good friend. This features an overview of the works of the master Printmaker/Painter alongside my original music. All the sounds were created with harmonicas (some electronically treated), shakers, plucked bass harmonica reeds, clarinet (either conventionally or percussive keying), a bit of piano…the last part is a low-D pennywhistle with a microphone taped inside and run through a phase shifter!

Thanks to everyone at the Old Town School!

kesslerbk — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 21:15:56 +0000

The Saturday workshop, “Blues/Country/Folk in Seven Positions” was great fun (at least for me as the teacher). The students could all play in 1st and 2nd position (that’s C and G on a C harp, for you non-harmonicists). After two hours, we were all improvising on 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, AND 12th positions (that’s D, A, E, B and F). They found out it’s not as mysterious or daunting as it seems, which was the whole point!

BlackWilloughbys Winter Shows

kesslerbk — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 21:10:43 +0000

The BlackWilloughbys have been busy playing our unique blend of blues, folk & Americana … we have a few dates coming up in the near future, which you can always check out at BlackWilloughbys.net

Fri. Dec. 16 Chris & Heather’s Country Calendar Show FitzGeralds – Berwyn IL. This is always a fun show to see – my first time participating. Bands are given an artist to cover. We’ve been given the late Ferlin Husky!

Sunday, Dec. 18 The Whister 10pm FREE Part of Lawrence Peters’ Country Throwdown Series

Tues. Dec. 20 The Hideout 9pm

Tues. Jan 10 The Hideout 10pm