Artist Info: Blues Birdhead

Blues Birdhead (James Simons) was a harmonica player, who made a few recordings round 1927-1931. It is said that Blues Birdhead recorded the first overblow in 1927, but some people disagree.

James Simons, known also as "Blues Birdhead" or "Harmonica Tim", is perhabs the best example of how the diatonic harp functioned as a jazz instrument in de early days of that music. His phrasing and timbre are a cross between those of Louis Armstrong and Johnny Dodds, vintage 1928. [read more...]