I just signed the contracts for a summer tour with the John Popper band! The fist gig will be in Portland, Ore on May 5th at the Roseland. We  will be playing up and down the west coast, filling in dates between Blues Traveler shows. Exciting!
 
 
Nick

Great stuff, Nick!  I've always said there are 3 harmonica players - Mark Wenner (Nighthawks), John Popper, and everybody else.  Congrats.
 
Peter
ps- Well, there's also the drunk in the crowd with the harp in the wrong key at every blues gig........

That is fantastic!
 
John

Thanks, fellas! But, Peter there is one more. I recently got John to admit it. Toots Thielman was the greatest Harmonica player of all time. Even Stevie Wonder gave him props.
 
 
Nick

Nick , that's TOOOO COOOL!  Congratulations ______
 
 Please Let me know when you will be playing in my neck of the woods .
 
Wolf

Toots is still on a pretty busy schedule, for a musician who's turning 90 next month. http://www.tootsthielemans.com/concerts/
 
A fine guitarist too, until a stroke (IIRC) a couple of decades ago.

My Dad always liked Toots and was very fond of the harmonica orchestras of his youth.  
 
Keith

I am glad Toots is still with us! I have a few Dizzy Gillespie records with Toots playing harp, guitar, and whistling. He is a great man and one of the few old guard left.

RE: mad harmonica skillz:  don't forget Howard Levy.  The guy plays fast unison piano/harmonica lines like nobody's business.
 
Oh, and congrats on the sweet gig Nick.

Very cool, Nick. Have tons of fun!
Mike

Wow!  Congrats!

OK, Nick point made.  When I read your post I thought I was unfamiliar with Mr. Thielemans.  Then I checked a few of his YouTubes and it was Oh, yeah - that guy!  Been hearing him my whole life without it registering; thanks for putting a name to it.  So there are 4 - & you're working with 1 of them!  Again, too cool.
 
Peter

I did a record with toots 9 years ago, he played 3 tracks on it, it took him 20 min...
He did 3 version of each song just to choose the best one,that was actually the hardest part of it because every track was perfect and so beautiful,what else can i say?
But anyway: congrats to that engagement!
Peter

Jaco featured Toots on the Word of Mouth recording. I love listening to Liberty City.
Mike

Nick:
 
FAR F**KING OUT!!!!!!!  You definitely have to let me know when you are hitting the Bay Area.
 
As for harp players, I recently shared a bill with Lester Chambers of the Chambers Brothers.  An amazing harp player.
 
Bill, tgo