Jerry Portnoy @ All About Jazz

Born: November 25, 1943 Primary Instrument: Harmonica

Jerry Portnoy was born in 1943 and grew up in the blues rich atmosphere of Chicago's famous Maxwell Street Market during the golden age of Chicago Blues. He began his professional career in the late 60's and since that time has performed, live and on television, to more people in more places than any other blues harmonica player.

During a career that includes six years as a member of the fabled Muddy Waters Blues Band, another six as leader of the Legendary Blues Band, four years at the head of his own band The Streamliners, and another four as a featured member of the Eric Clapton Band, he has maintained a constant touring schedule that has carried him to every state in the union and twenty-five foreign countries on five continents, with performances at the White House, Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, the Smithsonian, London's Royal Albert Hall, and at major jazz festivals worldwide, including the Newport Jazz Festival, the Montreaux Jazz Festival, the Warsaw International Jazz Jamboree, the Hawaii Pacific Jazz and Music Fair, and the Grande Parade du Jazz in Nice, France.

He has played on several Grammy Award winning albums while recording with a wide variety of artists, and was a Grammy Award nominee in 1997 for his work with the Muddy Waters Tribute Band. Television credits include appearances on Saturday Night Live, Soundstage, MTV, VH1, and the Disney Channel, as well as writing and performing original music for Sesame Street. In addition, he has lectured at the Berklee School of Music in Boston, and his definitive 3/CD instructional package, Jerry Portnoy's Blues Harmonica Masterclass, is widely regarded as the premier teaching tool for those wishing to learn the instrument. He now makes his home outside Boston, Massachusetts.

Last Updated: July 17, 2008

Jerry Portnoy is the most expressive blues harp player around today.” -Savannah Morning News

“Mr. Portnoy crests like an alto saxophone.” -New York Times

“Widely recognized as the greatest blues harpist of his generation.” -Toronto Star

“The finest blues harmonica player in the business.” -Knoxville Journal

“The number one blues harp anywhere.” -Rocking Chair Magazine

“A subtle and superb harpist.” -Lexington, Kentucky Leader

“The smoothest, sweetest player I ever heard.” -Kingston Ontario Whig-Standard

“Exciting, soulful riffs that make your hair stand on end.” -Houston Chronicle

“Portnoy is amazing both as a soloist as well as an accompanist.” -Cadence Magazine

“Sounded like a whole brass section of an orchestra.” -Spokane Spokesman-Review

Artist	Title	Label	Cat. #
Jerry Portnoy	Down in the Mood Room	Tiny Town	TTCD2011
Jerry Portnoy	Home Run Hitter	Indigo	I60CD2026
Jerry Portnoy	Poison Kisses	Modern Blues	1202
Joe Beard	For Real	AudioQuest	AQ-CD1049
Joe Beard	Dealin'	AndioQuest	AQ-CD1055
John Brim	The Ice Cream Man	Tone-Cool	TC 1150
John Cambell	A Man and His Blues	Crosscut	CCR 1019
Eric Clapton	Twenty Four Nights	Reprise	9 26420-2
Eric Clapton	From the Cradle*	Reprise	9 45735-2
Eddy Clearwater	Cool Blues Walk	Bullseye	82896
Bo Diddley	A Man Amongst Men+	Code Blue	82896
Ronnie Earl	I Like It When It Rains	Antone’s	ANT002
Ronnie Earl and The Broadcasters	Soul Searching	Black Top	BT 1042
Luther Johnson	Talkin' About Soul	Telarc	CD-83476
Legendary Blues Band	Life of Ease	Rounder	2029
Legendary Blues Band	Red Hot ‘N Blue	Rounder	2035
Pinetop Perkins	Born in the Delta	Telarc	CD 83418
Paul Rishell	Blues on a Holiday	Tone-Cool	TC 1144
Duke Robillard	Dangerous Place	Pointblank	42857
Duke Robillard	Explorer	Shanachie	9025
Les Sampou	Fall From Grace	Flying Fish	CD FF 657
Hubert Sumlin	Hubert Sumlin’s Blues Party	Black Top	BT 1036
Muddy Waters*	I’m Ready	CBS	CBS PZ 34928
Muddy Waters*	Muddy "Mississippi" Waters Live	CBS	CBS PZ 35712
Muddy Waters	King Bee	CBS	CBS PZ 37064
Muddy Waters Tribute Band	I'm Gonna Miss You when You're Dead and Gone+	Telarc	83335
Bill Wyman & the Rhythm Kings	Anyway the Wind Blows	Velvel	63467-79768-2
Zora Young	Travelin' Light	Deluge	del d 3003
Johnny Young	Johnny Young Plays the Blues	Blues on Blues	BOB 10005

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Primary Instrument:
Harmonica

Willing to teach:
Beginners

Credentials/Background:
he most thorough, detailed and comprehensive instructional method ever done for the blues harmonica, yet the easiest to follow and understand. Contains 3 hours of personal instruction with more than 300 playing examples at slow and regular speed, along with the coaching and explanations. Included are: Chord rhythm, tongue blocking, syncopating chords, octaves, back rhythm, lip pursing, lip blocking, 12 bar structure, bending notes, transitions, 2 draw vs. 3 blow, vibrato, warbles, flutters, growls, barks, kiss pops, rips and glisses, double and triple tonguing, tongue switching, special chords, shaping notes, use of the hands, breathing, diaphragm attack, positions and finally, mics, amps and playing with a band. At the end of the course are nine guitar tracks to play along with featuring Duke Robillard. Whether you're a total beginner or an experienced player looking to sharpen your skills, this course has everything you need -- from establishing solid fundamentals to the most sophisticated techniques of tone, phrasing and sound production. Nothing like this has ever been done before! To order online click here or call 1-877-MR BLUES (672-5837) or send check or money order for $66.00 ($81.00 for international orders) to: