001.1992.026

Sun May 03 1992

32:57 - DAT Master, WAV and Mp3 on Server and Cloud

00:45 Allison announces the final day of Jazzfest and her first interview of the day with Hezekiah Early. 01:45 Early was playing a show at 1:30 that day; after welcoming him, he has played all around the world. 03:20 Early was raised outside of Natchez Mississippi on traditional blues music; his introduction to drums happened on Sunday nights in the fields where musicians would perform. 04:37 Early enjoyed the field drums and practiced tirelessly; when he was able to play the snare drum he was fully introduced to drum culture. 05:44 He describes the percussive set up: a bass drum which could be tightened with a rope and a cymbal attached along with a snare drummer; all the drums were home-made. 07:19 His father was a grocery bagger; during Christmas, his father’s boss sent harmonicas as Christmas gifts which was Early’s first introduction to the blues. 08:50 He would mimic his favorite musician, Papa Joe, and emulated his harmonic style; his uncle was also talented and taught Early the basics of harmonic. 09:30 Allison announces that Early plays the drums and plays harmonica at the same time by tapping it to the microphone 11:12 Hezekiah Early played with a group early on with a man named Pee-Wee who alos performed with a circus band of musicians 13:34 Pee-Wee was an essential part of Hezekiah’s family; Mohammed Ali came to Natchez to make a film in the 70s and Early successfully auditioned for the part 16:32 Ali told him that he needs to learn how to incorporate harmonica in his drumming because there are a very limited number of quality harmonica players; this inspired him to start tapping the harmonica to the mike 18:55 Early plays without his drums for the crowd 21:40 Hezekiah and the band started to go to Louisiana to perform, but most of their performances were done in Natchez 22:31 Pee-Wee joined up with the band and transitioned in blues and kept the band going through member changes 24:06 The band traveled to Europe in the 80s and also performed with many festivals; they played at the World’s Fair in 1984 27:40 They traveled to Holland and have gone back to Europe two more times 28:34 Hezekiah Early performs one song playing harmonica and singing

Hezekiah Early. Allison Miner Interviewer.

sound recording

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New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation Archive