Hanging on to the harmonica

The harmonica doesn’t often get picked out as a musician’s main instrument.

Bob Dylan liked to hang one around his neck on a brace, and Johnny Cash’s two-harmonica version of Orange Blossom Special is a classic. But as a go-to instrument?

That makes Carlos del Junco an exception to the rule, as well as being an exceptional harmonica player. Along with being named Harmonica Player of the Year eight times at the Maple Blues Awards, he’s also won two gold medals at the Horner World Harmonica championship, held in Germany.

Penticton is going to get a taste of what del Junco can do with the little 10-hole diatonic harmonica when he returns to the Dream Café stage on March 27 with the Blues Mongrels.

“People always come away going ‘I had no idea you can do what you do with the harmonica,’” he said. It’s an instrument he says “has never got any real respect as a legitimate instrument, because it’s this little portable thing you throw in your back pocket.”

His own fascination with the harmonica began at age 14 when he heard a friend play one and bend a note.

“I was immediately drawn to the sound. I started to listen to records and trying to imitate what I heard on mostly old blues records,” said del Junco. “I would dissect these solos and figure out simple solos and then get more and more complex when I figured out how to bend notes and other techniques.

“It became this love affair with this instrument.”

It’s a fascination that continues to this day; del Junco still loves the challenge of hearing a piece of music and then figuring out how it would play on a harmonica.

“There is nothing the harmonica can’t do. There are no bounds, it’s just about the music. It is that excitement of learning something new,” said del Junco. “Now, when I practice, besides treating it like a horn … my inspiration comes from transcribing solos: guitar solos, saxophone solos, piano solos.”

With 10 albums in his catalogue, he says they’ve got a lot to draw on for the Dream Café show.

“We’ll be mixing things up. We keep people on their toes with variety,” said del Junco, adding there will be lots of straight-up blues flavour, along with mellower music from his latest release, Hang On.

“This particular release is a format I’ve been enjoying playing with, without drums. There’s more space,” said del Junco. “That is one thing about my show, that I love to mix up. We can still rock the house and then turn around and do a beautiful ballad.”

He’s looking forward to returning to the Dream, where he’s played many times over the years.

“Those are often some of the most fun shows because you have a completely attentive and engaged audience. People love playing the Dream Café, simply because of its intimacy,” said del Junco. “It’s a world-class venue; the sound is fantastic there, the sight lines are great, no matter where you are sitting.”

Carlos del Junco & The Blue Mongrels take the Dream Café stage at 8 p.m. on March 27. Doors open at 6 p.m.