PLAIN FOLK

Harry Manx, Master of Blues Magic

By Steve Srubowich

It ís often been said of artists who create fresh sounds that their distinct hybrid is like two streets meeting at an intersection. Harry Manx's music is worthy of that ‘intersection' label but his unique blend truly deserves a 'scenic drive' designation.The British-born, Salt Spring Island, B.C. resident has concocted a superb mix of familiar Delta blues with exotic East Indian ragas. His gripping style has been dubbed cross cultural blues and he has no peer.

The Medicine Hat Folk Music Club has recently lined up Manx for a concert in January . Manx traditional blues guitar playing and singing has drawn comparisons to Kelly Joe Phelps and Ray Bonneville. He bends strings on acoustic slide guitar, banjo and an Indian instrument called the mohan veena, plus harmonica. Incorporating the 20-string mohan veena, a guitar-sitar hybrid, takes his traditional sound to an entirely fresh vista. “I play almost all lap-style guitar. I'm very much interested in open tunings. I work mostly around D tunings. I try to play my songs on any of my three instruments, the banjo, the veena and the guitar. I have one hand in India and one hand in the delta,” he said in an interview at the late July Calgary Folk Music Festival. Manx spent the mid-70s to mid-80s playing cafes, bars and festivals across Europe and developed his own folk-blues style. “I grew up listening to everything, but mainly blues stuff, like Muddy Waters and Buddy Guy. I was mostly listening to electric Chicago stuff and John Hammond.”

In 1986, while busking and touring Japan, he discovered the music of Indian slide guitarist Vishwa Mohan Bhatt and was instantly enthralled. He sought Bhatt out to learn to play the mohan veena and was fortunate to become the Rajasthan masterís dedicated student for five years. “I was really honoured. I went to concerts and I carried his guitar. For me it was a great honour as I got to play with him,” Manx said with a hearty laugh.

Manx and the late George Harrison are the only Western musicians to be personally presented a mohan veena by Bhatt. “I've done my own thing with the instrument rather than do his thing. (Bhatt is) happy with what I’ve done with it,” he said.

After a dozen years in India, Manx returned to Canada in early 2000 determined to build a following. He retains a profound love for India, its people and its music. “(Indiaís) music vibrates at a different level than our Western frequencies. It takes you in to contemplate. It helps you get in touch with yourself. It is deep music." Manx’s second album called "Wise And Otherwise" was released in April. It followed his 2001 debut titled "Dog My Cat." His next album, tentatively titled "Gift Wrapped" is expected to be released soon. He collaborated with veteran Toronto jazz guitarist Kevin Briet on it and said it’s filled with a “mix of folk, jazz, blues and bluegrass grooves”.
Steve interviewed Harry Manx at this summer's Calgary Folk Festival.
For more information on this Canadian Blues icon, log on to: http://www.harrymanx.com/home.html

NEXT WEEK: watch for Les Pearson's review of "Tanglefoot." This novelty folk group is coming to Medicine Hat on October 18!