Season of Change
Article Reprint from the July 2001 BluesNotes
Article by: LynnAnn Hyde
In 1992, I walked into Kelly's Olympian, and witnessed some of the most beautiful harp playing ever produced. A sandy haired, spectacled "Ward Cleaver" looking guy was playing harmonica in an acoustic three piece, and I, along with everyone else in the room, was mesmerized by his playing. I had just been given my first taste of Arthur Moore and it was delicious!
My harmonica playing mentors, David Flack and Paul deLay, had both mentioned Arthur to me and I was eager to hear him play. Arthur was playing songs like "Just Your Fool", "Georgia". "The Work Song" and other Chicago Blues classics. He was the first guy I ever heard play popular music on diatonic harmonica and played "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" as a signature piece. I was hoping to be able to study from him.
That day will stand in my mind as one of my better ones. It was the start of a long friendship and I am honored to tell you this great musician's story.
Arthur is from Central / Northern California and began playing harp as a kid in the mid-sixties. He relates, "My friends and I saw the Yardbirds play ....the next day we all had harmonicas!" Arthur recalls Paul Butterfield as his first harmonica tutor, based on the infamous "Fast/West" album and his military tour of duty at a lonely out post in Germany.
"That time in the Army was all Butterfield, all the time," Arthur told me. He started to listen to other monster harp players and to learn all he could about the instrument. He studied harmonica and played recreationally for over 20 years before he began to perform and record professionally. Arthur Moore has performed at festivals and events all over the region, and on the East Coast. He has been nominated for countless awards and has been profiled by the CBA and other harmonica publications over the years. Arthur has played and recorded with the incredible Paul deLay, as well as many other notable harp players. Moore also played many of Bill Rhoade's harmonica exhibitions, always "wowing" the crowd with his incredible playing. He is highly respected and admired by all of his peers, and those players include some of the most prominent harmonicists in the business.
Due to demands at his job, and because of the stressful conditions in the music business, Arthur chose to retire from the music business. In fact, he agonized with critical health problems, bookings, gigs, work, and family responsibilities until he could no longer physically play. It is a great loss to our music scene and great loss to future audiences that will not hear his art.
Arthur Moore is not only a fine musician, he is a caring husband, father, and community member. He has always found the time to console a friend, to offer a laugh, to put his foot in the seat of your pants if needed! Arthur was one of the first "independent" NW harp players to have his music sold through Kevin's Harps, and still has several copies of his wonderful recording "Blues Harp Muchisimo" available to interested parties.
Arthur performed at dozens of CBA events and was always a true gentleman. He would give freely of his time to any of our members with true sincerity of spirit. He loved playing and loved being able to play requests from his many fans.
Arthur Moore was always educating other harp players. Since 1989, he must have given a thousand harmonica lessons to eager students. One of his more notorious students happens to be Rob Landahl, a truly remarkable player. Arthur always found the time to reach out to aspiring players, to teach, support, and endorse their efforts. He started the now infamous "Harmonica Party" several years ago, wherein he would host an evening of music dedicated to harmonica players sitting in. It was the only venue of it's kind. and truly a great opportunity for aspiring harmonica players to sit in with great players. A chance to learn from and listen to several good players all taking turns playing on the same song. The "pass around" was Arthur on a remote mic, passing it from player to player. Sometimes there would be 20 harp players, playing one after another, each trying to sound as good or better than the player before them. Each trying to learn from the great musicians that were playing alongside them. Each looking to Arthur.
I asked BluesNotes Editor, Rick Hall, if the BluesNotes would be interested in apiece on Arthur. He said he was very interested and felt Arthur's retirement was a tragic loss for our community. Rick and all the BluesNotes staff wish Arthur all the best.
For all you technical buffs, Arthur used handmade Meisterklasse harps (they are no longer available) and preferred his vintage Gibson amps for smaller gigs and a Bassman for bigger rooms. Arthur had a variety of vintage mics he used and he also enjoyed playing acoustic harp. He did both well, sometimes playing Chromatic as effortlessly as he played diatonic (10 hole) harp.
Arthur says he had a great time performing for us, teaching us, and turning us onto the Blues. He has no regrets and hopes all of his students continue to play and enjoy their passion for the harmonica.
Jim Wallace has been thinking about starting the Harmonica Party back up. It would be wonderful if Arthur could come out of retirement for special occasions and the return of the Harmonica Party would be just that!
As a friend, a fan, a former student, and great admirer, I can tell you Arthur is missed in our musical community. His gentle nature and outstanding musicianship, his love and respect for the harmonica, his willingness to share, all are missed. A profound sadness taints all of the happy memories. Something great has ended, and will never return to us again. Perhaps this harsh lesson in reality will teach us to support and value our artists ...before the next "retirement".
I would like to mention the fact that during the past few years, several great harp players have faded into obscurity here in Portland. These guys were there for us each Saturday night and at all of our events. We need to support them now more than ever! Don't let another great performer slip through the cracks.
Any of you interested in purchasing Arthur's recording can contact the CBA for his private number.
© 2001 Cascade Blues Association