“ Most of the harmonica players I listen to play a different type of harmonica than I do ,” Yonnet explained . “ Stevie Wonder plays a chromatic harmonica , and I also grew up listening to Toots Thielemans , a Belgian jazz musician known for his chromatic harmonica playing . Howard Levy , a diatonic harmonica virtuoso , amazed me early on , and he still does . I also listened to artists like Miles Davis , Coltrane , Jimmy Smith ( a jazz organist ), saxophonists , guitarists , and vocalists . Each time , I focused on the emotions they conveyed , which resonated with me , and I tried to reproduce those emotions through the voice of the harmonica .”
Without getting too technical , Yonnet explained the difference between the two : “ The diatonic harmonica , which is mainly used in blues , rock , country , and pop music , gives you access to the black notes on a piano , and the chromatic harmonica , commonly used in jazz and classical music , gives you access to all the keys on a piano . I play chromatically on a diatonic , so I have the best of both worlds .”
Frédéric Yonnet performs at Radio City Music Hall
Credit : Mathieu Bitton
Stevie Wonder — the most prominent harmonica player in R & B music — served as a constant source of inspiration for Yonnet . He admires Wonder ’ s ability to convey emotions through his instrument and has sought to emit the same .
His dedicated musical studies paid off when he was invited to join his mentor for the groundbreaking “ Songs in the Key of Life ” concert during a 14-city tour from 2014 to 2016 . This was just the beginning of Yonnet ’ s collaborations with legendary musicians . “ Prince invited me to record with him in Los Angeles , and shortly afterward , we embarked on a three-year European tour ,” Yonnet recalled .
Working with Prince , Yonnet was able to hone a musical skill that Prince collaborators value : the capacity to perform at their best regardless of the circumstances . “ During rehearsals , we ’ d prepare numerous songs , but once on stage , he ’ d call me to play songs I ’ d never rehearsed before , sometimes even ones I didn ’ t know . It was frustrating at first , but I came to understand his approach . He was pushing me to be more spontaneous and to deliver my best when I least expected it . He was challenging me to always be ready , even when I wasn ’ t .”
In 2019 , Yonnet connected with the late Robbie Robertson , lead guitarist for the rock group The Band . Robertson served as the music composer for several of Martin Scorsese ’ s films , including Raging Bull , The Color of Money , Casino , and The Last Waltz .
“ When Robbie and Scorsese discussed which instrument would best telegraph when something bad was going to happen in the film , The Irishman , they zeroed in on the sound of the harmonica .”
Scorcese , who has a keen appreciation for the harmonica , also included the sound in his current film , Killers of the Flower Moon . “ In The Irishman , I ’ m like the Grim Reaper , and in Killers of the Flower Moon , I ’ m the sound of greed ,” Yonnet shares .
While Yonnet ’ s career has taken him to Hollywood and allowed him to tour with legendary musicians , his love for Washington , D . C ., remains an integral part of his life . During the pandemic , he played a Sunday concert in his Capitol Hill neighborhood for the entire year and his performances were streamed around the world . “ From my perspective , the purpose of music is to connect at a deeper level beyond language or physical communication . It ’ s about exchanging emotions universally . It ’ s an international language that every human being can connect with .”
WINTER 2023-24
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