Search - Tapani Varis :: Jews Harp

Best known as a bass player in the burgeoning Finnish folk revival, Varis is also a player of the Jew's or mouth harp, an ancient yet often disrespected folk instrument that has a place in many cultures of the world. Working with both a standard small instrument and many variations (including a large bass version and a bamboo instrument from Indonesia), Varis explores the potential of the device in a variety of settings. While some are traditional songs, he also composes new works and uses Finnish and other folk sources as a starting point for a unique album of new music. He is accompanied by other mouth harps, fiddles, banjo, and flutes to create an album that skirts the boundaries of new music and folk. --Louis Gibson