“We need blues music! We need county music! We need Jazz music! We need Soul music! We can communicate through the above… It’s a sense of the inner being excited of something beyond what we can explain.”

Mark Feltham: Harmonica Gentleman

Mark Feltham is an English professional musician, best known for playing harmonica with several artists including Talk Talk, Oasis, The The and Texas. Feltham is a long-term member of the British blues rock band Nine Below Zero and Rory Gallagher's band; and is often used as a session musician across the globe. Mark says: “The harmonica has always been with me since I was a six year old… My grandfather was an engineer in Iraq and brought the harmonicas home from the ship as air transport was in its infancy then and everyone would spend long journeys at sea so to kill time they would take a harmonica to kill the boredom of a long journey.”

Although Feltham grew up in the UK his musical interests were decidedly American. Intent on a career in country music, he took up the harmonica, becoming highly proficient on the instrument. Founder and co-leader of Nine Below Zero, he became well known on the European blues circuit. Mark says: “Listen for space! Don’t play over every one else and it’s often what you don’t play that matters. Silence is more powerful than noise.“ He plays harmonica in many genres, especially blues, rock, country and pop.

Interview by Michael Limnios    Special Thanks: Mark Feltham & Joe Pidgeon (AGMP)

How has the music influenced your views of the world? What moment changed your music life the most?

Music to me has not changed the way I see the world, I come from a family of the 50s and 60s and the home was always filled with music, Elvis, country music, BB King was always on the radio and record player.

The moment that changed my life was when I discovered the Nashville session musician scene, you have to remember, we had no internet in those days so all my American music had to be imported.

What touched you from the sound of harmonic? What's the balance in music between technique (skills) and soul/emotions?

The harmonica has always been with me since I was a six year old… My grandfather was an engineer in Iraq and brought the harmonicas home from the ship as air transport was in its infancy then and everyone would spend long journeys at sea so to kill time they would take a harmonica to kill the boredom of a long journey.

Why do you think that Nine Below Zero music continues to generate such a devoted following?

Nine Below Zero has always made records and not just lived off of the Live at the Marquee record, I think it’s a band that continues to not rest in the past.

Are there any memories from gigs, jams, open acts and studio sessions which you’d like to share with us?

Talk Talk in the studio. Steven Wilson in the studio. The The in the studio. Texas I’m the Studio. The Robbie Mc’intosh band in the studio. Oasis at Knebworth and the Royal festival Hall unplugged. Rory Gallagher in Yugoslavia and in the studio. Nine Below Zero on the two nights making live at the Marquee.

What were the reasons that made the UK -since 60s- to be the center of Blues/Rock researches and experiments?

That’s a difficult one to answer… We did it great in the 60s… The Scandinavians do it great now.

“The moment that changed my life was when I discovered the Nashville session musician scene, you have to remember, we had no internet in those days so all my American music had to be imported.” (Photo: Mark Feltham)

What do you miss most nowadays from the music of the past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

I live in the past. I like players playing proper instruments. All the great riffs have already been played..

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music paths?

Listen for space! Don’t play over every one else and it’s often what you don’t play that matters. Silence is more powerful than noise.

Why is it important to we preserve and spread the blues? What is the role of music in today’s society?

We need blues music! We need county music! We need Jazz music! We need Soul music! We can communicate through the above… It’s a sense of the inner being excited of something beyond what we can explain.

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