Biography

David's email: davidnaiditch@charter.net
Links to other AirPlay Direct albums:
Click here for the "David Naiditch Plays Bluegrass and Swing Instrumentals” album
Click here for the "Bluegrass in the Backwoods” album
Click here for the "Bluegrass Harmonica” album
Click here for the "Douce Ambiance: Gypsy Jazz Classics" album
Other links
Click here for YouTube Videos
Click here for David’s facebook profile
Click here for David’s facebook harmonica page
Click here for Soundcloud

Tunes on "Bluegrass that Swings" album
1. Roanoke (2:59, Bill Monroe)
David Naiditch on chromatic harmonica
Stuart Duncan on fiddle
Sierra Hull on mandolin
Jake Workman on guitar

2. Flatbush Waltz (3:42, Andy Statman)
David Naiditch on chromatic harmonica
Stuart Duncan on fiddle

3. Back Home Again in Indiana (3:49, B. MacDonald, J. Hanley)
David Naiditch on chromatic harmonica
Stuart Duncan on fiddle
Sierra Hull on mandolin
Jake Workman on guitar

4. East Tennessee Blues (3:01, Charlie Bowman)
David Naiditch on chromatic harmonica
Stuart Duncan on fiddle
Sierra Hull on mandolin
Jake Workman on guitar

5. Sweet Georgia Brown (3:22, B. Bernie, M. Pinkard)
David Naiditch on chromatic harmonica
Stuart Duncan on fiddle
Sierra Hull on mandolin
Jake Workman on guitar
Rob Ickes on dobro

6. Ookpik Waltz (5:26, Frankie Rodgers)
David Naiditch on chromatic harmonica
Stuart Duncan on fiddle
Sierra Hull on mandolin
Jake Workman on guitar
Rob Ickes on dobro

7. Twinkle Little Star (3:44, Traditional)
David Naiditch on chromatic harmonica
Stuart Duncan on fiddle
Sierra Hull on mandolin
Jake Workman on guitar
Rob Ickes on dobro

8. All of Me (4:27, G. Marks, S. Simons)
David Naiditch on chromatic harmonica
Stuart Duncan on fiddle
Sierra Hull on mandolin
Jake Workman on guitar

9. Rutland’s Reel (2:18, Howdy Forrester)
David Naiditch on chromatic harmonica
Stuart Duncan on fiddle

10. Shepherd’s Wife Waltz (4:00, Traditional)
David Naiditch on chromatic harmonica
Stuart Duncan on fiddle
Sierra Hull on mandolin
Jake Workman on guitar
Rob Ickes on dobro

11. Cattle in the Cane (2:59, Traditional)
David Naiditch on chromatic harmonica
Stuart Duncan on fiddle
Sierra Hull on mandolin
Jake Workman on guitar

12. Exactly Like You (3:32, Jimmy McHugh)
David Naiditch on chromatic harmonica
Stuart Duncan on fiddle
Sierra Hull on mandolin
Jake Workman on guitar

About this album

Studio: Eric Uglum’s New Wine Recording Studio & Mastering Lab

This instrumental album features David Naiditch on chromatic harmonica, along with some of the greatest bluegrass virtuosos—Stuart Duncan, Sierra Hull, Jake Workman, and Rob Ickes. The title, Bluegrass that Swings, reflects the swinging interpretation of various bluegrass tunes, as well as the bluegrass interpretation of various swing tunes such as All of Me, Exactly Like You, Sweet Georgia Brown, and Back Home Again in Indiana. Tastefully adding swing licks and phrasing to bluegrass results in an refreshing and interesting style, and has a long tradition. Kenny Baker, for instance, studied Texas swing and was influenced by the Gypsy jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli, an influence that is evident in tunes such as Bluegrass in the Backwoods. Introducing swing tunes to bluegrass also has a long tradition. Don Reno, for instance, was among those who introduced the bluegrass world to swing tunes such as Remington Ride, Down Yonder, Bye Bye Blues, Limehouse Blues, Little Rock Getaway, and Shanty in Old Shanty Town. Earl Scruggs played Farewell Blues and Steel Guitar Rag, and Bill Monroe played Bugle Call Rag. This album attempts to expand upon this exciting melding of bluegrass and swing.

David Naiditch plays all the tunes on this album with C-tuned chromatic harmonicas, mostly the Seydel Saxony and Hohner CX-12 Jazz. The harmonica harmonies on Roanoke, East Tennessee Blues, and Rutland’s Reel were produced with multiple harmonica tracks.

Harmonica used in bluegrass
David Naiditch once half-jokingly remarked that harmonica players are about as welcome at bluegrass jams as the mosquitoes that come out to feast. Indeed, many bluegrass folks consider the harmonica a questionable instrument, although it is certainly better established in bluegrass than instruments such as the clarinet or saxophone. Harmonica player Mike Stevens recorded with Jim and Jesse McReynolds; Charlie McCoy, with Flatt and Scruggs; Buddy Greene, with Bryan Sutton, Aubrey Haynie, Ron Block, and Stuart Duncan; PT Gazell, with Jerry Douglas and Ricky Skaggs; and WV. Ryan Rightmire, with the Del McCoury Band.

What makes David’s approach different is that, unlike other bluegrass harmonica players who use diatonic harmonicas, David exclusively uses the chromatic harmonica. When played well, the chromatic harmonica can produce a sweet, fiddle-like sound and handle fast, intricate melodies. Since David uses a C chromatic to play in all keys, he can deal with tricky chord changes and key transitions without having to quickly switch harmonicas. Since the chromatic provides all the notes without having to bend or over-blow, the timbre of each note isn’t dictated by the instrument, but is controlled by the player. David believes that keeping the same tone and timbre throughout a tune is often desirable in bluegrass.

David's Bio
David has been part of the Los Angeles music scene for many years. He started with the blues and eventually delved into other genres: bluegrass, country swing, and Django Reinhardt-inspired Gypsy jazz.

David’s musical journey began in the early ‘60s, when he was tutored on the diatonic harmonica by the legendary blues icon Sonny Terry. In the mid-1960s, David taught harmonica at the Ashgrove, a club that was the focal point of the Los Angeles folk music revival. Years later, David taught and performed at other venues in the Los Angeles area, such as McCabe’s Guitar Shop, Boulevard Music, the Coffee Gallery Backstage, and Viva Cantina.

In the mid-’90s, David started focusing on the chromatic harmonica. He honed his skills by attending numerous music jams and gigs, armed only with a chromatic in the key of C. By playing in all keys, David became comfortable playing by ear and improvising in many styles of music.

In 2005, David produced and played harmonica and guitar on his first CD, "Harmonica and Guitar Duets," which covers diverse types of music, including blues, swing, Klezmer, ragtime, and country. In 2008, David produced the CD, "High Desert Bluegrass Sessions," with bluegrass greats, banjoist Pat Cloud, guitarist Eric Uglum, fiddler Christian Ward, and bassist Austin Ward. In 2010, David released "Bluegrass Harmonica," which features his harmonica, and includes virtuoso breaks by Pat Cloud, Eric Uglum, and guitarist Steve Trovato. In 2012, David released "Douce Ambiance: Gypsy Jazz Classics," featuring his jazz harmonica with the fiery guitar lines of Gonzalo Bergara, and the jazz 5-string banjo playing of Pat Cloud. In 2014, David released the instrumental CD, "Bluegrass in the Backwoods," featuring virtuosos Rob Ickes, Stuart Duncan, Ron Block, Dennis Caplinger, Sierra Hull, Christian Ward, Jake Workman, and others. In 2017, David realeased another bluegrass instrumental CD, “Bluegrass that Swings,” featuring Stuart Duncan, Sierra Hull, Jake Workman, Rob Ickes, and others.

YouTube videos featuring music from this album