Boarding House Blues - Rhythm Willie

Willie Hood, known as Rhythm Willie the Harmonica Wizard, was a popular entertainer in Chicago, up until his death in 1954. His repertoire consisted of jazz-tinged blues and, apparently, pop standards of the time. Here, I have transcribed the opening measures to three of the tunes he recorded at a 1940 session, issued under the name "Rhythm Willie and his Gang". These tracks have been reissued on "Harps, Jugs, Washboards and Kazoos 1926-1940" (RST Records Jazz Perspectives JPCD-1505-21). "Boarding House Blues" is a typical example of Willie's first position jazz style (everything he recorded, with the exception of "Breathtakin' Blues" was played in first position, or straight harp), played here on a G harp. Upper octave first position is often referred to as "Jimmy Reed style", but Willie was playing in this style in the 30s (or maybe even earlier) with a degree of sophistication that Jimmy Reed never achieved.
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