© The Tommy Reilly Family Trust
“Hello. Tommy Reilly speaking.” I gulp. Having heard the bewitching strains of Tommy Reilly’s harmonica floating through my kitchen window from my neighbour’s flat, I borrowed the recording Serenade - and played it almost to destruction. Now I’ve taken it upon myself to phone the great man himself for a lesson. This is 1989, and prior to this I haven’t heard of Tommy Reilly, I’m ashamed to admit, having been born after the Golden Age of the chromatic harmonica. But anyone who gets to record as soloist with the world-renowned orchestra of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, as Reilly has done, is clearly a top musician. To achieve this on harmonica is, frankly, astounding. The playing on the cassette is phenomenal, and I’ve never heard anything like Reilly’s tone, speed, clarity, and sheer virtuosity. My philosophy is that if I want to do my best, I must learn from the best, so I’ve decided to ask the great man for a lesson.
FATAL ATTRACTION: MY LIFE IN HARMONICA Part 2 By Phil Hopkins
This call holds all the terrors of phoning someone for a date - multiplied by ten. It’s been ridiculously simple to get Mr Reilly’s number - I’m a member of the Musicians’ Union, I own the MU directory, and in the harmonica section is the phone number of… yes, you’ve guessed it. “Hello Tommy. Er, Mr Reilly,” I hear myself croak. “Yes?” he says, patiently. I introduce myself. “Can I come to you for a lesson please?” There’s a pause. “You know,” he replies, speaking slowly and kindly, “I don’t teach much these days. But I’ve got a book. You can get it in the Charing Cross Road shops. It’s still in print. Thank you for calling.” Sensing the imminent end of this call I wedge my metaphorical foot firmly in the poor man’s door. “I’m sure I can buy the book,” I gabble, “but…” All the beautiful things I’ve just heard him play flash through my mind. “Does the book show me how to get your smooth legato? The slow vibrato in the lower notes? The staccato effects?” There’s a pause. “You know what,” he says, “I think you’d better come for a lesson.” Between 1989 and the late 1990s I make the trip several times a year to Tommy’s beautiful home in rural Surrey. I realise that Tommy and his wife Ena are a wonderful team. Ena provides coffee and biscuits on arrival at 11 a.m. There’s showbiz chat as Tommy
Summer 2022 • Harmonica.uk
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