Reviews
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My heartfelt thanks go out to all of the writers...for newspapers and
magazines great and small alike, for their kind, often colorful
words and appreciation of my work......Here's to ya!
Articles:
"The High Lama Of Harmonica"
"Buffalo has an amazing talent with his versatile harmonica playing and his unique vocals and creative songwriting … It is no wonder that he is regarded as one of the best in the music industry …penetrating vocals and creative songwriting … phenomenal and complex harmonica playing … Truly a master of his craft."
"Mr. Buffalo continues to breathe fire thought the reeds. His unbelievable playing is equally matched by his singing and songwriting. Wonderfully tight, clean and devastatingly beautiful … every cut rips and sings".
"Buffalo demonstrates more chops than a national steakhouse chain."
"It's not just Buffalo's execution, which is flawless, or the fact that he's a more than competent vocalist, or that years of collaboration have afforded him a guest star lineup that includes Miller and guitarist Elvin Bishop. It's also that Buffalo's capable of swinging through multiple blues oriented styles with the greatest of ease. Few manage it with as much aplomb as does Norton Buffalo."
"Like drinking good cactus juice. You'll just never get enough of the Buffalo."
"Buffalo stakes out stylistic territory somewhere between the esteemed Jean "Toots" Thielemans, and Chicago chromatic magician Carey Bell. Buffalo's chromatic playing is uniquely captivating, and he doesn't' shirk from flat out blues blasting."
"Norton Buffalo has always been an exceptional harmonica player, but King Of The Highway is an exceptionally good piece even for a performer of his magnitude. Filled with breathtaking harmonica work in a wide variety of styles, King of the Highway is as good as any harmonica blues piece I've ever heard and far better than most. This one is nothing short of superb."
"Norton Buffalo has embraced the blues more convincingly than I have ever heard him do before … There is plenty here for even the most ardent blues purist. It is all punctuated with a heapin' helpin' of Norton Buffalo's magnificent harmonica playing."
"Buffalo is undoubtedly the most versatile harp player the industry has ever known, especially when is comes to playing the chromatic harmonica … Diversity is Buffalo's signature … when playing the harp - he's one in a million"
"As should be expected from the greatest harmonica player in the Western world, Norton Buffalo put on a rip snortin', solidly rockin' concert Sunday...For
sheer facility and variety of style on his instrument, Buffalo has no peer."
"What sets Norton apart from your
average harp player is his combination of technical mastery and his strong intuitive sense. Working with Norton
in the studio has been a real pleasure --he understood what I needed with almost no discussion, which can so
often kill the mood. Aside from that, he's plain got the three T's down: taste, tone, and timing."
"... He's just a beautiful guy. We really have great jam sessions when
we get together. He's real sociable. You don't want to call Norton if you want a short conversation. He is such
an upright type of fella that I don't have any dirt I can dish on him.
"We've done a couple of tours together--Australia, Hawaii. Lots of harmonica players are limited. It's like going
to the average Italian restaurant where there's a set menu with the same predictable choices. With the average
harmonica player, you get a certain expected set of tired blues licks, but Norton is way beyond that. All the
good things one hears about him are true."
"As a harmonica player, Norton gets it," Littell said. "His approach as an accompanist is almost perfect. His early
work with Kate Wolf defines the instrument. It is required listening for the next generation of harp players."
"R & B is a romping classroom demonstration of how two blues based artists so capably and intimately complement each other on their respective instruments. Buffalo's harmonica is particularly impressive as a lead instrument as he offers freight train whistlings, bright trills, rapid fire riffs and swirling wails and squeals … R & B slow the pace down for quieter songs that succeed thanks in part to Buffalo's passionate vocals"
"...he's a brilliant harmonica palyer, a superb singer and an extraordinary
showman...his rapport with both his band and the audience is something to
behold."
"When people gather to speak of harmonica players, the name
Norton Buffalo is mentioned with reverence - and usually followed
by the awe-filled question: 'How in the world does he do
that?'"
"Buffalo's forte is his choice of notes, not how many he
can squeeze into a bar. His solo on Bonnie Raitt's version
of Runaway ranks as one of the great harp solos of all time.
It's a prime example of how an instrumental break can make
a song."
"...a cross between Dagwood Bumstead and a bloodhound...Buffalo
has emerged as rock's foremost harmonica virtuoso..."
"A case of near bewildering talent...he plays harmonica with a
virtuosity that has widened eyes and opened mouths throughout
the music industry. No one else who puts tongue to reed
can touch him."
"Like the legendary hoof-thunder of a vast herd of American bison
passing through town, Norton Buffalo and his band blew the roof off...setting
a new standard for live local concerts, in a show that will be remembered
for years...a heightened command of nuance and improvisation rendered
even the most faithful fans open mouthed, grinning with amazement...a
stomping classroom demonstration of mouth organ virtuosity. If harmonicas
had arms, Norton Buffalo could teach them to fly."
"Buffalo had fans mystified and delighted by his harmonica virtuosity. His
mind boggling harp blowing, combined with an uncanny sense of showmanship, has kept Buffalo in demand as an act in the Western United States."
"Norton Buffalo dug through his extensive kit to wail with a passion that had many jaws agape at his incredible prowess. To say that Norton plays harmonica is on the order of calling Miles Davis a trumpeter. Buffalo is a master of the instrument, creating phrasings so complex and melodious that chills running down the spine of his listeners is not an uncommon reaction."
"Buffalo and Miller combined on an early highlight of the show with a hot harmonica duet that led into Miller's first minor hit, “Living in the USA"... Buffalo was almost like a second front man for the band..."
"Armed like a gunslinger with the various keyed harps on his hips, Norton
brought the house down."
"… he juggles a baffling variety of notes, taking a single breath to "...Norton Buffalo proceeded to blow my shit into next week with some
of the hottest harmonica playing I've never heard before or since."
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