Jack Rudy on SoundBetter

Ad campaigns, Film scores and trailers, Television scores, Albums ... if you've seen one, you've probably heard my harmonica playing. Clients range from Disney and Universal to troubadours like Dave Alvin and Aimee Mann.

I love the harmonica best when it sounds like a human voice working into a story. Some of my best work has been in film scoring when the character's emotion was tied directly to the harmonica. In "Puss in Boots", I was the voice of the cat when he gets hit on the head. In "Lucky" I was the angry score behind Harry Dean Stanton marching down the street kicking a can.

Of course I've played on tons of blues albums and shows because that's the obvious harmonica role. And there's nothing funner than digging in to a dark, gritty, Chicago vibe. But even on those songs, I'm always searching for something within the song to make it unique.

I was born in Oakland, and learned Harmonica by playing with my grandmother's combo at the retirement home where she worked. In the 1970's, those retirees were some of the legendary blues greats -- Charles Brown among them. I learned a style and way of phrasing that came from the generations before rock and roll. Simply put, my sound is very authentic and believable. And that quality is why my playing fits so well into so many genres.

Send me an email through 'Contact' button above and I'll get back to you asap.