For over 20 years Ansel Barnum has undertaken a common instrument with uncommon finesse, breaking with conventions and constraints to show how underestimated the harmonica really is. A student of master and innovator Howard Levy, Ansel pushes the limits of the reeds using chromatic techniques that unlock access to all the notes in the diatonic harmonica. His vivid tone gives a mature voice to this child's toy which he's taken across diverse musical borders, from folk to funk, Celtic to classical, blues to baroque, and traditions in between. This versatility has made him an acclaimed sideman to musicians of all stripes and earned him spots on major festival stages. Ansel presently plays in a handful of bands based in Philadelphia area.