Re: Sugar Blue Show.

[Barry Schaede <barrys@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I think the point that Rick was trying to make the other day was that to 
call any fast high end licks ~Popper style~ would be premature at this 
point in his career.  Relative merits of his playing aside he just hasn't 
been around long enough to be viewed in any kind of historical context.  
Many people play all 10 notes of the harmonica quickly and with 
articulation.  Sugar Blue is perhaps among the most noteable of them.  If 
I was going to call high end licks played quickly a ~style~ I would call 
them ~Sugar Blue style licks~.  People are influenced by what comes 
befpore them.  John Popper is much younger than Sugar Blue and therefore 
must be considered as being if anything influenced by Sugar Blue.  (he, 
Popper, claims not to be influenced by any harmonica players). My feeling 
about what's different about John Popper's playing is this.  The 
setting.  Jazz influenced pop rock has never been played in the popular 
arena on a harmonica. BTW you want to hear fast check out the new Madcat 
CD, Madcat's Harmonicology.  Fast with good articulation of the notes 
something John Popper has yet to be able to manage.  Did I forget lyrical 
to boot?  Another thing John seems to need work on.  FJM