[Harp-L] 1. How We Can Save the Chromatic Harmonica from Possible Extinction (randy singer)

[Steve Merola <srmerola@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello Harp l
As a professional drummer for over 30 years I am very used to hearing 
wisecracks about drummers "hanging around" with "real" musicians.
I now perform on harmonica(s) as well, and for some reason the same 
prejudice is still applied. However, jazz players will say to me, "Oh, 
then you're really playing an instrument" when I tell them I also play 
chromatic, or "the big one with the button" as they know it. I have sent 
samples of my harmonica playing to various friends and professional 
contacts who know and respect me musically. They are valued by me, due 
to their unfailing ability to tell me when I stink, yet the only 
positive musical comments I get are regarding the songs I play on 
chromatic. For some reason the difficulty of bending to pitch on a 
diatonic is not appreciated by "normal" people (those who don't play 
harmonica). Most jazz or classical listeners  find the chromatic very 
appealing.  The chromatic is simply  a different sound, especially when 
recorded, and used in a creative way. My MBs don't sound like my Suzukis 
and neither sounds like my Hard Bopper. There was a recent posting 
regarding Stevie Wonders new CD and it states that he used both 
chromatic and diatonic. All prejudice is wrongminded, especially musical 
prejudice from people who claim to be musicians.
Peace
Steve Merola