Re: [Harp-L] re: Zen Harmonica

[BiscuitBoy714@xxxxxxx]

Maaaaan, now yall got me  all self conscious and stuff and I gotta play June 
2nd in Erie. LOL (I don't gig  too much any more) This has been a pretty cool 
thread here, and I think it shows  that diversity is what makes life cool. 
What works for one guy won't work for  another sometimes, but you never know 
until you try it. When it comes right down  to it, you gotta do what comes 
'natchel. I've been dancin' to the groove for a  long time and I'm not gonna stop 
now. BUT, when I'm playin' lead on the harp my  mind goes blank pretty much and 
it just comes out, moves and all. I've seen  video of it and I don't do 
anything but play really unless there's a break I can  accent with my head or 
something. I hate to admit this but in the 80's I did  metal for a while, spandex and 
all (red and black). I knew at some point during  the night I would be 
leaping off of the speakers, but I never knew when. Music  is fun for me. I wouldn't 
do it if I didn't get all pumped up and get nervous  before I play. Doing 
mostly blues and being a 49 year old man I don't do any  360's or half splits 
anymore, but there has been a time in my life where I got  paid because of my 
stage presence. I didn't do it to make up for not being able  to rip either. Old 
habits are hard to break. Being a harmonica/sax player has  allowed me to keep 
playing into my old age. (did I say I'm old?) I'm grateful  for that. I 
figure I can keep playin' until I can't breath anymore 'cause they's  a bunch of 
old harp/sax blues players out there. Part of my love of  music is playin' with 
other people and making it all come together. I don't  get in the way of other 
instruments, and I love being part of the team. We all  slow down a little as 
time goes on, but every now and then............I think  it's good for the 
soul to shake that thang.
         Randy 
 
In a message dated 5/15/2007 10:28:22 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
rlaughlin@xxxxxxxxxxxx writes:

Moving,  or not moving, physically across the stage, or in place, is not a
doctrine  set in stone. For some, what Iceman suggested, letting go of a
particular  nervous compulsion to move, plays a part in progressing from
someone  "trying to impress", and someone "finding the groove". After a
while, in  the course of that same progression, one may become adept enough
as to  allow for some "dancing" while playing well, as the technique of
extracting  "good tone out of a tin sandwich" has been mastered to a
reasonable degree.  If this mastery is lacking, then perhaps the showmanship
may need to be set  aside for now, until the tone and playing skills improve.
Movement  shouldn't merely be a nervous cover for lack of musical skill. But
that's  no law either. Mick Jagger's chops on harp aren't up to the par of,
say,  Kim Wilson, so I'd certainly hope dear Mick "keeps on dancin' ", cuz
it's  "part of the show". If he just "stood there", I'd hope to hear
something  more impressive on the harp end of it


 



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