Re: Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Doo-Wop Changes

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

Hehehe....just for the edification of those who take every word written  
here much too literally, Smokey wrote the following distinctly tongue in  
cheek. I happen to know that he LOVES Paul Davies. :)
 
 
Couldn't agree more with his assessment of Paul's harmonica playing. What  
some here also might not know is that Paul had every opportunity to continue 
on  as President of SPAH (he was VP to Douglas Tate some years ago),  but 
decided it wasn't for him and insisted upon an election  despite so many of 
us wanting him as Prez when Douglas passed on --the  one which gave us Tom 
Stryker as President for so many great years. Paul was  still always there for 
Tom --to aid and abet and help out where and  whenever he was needed. He's 
a MAJOR Class Act who is so loved by long-time SPAH  attendees.
 
Any new SPAH members--and those who might attend for the first  time this 
year--do yourselves a favour and make it a point to listen in  wherever he 
might be practicing/playing. You'll come away from it with  better ears - and 
a new appreciation of acoustic harmonica playing. 
 
 
One special moment for me was being present during a  bantering/kvetching 
session late at night in a hotel lobby after one of  Jason's harmonica 
blow-offs when he and Paul yakked, played and discussed blues  and jazz vis-a-vis 
diatonics. The only other person up that late was Jimmy  Gordon stopping in 
here and there. Everyone else had come back from the blow-off  and gone off 
to bed. If I remember correctly, Paul left at least twice to go to  sleep 
and then came back to continue the conversation and playing. He and  Jason 
have a special bond and their conversation/playing that night has stayed  with 
me. Great fun! These are the SPAH moments you can't anticipate but wish you  
had a recording of--simply worth their weight in gold.
 
Elizabeth
 
"I consider Paul Davies THE most under rated harmonica player around right  
now. He is an expert in circular, spiral, bee-bop, Newton 4 key, augmented, 
 diminished, and chordal tunings. And while other have veins popping out of 
their  heads, Paul is as relaxed as a sleeping puppy. His playing never a
mazes to cease  me. And I don't even like him. ;)~ But the truth is the truth. 
 


smokey-joe


On Apr 16, 2014, at 2:47 PM, _EGS1217@xxxxxxxx (mailto:EGS1217@xxxxxxx)  
wrote:



I second that (e)motion. ;)

Wonderful, Paul! You're one of my favourite player/entertainers at SPAH  
each year. This is goooood stuff!

Elizabeth

**********