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- Subject: Non-harp but of interest
- From: "[OOOOOOO]=%CAT DADDY JACK"@mrgate.mec.ohio.gov
- Date: Tue, 9 Aug 1988 08:29:00 EST
- A1-type: DOCUMENT
- Posting-date: Thu, 6 Jan 1994 00:00:00 EST
NOT HARMONICA BUT WORTHY OF NOTE NONE THE LESS Buskers Columbus, the official organization of street performers in Columbus, recently arranged a concert by nationally known entertainer John Hartford (Gentle On My Mind). During his visit John found time to present a workshop at Sweetwater Music. The workshop was informal and laid back, much like John is, and was more of a question and answer period, telling about some of his experiences with some licks thrown in on banjo and fiddle. Often in his act John will fiddle and tap out a rhythm with his feet sort of Cajun style except he uses a four by four plywood board with a mic attached, it's a nice effect. John grew up near the Mississippi river and loved the lifestyle so much that he became a riverboat pilot. He still plies the river whenever he can. If you still don't know who I'm talking about maybe you remember the Glen Cambell TV show a few years back. John was featured weekly on his banjo or fiddle, he played with lightning speed but with a nonchalance that made it seem easy. One of John's responses impressed me and obviously others too. Harold Kohn, Executive Director of Buskers Columbus printed these comments from John in the Buskers Quarterly newsletter. Thank you Harold for permission to reprint the following. YOURS, MINE AND OURS: A performer treads a fine line in determining how to please an audience and still maintain his own artistic signature. When asked how he plans his own show, John Hartford had this to say. Poet that he is, the following lyrical passages of his were captured. "Mine are the ones I like. Ours are the ones that we both like. Yours are the ones you like and I ??? If I open with one of yours and you like that, then I'll play one of mine. If I play one mine and it becomes one of ours... then I'll play another one of mine. (If not then it's back to one of yours). I try to earn the privilege of playing one of mine." What a nice philosophy for any performer to follow. Jack Ely ------- Hope you don't mind my posting this - It is a reprint from Harmonica Dispatch 1988. The philosophy at the end is what I really love - I look this article up and re-read it often. (Actually I have a copy in my harmonica case). BTW - John does play some harp and did so at his workshop. Jack Ely ely.j@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
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