Re: On harp instrumentals (was: Re: what about song writing)

[<lists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Mafrk,

If you haven't listened to Greg Szlapczynski's 3 CDs, you need to. You will
love his instrumentals. In fact that's the sole reason I mentioned him in my
list of great writers. Lyrics are wishy washy, but instrulmentally, his
ideas really are up there !

Ben FELTEN, Editor
www.planetharmonica.com

- ----- Original Message -----
From: "M. N." <mnessmith@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2003 5:24 PM
Subject: On harp instrumentals (was: Re: what about song writing)


>
> Dennis wrote:
> "Instrumental harmonica music rocketed our instrument to the top of the
> charts with 'Peg O' My Heart' ..."
>
> =================================
>
> True enough, though for the sake of historical completeness it should also
> be pointed out that Peg was a hit in large part because of the 1947
> musicians' union strike. Since the union didn't consider harmonica a
musical
> instrument, harp players were free to record without crossing the picket
> line so to speak. Peg was cut and released as a single at the height of
the
> strike, when very few new records were coming out and people bought it in
> droves.
> Regarding harmonica instrumentals, I have to put in yet another plug for
one
> of my favorite contemporary harp CDs, Carlos Del Junco's Big Boy. It has a
> bunch of fresh-sounding instrumentals. With traditional harp stylists
(i.e.
> a Chicago sound), I prefer songs with lyrics 99 times out of 100. But I
can
> listen to Carlos' instrumental stuff all day long. Jason Ricci also has a
> knack for putting together excellent, melodic instrumentals (my favorites
> are "Mississippi March" and "Delta Nova" from the Down At The Juke CD. He
> also plays a crippling live rendition of King Curtis' "Soul Seranade."
> MN
>
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