Re: Get me going on the blues

["ChipComcast" <jandkday@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

 Wouldn't hurt to get a 6-pack of diatonic harps (A,Bb, C,G,D, & F low) & a
270 chromatica in C for starters. (later try a Bb for swinger tunes) Also
the Jerry Portnoy CD is one of the best for a blues foundation for bending &
styles.

jimmy
- ----- Original Message ----- 
From: <Gatorharp@xxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2003 9:27 PM
Subject: Re: Get me going on the blues


>
>
>  moorcot@xxxxxxx writes:
>
> << I have been playing diatonic harp for 10 years or more, mostly in Irish
> traditional music.  Suppose - JUST SUPPOSE - I wanted to branch out into
> blues playing.  How would I get started?
> I am not used to learning from instruction manuals etc.  I think (but am
not
> sure) that I need a few seminal-type recordings to listen to and play
along
> with/imitate (at least to begin with). >>
>
> well, this may well turn into a long thread...it will be interesting,
anyway.
>  i'll start by saying that there are lots of blues styles.  in the end,
> though, i think most blues harp playing can be split into two camps...east
coast
> piedmont style and chicago style.  the piedmont style is mostly acoustic,
and
> it's best known players are sonny terry and phil wiggins.  not sure that
it's
> the harp playing that makes it different as it is the guitar style (of
course,
> you would respond differently to that guitar style, so...).  i guess i
need to
> listen to more of this style, but i really have to be in the mood, so i
don't
> very often
> to my way of thinking, chicago harp is the place where it all came
together,
> and also from whence everything after came.  most, if not all, of the
first
> masters of chicago harp started putting it together in the delta area.
but most
> of these guys ended up in chicago, many adding electric amplification.
this
> spread far and wide, and, to me, is this basis for most blues playing even
to
> this day.  the swamp blues of louisiana, the west coast swing stuff, and
> whatever else is mostly an extension of this.
>
> my list would be pretty simple and without controversy (it's intended that
> way).
>
> little walter...i would suggest getting the biggest collection you can
> afford.  you're in england, and i think there is a 10 disc british set.
minimally,
> the two-disc essential little walter set is great.  this is walter as
leader,
> and i don't think there's a solo on here by anyone but him.
> for playing behind a singer, check out walter's great work with muddy
> walters.  there are great two and three disc sets by muddy.  if little
walter had
> never ventured out on his own, he still would've been one of the greatest,
based
> on this.
>
> sonny boy williamson two...this is rice miller.  again the two disc
essential
> set of his chess stuff is the best place to start.  mostly, if not all,
> acoustic playing.  seems simple sometimes, but those phrases are hard to
replicate.
>  great songwriter, too.
>
> big walter...since he had such an erratic career, i'm not sure where i
would
> suggest starting.  probably best would be the third volume of chicago/the
> blues/today!  he's mostly in a supporting role, but he's on all but a
couple of
> the thirteen cuts.  this album might only be available as a three disc set
that
> collects all the volumes of that series.  that would be cool, 'cause then
you
> would get...
>
> junior wells...more of a minimalist than the others, but man, his sound
and
> choice of notes is great.  the definitive set, to most folks is the album
> hoodoo man blues.  i think it's killer.  also, maybe the best of the
vanguard
> years, or the three disc collection mentioned in the big walter section.
>
> jimmy reed...learn to play this style.  even more of a minimalist than
wells,
> and technically less accomplished than the others.  but it sounds cool,
and
> is a good lesson in simplicity.  charley has a good single disc
compilation.
>
> as i said, i think this is the tree of blues harp.  the roots run deep
into
> delta soil, the branches are long and many.  i've omitted a whole, whole
bunch
> of great players.  that isn't meant as disrespect to any of them; i've
left of
> many of my favorites.  but a list of personal favorites isn't what you
asked
> for.
> hope this helps
>
> steven j gatorman
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