Congrats Hoot & Spah! (convention report-long)

["Robert Paparozzi" <chromboy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.


 I would like to personally thank: Doug Tate, Jerl & Berl Welch, Tom
Ellis & the Hoot gang, Paul Davies, Jack Ely, Joe Filisko, Buzz Krantz,
Danny Wilson and the entire SPAH staff.....for putting together an A-1 =
top
notch enjoyable and professional convention in Dallas last week.=20

     Also, Kudos to Hohner Inc. for their support and presence this year =
with workshops and
support etc. It was also a pleasure meeting and hanging with the cats =
from
Hoot's Austin Chapter as well, really good folks like Cara Cooke, Dan =
Ruppa,
Tim Northcutt and Tom Stevens, Daniel "Catfish" Russ and my old freind
Michael Rubin to name a few and my old friend from Plano who really =
worked
hard with the Video and pictures, Bev Windham!

    Furthermore, a big thanks to the SPAH staff I haven't mentioned, =
doing all the
tireless behind the scenes work to make a week like this flow. Oh yeah, =
not
only do you get a yearly convention compared to NONE, but a quarterly
newsletter. The new 40th Anniversary issue I got from SPAH when I got =
home
is JAM packed with everything a serious Harmonicist needs to keep them
informed. I am proud to be a member of SPAH for over 25 years.

    The Harvey Hotel was perfect for our event, providing beautiful =
rooms
and a well laid out convention area with both large and small rooms and =
some
real comfy lounges and hallways! The Staff was very helpful totally =
musician
friendly, ready to help out with SPAH's needs.

     This year, I attended SPAH in the capacity of "Instructor", I did a
seminar on Jazz Chromatic with the amazing Will Galison and then I =
taught 3
days as part of Joe Filisko's "teach-in".  Not having to perform, left =
me
plenty of time to do what your suppose to do a  convention, absorb, =
learn
network and have FUN!

    Old friends?? plenty!! Roscoe, Larry Eisenberg, George Brooks, Jimmy
Gordon, Paul Messenger, Tom Stryker, Tom Troestler, Sandy German, Rob
Bonfiglio, Bob & Gloria Beck, Mike Polesky, Enrico, Paul Oscher, =
Jellyroll, Ben Nathanson,
Rich Sleigh, Joe DeGelia, Mark Voss, Phil Duncan, Beth Kohnen (can't =
wait to
hear your new CD), Allen Holmes, Joe Martin, Charles Spranklin, Phil
Wiggins, Mike Turk, Gregoire Maret, Rick Epping, Johnny Bishop and =
Johnna
Cossaboon, Joe Leone, Al Smith, John Hall.

    Ofcourse my dear UK Buddies...Roger Trobridge and Peter Golding were
there too!! and my Detroit buds Mr. & Mrs. Phil Lloyd.

    New friends Jon Wheatley, (an excellent 7 string Guitarist that came =
to
perform with Turk), Tim Moyer, (I think I dug Tim's solo's the most all
week-great player!!), Mark Ford, P.T. Gazell (Paul Davies introduced me =
to
PT and now I have new friend in Nashville,-), Norton Buffalo, Lisa =
Flores
and apologies to the ones that I can't remember the names at the moment.

     The Seminars I was able to attend were:

Rick Epping's "What's New at Hohner", Rick played some gorgeous =
Concertina
and Racked XB-40 as he demoed what the possibilties are (and there =
MANY!!!)
Congrats Rick!!

Kirk "Jellyroll" Johnson gave a phenomenal seminar on "Playing behind =
the
Singer" and even gave us a chart using the Nashville Number system so we
could follow along as he playing THE tasty Harp you ever wanted to hear
behind a singer....what a PRO! Bravo....Kirk.

Mike Turk did a class on "Transitioning from Diatonic to Chromatic" and =
this
was packed with all style players looking for tips from Master Mike =
(Mike
uses a Renaissance Harmonica) !

Norton Buffalo did a class explaining EVERYTHING in his "Bag o' Tricks" =
what
a nice guy and HUGE talent, Norton surprised many who thought only of =
him as
a DIATONIC player.....he is equally adept on Chromatic. (He uses Huang =
Blues
Harps and mostly a 2016 for chromatic). I got to ask all my questions =
about
his brilliant studio cuts and he showed us all how he did  the famous
"Runaway" for Bonnie (with a 102 fever!!!)

Since me and William were cut short with our seminar and didn't get to =
play
but only lecture, Will put together an impromptu class with Carolbeth =
True
(Pianist) having players pick a song play the melody and 1 chorus solo =
and
then he and Carol critiqued it.....This is ONLY something you can get at
SPAH!!

    Then, you get to "testdrive" all kinds of Harps and Harp related =
gizmos, Enrico did a great job with Vern Chromatic-Rack invention while =
playing masterful Brazilian Guitar. Bobbie G. let me test out a very =
"sweet" Renny that Doug was doing some major "Slide" improvments =
on.......and this goes on ALL week,-)))


The Shows I was able to see (here's my few word  capsule reviews):

Phil Wiggins - Hands, Tone, Chops and Soul !!

Mike Turk - IMO THE best jazz chromatic player on the scene!! (not too =
shabby on
Diatonic either,-)

Gregoire Maret - "Young, Creative, Jazz with a Feeling" You'll be =
hearin'
more about him I guarantee!!

Mark Ford - Digital Butterfield and beyond!!! Excellent Stage Persona! =
(Roscoe nearly fainted by the energy at this show,-)

Paul Oscher -The Blues is in GOOD hands (and Lips!!,-) (Where else but =
at a SPAH convention can you hang out at 3am in the morning with Paul =
Oscher and Mike Turk,-)

Norton Buffalo-a consumate musician who just happens to play =
Harmonica!!!

Phillipe Achille-thank you Mr. Hughes!! Congrats Phillipe!! your on your
way!!

Dallas Harmonica Trio-Hot Dallas Harp x3....congrats on a great =
performaces
cats! (nice Bass Jerl!!)

The Jazz Cafe had a trio each night with an open Mic and Buzz's Blues =
Jam
where EVERYONE gets to play provided all the after hours Harpin' anyone
could ask for.................

John Hall did an excellent job as usual at the Harp Depot Store...thanx =
for
all your help John. John BTW got me a rush order only days before my =
tour of Europe in JULY, much appreciated Mr. Hall !)

Thanks Again to Hoot & SPAH on a Winner!
Here's to another 40 years!!!
If you are serious about the Harmonica,  I implore you to join =
SPAH..............

all the best........rob paparozzi