Re: Dying artform

["Dennis Cooper" <harmaniac@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

The ZZ-Top Harmonica Tribute band has not been recorded yet. The reality of 
the matter is that each of the three of us are learning to play our 
orchestral harmonicas as we go and we all live over 1,000 miles from each 
other.

The cool part about the distance is that we each plan to learn enough on 
both chord and bass harmonicas to back any lead player that can belt out 
Texas and Classic Rock tunes (Chrom or short) whenever two of us are in the 
same room. The natural upshot of this will be when each of us learn enough 
about the orchestral instruments to teach local folks how to play one or 
both.

Harmonica bands doing intrumental Rock-N-Roll covers with some serious 
acoustic roots and blues thrown in for good measure. Sounds like fun to me.

I'm already doing instrumental versions of every genre from bluegrass to 
Euro-trance in my little One-Man Harmonica shows at fairs and festivals out 
here in the Northwest using either self-created backing tracks or a 
four-piece live band, depending on event budget. It is a natural extension 
to eventually turn it into an all-harmonica affair.

I humbly suggest that we each aquire an orchestral harmonica and learn to 
play it in our chosen genre at least enough to jam with a small circle of 
friends. ANY style will work if pursued. I've recently  started a small 
harmonica club up here in Idaho that has members ranging in age from 8 to 
86. We hope that by next summer that we'll be able to do some public 
performances as a club.

I'm booked during SPAH this year (Owyhee County Fair), but hope to make it 
in 2004. Does anybody know the dates and locations for 2004 yet? Since it's 
right in the middle of fair season out west, I need to plan in advance. 
Heck, I'm even missing the Yellow Pine Harmonica Contest this year due to 
performance commitments, but it's a good problem to have, getting paid to do 
something I love!


Practice lots, and perform often...

Regards,
The Harmaniac? Dennis M. Cooper
http://www.mp3.com/crossharp
http://www.crossharp.com

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