RE: Technical Innovations

[Richard Hunter <turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Rick Beall wrote:
<<
<What contemporary (living) harp players have polished some
<technique of their playing such that this technique has become an
<essential part of their overall style (on one or more CDs)?
<
<    Here are the ones I can think of:
<
<    Howard Levy  --Overblows   www.levyland.com/audioclips.htm
<     John Popper  --Speed
<    Richard Hunter   --counterpoint  (playing two distinct
<melodies at once) www.hunterharp.com/
<    Dave Gage   --  Use of tongue switching to play octave
<jumps quickly, sort of like Eddie Van Halen's guitar tapping.
<www.davegage.com/

I think there are actually 3 main elements to whatever level of
innovation exists in my work:
1)  counterpoint as described above
2)  extensive use of non-standard tunings
3)  extensive use of very wide intervals, e.g. 10ths, 12ths, double
octaves 

I'm glad to be listed in this company. We could add Carlos del Junco for
his overblowing as well, and Roland van Straaten for his work combining
singing and playing, as well as a number of other tehniques.  We could
also add Magic Dick for his extremely innovative use of electronics.    

Note that all the players listed above (and by me) are included for
their diatonic harmonica work.  I wonder what chromatic players have
similarly extended technique in the post-Adler era?

I'm not sure that Minneapolis-based chromatic and diatonic harp monster
Clint Hoover falls into this category of technically-based innovators,
but I have to say his name here because 1) nobody else has lately on
this list, and 2) he may very well be the best all-around player on the
planet.  Look for his brilliant CD "Dream of the Serpent Dog" if you
like any kind of jazz at all.

Regards, Richard Hunter