Re: Harp Players I'll not hear of

[PL500@xxxxxxx]

In a message dated 6/4/03 2:17:38 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
Moandabluz@xxxxxxx writes:


> 
> >> > > I finally heard some of those
>> > > names that people have been
>> > tossing around- - -. J. R.??? Yawn.
>> 
>> Someone pointed out that it sounds like I'm writing
>> off everyone's opinion who likes this guy's playing.
>> True enough.
>> 
> 
>    Sometimes, as my mother taught me long ago, it's not good practice to try 
> and irritate people. That could account for some of the problem...
> FYI... I have not been the world's biggest Jason Ricci fan, though I sure 
> wouldn't discount his ability and I didn't find  him boring when I saw him play 
> live. I'd love to be able to play that well. But then, I'd love to sound 
> like Butterfield too, because i DO buy all the things mentioned in the earlier 
> Harp-L writings about the Butterfield Blues Band.... Then again, opinions are 
> like *****, we've all got them.
> 
> Steve "Moandabluz" Webb
> still a fool for the harp
> 

Jason is a great harp player, and as someone who knows him personally he is a 
straight up nice guy. When I first met Jason here in West Palm Beach, I was 
just learning harmonica and working at a skatepark. Jason came out skated 
(quite well I might add), and we hung out talking about Howlin Wolf and Muddy for 
like 3 hours. After talking with him I found out he was a seriously nice person 
who was more than willing help out a newbie harp player with tips. From that 
time I must say he has done more to help my playing as a musician than anybody 
I know.  Jason is one of the few people I know of who has great talent and 
about 0% ego; he can tear up most harp players with one note, and reduce them to 
crumbs with 3 notes, but when talking with him he is one the nicest people I 
know. I have seen Jason perform many times and I must say he is right up there 
with ANYBODY playing today. I have seen him perform with a full band, in a 
duo setting with nothing but a guitar player, and solo (that's right with no 
backing but himself) and on all those occasions I have seen him work some serious 
mojo that I swear sounded as if played by God. 

Jason is among the best playing today, not because of the fancy licks or 
anything, but because he plays the music the way its supposed to be played- with 
integrity and conviction. Listen to "Louisiana" and "Please Baby Please" from 
the <A HREF="http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/460/heidi_and_the_el_cats.html";>Heidi and the El Cats</A> website and tell me how many people you know of can 
do that at 10:00 in morning after gigging all night with no sleep? Listen how 
he makes every notes twist and shape into something beautiful and unique, I 
dare you Robb to even try to achieve what he did after an entire night of 
gigging, fully rested. As somebody who seen some of the best (Norton Buffalo, Pat 
Ramsey, Kim Wilson) around today, Jason is right up there with them. His playing 
is impeccable and his attention to the artistry which is music is profound. If 
you cannot see that, then it is your loss.........

Andrew