Re: Harmonica that ruins a song

[Aeskow@xxxxxxx]

In a way, this whole discussion circles back to the recent debate about Jerry 
Portnoy's role in Clapton's tribute to Robert Johnson.  Many people were 
angry  that Portnoy had been under-used, shoved way into the background to just 
lay down sustain chords and do the occasional fill.  I got curious and bought 
the CD--which I think is beautiful FOR WHAT IT IS--and while I love the many 
things Portnoy can do, I recognized that Clapton had a vision for this piece of 
work, a musical design, that involved using the harp as a kind of Hammond B-3.  
A simple bed of chords, for the most part, over which the lyrics and melodies 
of the songs were laid.  The reason I dig the album is that it startled me 
back into really hearing the power and mystery of those lyrics, and the haunting 
quality of the tunes, when I'd heard the originals 1000 times.  Mindblowing 
harp riffs would have been, in my opinion, WAY out of place for that purpose.

Similarly, Dylan--who used to cite Little Walter as one of his three main 
influences as a musician--has a vision that, like it or hate it, demands all that 
1st-position blowing (though I've heard tapes of him doing Hoochie Koochie 
Man and Look Over Yonder's Wall where he plays a pretty good cross-harp, too.)  
There used to be an Arhoolie LP where he backed up Victoria Spivey on blues, 
as well.  I'm sure he's still got those B-minus level chops on harp, if he 
wanted to use them--but he doesn't want to.  My point is: Vision first, Chops 
second.  Every town in America has its own Stevie Ray Vaughn: who cares?  I think 
true virtuosity sometimes conceals itself.  And since harp players are 
creative musicians first, and not "ambassadors for the harp," we're probably better 
off sharpening our personal visions and making our talents as players serve the 
vision instead of the other way around.

Peace and respect
Johnny T

P.S.  I proudly take credit for removing the period that used to be at the 
end of this topic heading, and I salute whoever changed "ruines" to "ruins."