[Harp-L] Re: XB-40s at SPAH (was St. Louis Blues)

["jazmaan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx" <dmf273@xxxxxxxxx>]

Yes I did see many more XB-40's at SPAH later in the week, including all those players you
mentioned.   I had a great time at SPAH this year.  I've only been to three SPAHs, Detroit, Denver
and St. Louis.  I'd have to say this SPAH was the best!  The level of musicianship was
jaw-droppingly awesome!  Not just from a few players, but from practically ALL of the players
there.  I'm glad there's not a "most improved" award, because it would be a 50-way tie!

I really hate to single anyone out, but did you hear that blazingly fast extended run that Madcat
played during the Saturday night Blues Jam?  Just one of at least 100 equally amazing moments at
this year's SPAH!




--- Mojo Red <harplicks@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Hey Jazmaan!
> 
> Yeah, SPAH was amazingly, tupendously, incredibly
> and totally AWESOME.
> 
> Just got back in town a few hours ago and I'm
> pretty shagged, so I can't give a full report of my
> experiences with this post, but I wanted to respond
> to your post. 
> 
> First, I really admired hearing what you were doing
> on that XB-Melody of yours. Very very cool.
> However, I found that several people were playing
> their XB's at SPAH. 
> 
> Rob Papparozzi showed me a few licks on his in the
> hallway, then he used one on stage on Saturday
> night. Catfish had a bunch of them and used them
> often during the Blues Jams. I even caught several
> of the old timers jamming on them.
> 
> Did you see Marvelous Marv -- the older guy with
> the home-made double harp rack and tiny guitar? He
> had two XBs in his unique rack on Saturday
> afternoon, and was cruising through the standards
> as he does so well.
> 
> I even whipped out my XB-40 for one go-round at the
> late nite Blues Jam on Saturday night -- I used it
> for a first position blues in G (I ~thought~ you
> were there that night). I tried to exploit the
> middle register for the available first position
> blues licks. 
> 
> That said, I'm still not completely comfortable
> with that beastie. I'm gaining more control over
> all those half-step bends, but still haven't
> developed a comfort zone with regard to exploiting
> its unique properties for jazzier lines. I don't
> play it in front of people very much.
> 
> Dennis Gruenling told he has one, but said he
> wasn't crazy about its tone. Got the same comment
> from my friend Ronnie Shellist. 
> 
> I kept telling people that the tone of the XB-40 is
> an "acquired taste," like good scotch. :-)
> 
> More later.
> 
> Harpin' in Colorado,
> --Ken M.
> 
> 
> 
> --- "jazmaan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx" <dmf273@xxxxxxxxx>
> wrote:
> 
> > Having a great time here at the St. Louis SPAH.  
> > It seems like the musicianship of the players
> > here has grown exponentially since the last SPAH
> > I attended (Denver.)  There are so many
> > mind-blowing, jaw dropping players here!   And
> > everyone is happy to show you a few tricks.
> > 
> > I've been proselytizing the virtues of the
> > XB-Melody to anyone who'll listen.   Harp Depot
> > has
> > already sold all of the 30 XB-40's they brought
> > so maybe I've had some influence.   Hopefully
> > some
> > percentage of those will be retuned into
> > XB-Melodies.   I was hoping to find more people
> > playing
> > XB-40's, but I seem to be the only one this year.
> > 
> > Ok, gotta go to the jazz seminar. 
> > 
> > Later!
> > _______________________________________________
> > Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
> > Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
> > http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l
> > 
> 
> 
> =====
> "When you speak of Walter Horton, the first thing you think of is his tone, that big, fat tone."
> ---Li'l Ronnie Owens
> 
> 
> 		
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