Re: [Harp-L] Re: Original Voices on Harp Today

[Joel Fritz <jfritz666@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

IcemanLE@xxxxxxx wrote:
> In a message dated 8/31/2004 3:24:07 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
> jlemko@xxxxxxxxxxx writes:
> I had never seen Howard Levy before and walked away
> thinking who the hell was this guy.  He certainly didn't seem to be
> incredibly sensitive (or aware) that he was on stage with one of the
> most amazing Blues pianists of all time.
> Sometimes a brilliant talent (like Howard) is also self-involved. Self 
> involvement focuses the individual on his own path, as there are no distractions 
> from without. Extreme talent may need extreme self-involvement, and vice versa, 
> like a symbiotic relationship. Of course, it does at times trample on the 
> sensibilities of us mere mortals. (Yes, there are always examples of extreme talent 
> who are also in touch and sensitive to their surroundings. Apparently, Howard 
> wasn't one of them on the night in question).
>
> To walk a mile in Howard's mocassins, can you even begin to imagine how 
> someone who plays like this might perceive the world around him?
>
> The Iceman

OTOH, Louis Armstrong, Django Reinhardt, and Charlie Parker were 
excellent ensemble players.  Little Brother Montgomery was one of the 
inventors of the piano style he played and was always regarded very 
highly by his peers.

IMHO ensemble playing is just as important as raw talent in the "whole 
package" and can be a real creative challenge.

As far as beginning to "imagine how someone who plays like this might 
perceive the world around him," I think noblesse oblige applies.


--
Hear Barrelhouse Solly on the internet--that's me

 http://www.soundclick.com/barrelhousesolly