Re: [Harp-L] Re: Dave Fertig response to EGS1217/What else do you do?- New here

["David R. Fertig" <dfertig@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Well, if Butterfield didn't tongue-block, it certainly ain't necessary, nor 
is overblowing, nor is vindication.  Nor is playing different positions, or 
chromatic, or . . . .  What is necessary, for blues harp anyway, is 
soul.  And at least one good ear, I suppose.

As for Sonny Terry:  Tom Ball is absolutely one of my favorite players, and 
he's also a scholar on the subject,  so I would not second guess him on 
anything harpmonica-related, however I will note when I saw Sonny Terry 
play live (loong ago at Hermosa Beach), I could have sworn I saw him 
throwin' a few octaves and chords, a la tongue-blocking, altho he didn't do 
much o dat stuff, I thought he did do some.   And Froggy says Sonny did it, 
too, so I am at a loss, perhaps Sonny did it just a little bit?  Maybe 
not.   But Sonny's chief thing for me was his beautiful sound-wave shaping 
with his hand, acute mic control and his amazing rhythmic work involving 
his voice and breathe.   Sonny Terry is royalty, I treasure his work.

Anyway, I still say the late William Clark was a monster blocker.    Also, 
Dennis Gruenling, wisely recommended by Froggy, is indeed an amazing player 
too!

So pucker on, or tongue block, or do 5th position overblows with oddly 
tuned semi-valved 12-hole whatsisdealiebobs, whatever, just blow with soul!

-Dave



At 02:35 PM 12/5/2004, Pierre wrote:

> Yesssss, we puckerers are vindicated !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
> Yesssss, we puckerers are vindicated !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
> Yesssss, we puckerers are vindicated !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
> Yesssss, we puckerers are vindicated !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>
> Here that sound in the distance, that's me gloating!
>
> LOL!
>
> Pierre.
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "tom ball" <havaball@xxxxxxx>
> To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Cc: <EGS1217@xxxxxxx>
> Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2004 4:29 PM
> Subject: [Harp-L] Re: Dave Fertig response to EGS1217/What else do you 
> do?- New here
>
>
> > With regard to steering Elizabeth towards tongue blocking, it was posted:
> >
> > > Sonny Terry: The Folkways Years (all issues)
> > > You'll know the meaning of Tongue Blocking. <snip>
> > _________
> > All due respect, but Sonny Terry did not tongue block - he was a pucker 
> > player.  The CD mentioned here IS brilliant, of course -- one of the 
> > greatest of all blues harp recordings! -- but it is not demonstrative 
> > (nor indicative) of tongue blocking.  I would instead recommend instead 
> > either Big Walter or Little Walter.
> >
> > cheers,
> >
> > Tom Ball
> > Santa Barbara
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