[Harp-L] Re: Harmonica Challenge

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

My thanks to Hurricane Ramon for the kind words.   A couple of points though regarding his
remarks:  

1) My rendition was not "off the cuff", I began learning the song over a month ago when the
subject of a challenge was first broached and I'd estimate I put in about 20 hours of practice on
that one tune.  I don't pretend to be a jazz improviser yet (well maybe I do pretend, but I've got
a long ways to go.)  For my solo I learned about four or five different versions of each segment
of the AABA structure and then cut-and-pasted them together until I got something I was pleased
with.  Some of the segments were my own creations, but many of them were either simplified
versions of Bird licks, or approximations of Eddie Jefferson's vocalese recording.  I've been
singing Eddie Jefferson's version for years so its pretty much second nature to me.

Learning "Tunisia" was an immensely enjoyable educational experience for me.  It really proved the
value of practice.   "Bird's Break" in particular, was something I'd struggle with during a
practice session and finally give it a rest.   Then a few days later I'd pick up the harp and find
that some kind of magic had been working itself during the rest period, making the fragment I'd
been struggling with so much easier the next time around.   Repeat that cycle a few times and
before you know it, you're doing the impossible!  What a joy!

I look forward to the next "Harmonica Challenge" whatever it may be.  The motivation the challenge
gave me to learn a difficult piece was a reward in and of itself.  And the comments of all my
harp-l friends are so heartwarming and greatly appreciated.

2) Ramon said that my rendition might inspire him to buy an XB-40.   I hear that a lot from
different people and I fear that they will only become frustrated and disappointed.  I could NOT
have played "Tunisia" on a standard out-of-the-box XB-40.    Only the XB-MELODY alternate tuning
made it possible.   Maybe someday I'll hear someone play chromatically on a standard XB-40 but
until then, I remain to be convinced that the factory tuned XB-40 is good for anything beyond
blues.  And even for blues, the XB-40 is little more than a curiousity or gimmick at this point. 
The XB-MELODY is a whole different story and I hope that at least a few intrepid Harp-L'ers will
be impressed enough by my efforts to try it out for themselves.