[Harp-L] Re: Dylan (& Arthur Lee)

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

I enjoy Dylan's harp playing.  When I've seen him live, I've enjoyed it too.  I don't know how
many of you are familiar with the group "Love with Arthur Lee", but Arthur's harmonica playing is
very much in the Dylan vein except that Arthur doesn't use a rack and his playing is rather more
"over-the-top" than Dylan's.  Arthur is a good friend of mine, and an incredible singer and
songwriter, but I usually plug my ears when he plays harp, and not just because he plays through
the P.A. and is often too loud.

To be fair, I must say that Arthur's audiences ADORE his harmonica playing!  They cheer him on and
shout out loud when he plays.  He usually only plays harp on one song, "Signed D.C.".  And I must
admit that his style of playing is right for that particular song.
Arthur admires my playing and has offered to let me sit in on that song.  But I know that my style
wouldn't be right for that song.   It doesn't matter how well I can play, his style is personal to
him, and his audiences pay to see him not me.

So I guess my point is that Dylan was absolutely right when he said somebody can be a technically
great musician but two minutes after he's through you forget all about him.  The best music
doesn't always come from the most skilled musicians.