[Harp-L] Harmonica..no respect./ LONG

[Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx>]

OK, so the other day it was mentioned that harmonica players are looked 
down on as being ignorant (as pertains to music, it's theory, 
structure?). So I asked "Hmmmm, how the hell did THAT happen"?

Can't speak for other parts of the world, but as for me, I moved from 
Pgh. to S.W. Fla in 98 and for a couple yrs, I just sat around the 
house like a large pile of dog poop. One night a friend of mine and I 
were at a park in Punta Gorda (hurricane city) listening to dozens of 
musicians and stopped into the Best Western for a drink. He had coffee, 
I had a double rum.

While I wasn't looking, he "wired" me up with the band and next thing I 
knew I was being paged to come up and play. See, HERE is where we get 
ourselves in trouble. Normally, I am quite shy and would NEVER think to 
approach other musicians. As it were, I went up and they asked me what 
I would like to play. I asked if they knew "Chega de Suadade"? They 
looked at me incredulously. How about "No More Blues (same thing)"? 
Duuuuh, someone pulled the shades.

My next suggestion was "Little Sunflower". INSTANT respect. The 
keyboard man asked "what key". I responded "what will be easiest"? He 
said "Dm". I said "Good, that's the key it is usually done in". So the 
rest is history.

Down here there were 3 jazz societies. Lee County (Ft. Myers) used to 
meet at the Hall of the 50 States. I have played there several times. 
That eventually fell through due to LOI (lack of interest). Charlotte 
Co. used to meet at the Boom Boom Room, but it was so heavily damaged 
that they are closed. Sarasota Co. meets at the Van Wezel Auditorium. 
Their support base is strong due to several well heeled enthusiasts.
The acoustics are so good you don't need an amplifier. Jerry Adler used 
to attend there till a couple yrs ago. We were BOTH viewed with 
suspicion. As it turns out, we figured out that other musicians are 
just as ignorant about what harmonica is all about, as we are supposed 
to be about music.

Once I got to meet several musicians, and explained how harmonicas 
worked, I no longer had a problem. Why? because a (basic) harmonica 
player, even on their best day is at a dis-advantage. Therefore, I 
never bit off more than I could chew when faced with pyro-technical 
musicians.

A 16 year veteran of the harmonica (and I don't care WHICH kind) will 
never be able to keep up with (let alone compete) with even a 5 year 
piano or violin student. Before everyone breaks out the voodoo dolls 
consider THIS: The 5 year mark is about the break off point in learning 
other instruments. When this point is reached, it is (generally) time 
to decide: (1) am I gonna keep doing this? or (2) is it time to get a 
real job? I have been told by MANY musicians that they "tried" 
harmonica but gave up because: (1) there are TOO many notes in the 
holes, (2) what's with this changing of the breath flow crap?

Don't blame any of this on the harmonica PLAYER. Blame it on the 
harmonica. Pianos, Violins, (and other instruments) are MUCH faster to 
manipulate. We have been over this before, so I won't expound. You have 
to keep these limitations in mind.

Example: take a tune called "Sidewinder". I broke out my clarinet and 
was able to get through it on about the 3rd try, without any (grievous) 
mistakes. I just spent 43 minutes (about 14 tries) trying to get it on 
a chromo and it still SUCKS. I can no longer play trumpet due to 
multiple fractures to my jaw, but I would be willing to bet I could 
have once had it on the second try. It's just the nature of the beasts.

Most of us are NOT professional musicians by trade, and in MY case 12 
yrs being a kid, 25 years NOT playing, and 24 of playing (sporadically) 
does NOT make for a good practice regimen. Unfortunately, many times a 
person will get up and play somewhere and leaves a bad impression. This 
snow-balls. CD?
I don't got none. I am not about to put out crap. If it ain't good, I 
take a hike.

T'other night I dropped into a biker BLUES bar. I was parched from 
driving around in my new red roadster (Ruby).
It was jam night and after sitting through half a set, I went and got a 
harp. As I assaulted the stage carrying a chromo, I heard the 
snickering. The general consensus was: "What's he gonna do with THAT 
thang?" The tune was in some minor (E maybe). I wound up staying 2 full 
sets. Sooo, after 3 yrs of hitting just about every juke joint, biker 
bar, rest., motel, open air picnic, jam, lawn party, and even the 
Casino boat, I'm TRYING guys...I'm trying really hard...don't 
know...maybe someday...

smokey joe