[Harp-L] Re : G. Maret...

["Planet Harmonica" <lists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Just my general comments on Grégoire Maret, a global answer to all the 
previous messages. 

As Ludo pointed out, he's Swiss, not French. However, I reckon Chris' 
"French" was me, not him. Joe, if you think the French can't be schmaltzy, 
try Michel Herblin. Romantic to the core. 

Anyway, I also think that Gregoire's playing on The Way Up was good but not 
mindblowing. However, I felt that such a piece as The Way Up does not make 
sense due to the individual flair of the soloists but rather should be 
listened to as a whole. So, while I agree with the fact that his playing 
doesn't make my hair rise, I would posit that that wasn't the idea. I'm 
planning to go see 'em live in Paris in June and I'll decide then what I 
think of Gregoire's live playing. 

Meanwhile, I got hold of Dapp Theory and one half listen is enough to make 
me want to hear more, although, again, I feel a little frustrated by the 
role played by the harmonica (so far). On the first three tracks it sounds 
more like a faire valoir than an integral part of the band. I will comment 
further upon further listening. 

So, to some extent, I can understand Chris' comments on the 'lack of 
personality', something, incidentally, that wasn't part of my criticism of 
Chris' record ;) 

In general, though, I feel that there has been a lot less pushing of 
boundaries in the chromatic world as there has been in the diatonic world. I 
can't explain it, but brilliant though players like Gallison or Turk are, I 
think that there playing is very conventional nonetheless. I don't hear much 
more "personality" there... The only players that really fire up my ears for 
playing different are Bill Barrett and Olivier Ker Ourio, for very different 
reasons. 

I'm hoping to find more of Gregoire's contributions and forging a more 
global opinion. So far, I find his work on Dapp Theory more interesting than 
his work on The Way Up from a strict harmonica point of view (and despite 
utterly loving The Way Up), but I obviously need more listens to form a 
better opinion. 

Ben