RE: [Harp-L] re: Improv in Blues

["Chris Michalek" <Chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Stop listening to other harmonica players.
Stop listening to Blues

Start listening to vocalists ie Kurt Elling, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
and Ella Fitzgerald

There's nothing wrong with playing the same solo in every song, Jason
Ricci does it, Carlos del Junco does it.  It's very hard to play new
stuff in every solo in every song.

For blues, trying playing your harp with nothing more than draw holes
from 1-5 for an entire song. <-- this is a joe filisko exercise.

There's nothing wrong with repeating phrases.  Heck try repeating it
50 times in a solo.  The crowd will go crazy!

The biggest and hardest thing to learn is to stop thinking when you
are playing. Listen with big ears.  For example, I was playing last
sunday and during my solo there were a bunch of bikers in the area
reving up their harleys.  The Vroooom Vrooom got added into my solo. 
I wasn't aware that I was mimicing the bike until somebody pointed it
out later.


>
>
>
>---- Original Message ----
>From: mfugazzi67@xxxxxxxxx
>To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: RE: [Harp-L] re: Improv in Blues
>Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2005 11:34:59 -0700 (PDT)
>
>>
>>I should clarify my question better...I posted a
>>couple months ago about phrasing and got some great
>>respones.  I think what I am after here is ways in
>>which to improv during a gig and not to recycle too
>>many ideas in terms of notes and riffs played.
>>
>>What are some approaches that you've taken to improv
>>that have taken you away from repeating phrases during
>>a gig?
>>
>>I think sometimes it is easy to get caught up in the
>>moment when you play.  After a whole set you
>>think...wow...I must have used "that" run way too
>>much!
>>
>>Or
>>
>>Is the attitude who cares?  Play what fits.  Treat
>>each song like its own concert!
>>
>>Mike
>>
>>Mike Fugazzi
>>Harmonica/Vocals
>>http://www.niterail.com
>>
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Chris Michalek

www.michalekstrone.com
CD Available
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/michalekstrone