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

[Jp "Pagán" <jpl_pagan@xxxxxxxxx>]

--- In harp-l-archives@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Tim Moyer"
<wmharps@xxxx> wrote:
> 
> Mike Fugazzi wrote:
> >>What are some approaches that you've taken to
improv
> >>that have taken you away from repeating phrases
during
> >>a gig?
> 
> Chris Michalek replied:
> > Stop listening to other harmonica players.
> > Stop listening to Blues
> 
> 
> Unlike Chris' other suggestion, this is NOT a Joe
Filisko exercise.  
> Joe preaches studying the great blues harmonica
players.  I think he  
> is making the assumption that this is what a player
hopes to achieve.  
> 
> I like Chris' approach better, however.  I think a
great example of 
> this in a blues context is Dennis Gruenling, who has
fabulous phrasing 
> and very hornlike lines, despite a more traditional
(than Chris, at any 
> rate) style of music.  


sure, but it seems to me Dennis ALSO studied all the
great masters of harp and blues. he runs a blues radio
show, has a George Harmonica Smith tribute site, and
i'm pretty sure i've seen him reply on this list with
some very in-depth knowledge about the playing of
other blues harpers. seems to me he's not a shining
example of Chris' expressed   advice. now, i don't
know Dennis personally, so maybe i'm off base, but
he's on this list, i'm pretty sure, so maybe he'll
weigh in.

Chris' advice may have been put in a rather radical
way, but the idea of listening with "big ears" is
nothing new. i, for one, don't ever plan to "stop
listening to harmonica players" but i do listen to
other instruments as well as to other styles of music
besides blues with an ear towards "how can i
incorporate this?" i can't think of a single musician
that i idolize who didn't listen intently to and
idolize other musicians in his genre and on his
instrument. 

  --Jp

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