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

["Rob Paparozzi" <chromboy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hey Tom,

   Groovin' and well stated post, I agree with your advice, covering songs
that are your 'typical' harmonica covers is a terrific way to "bust that
cliche rut"!! I, like you, am continually seeking songs that assist me into
breathing new life into my lil' tenhole axe. Those are the players that
impress me most, make it part of your practice regimen to spend time finding
"non typical" blues harp songs and make up a little mini
arrangement...there's a million and 1/2 tunes out there.....stretch out
those "musical tentacles and snatch a few,-)

    The next time I make it out to Chi-town, I GOTTA make it down to your
gig, sounds like MY kinda' band....I too was hopin' to make Buckeye but had
prior booked gigs,-(

Have a Blast,
Rob

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <Mudharp@xxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2005 5:32 PM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] re: Improv in Blues


>
> In a message dated 4/21/2005 1:37:28 P.M. Central Standard Time,
> mfugazzi67@xxxxxxxxx writes:
>
> 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!
>
>
>
> One thing we have a habit of doing in my band currently is this: We almost
> never add a cover to our song book that has harmonica in the  original
version
> that we're arranging from. On the other hand, lots  and lots of our covers
> have horns and/or Hammond organ in the originals. Like a  lot of other
players I
> get many of my ideas for solos from what the horns  and organ are playing
and
> then improvise on those lines. I also try to pay  careful attention to the
> vocal melody of each song we do and try to mimic that  at some point in my
solo.
> Even though we are considered to be in the general  category of "Blues
Band"
> we play lots of funk, soul, 60s 70s R&B (James  Brown, Johnny Taylor, O.V.
> Wright ), plus Louis Jordan swing  tunes and altered state versions of
simple jazz
> standards like  Canadian Sunset and Moonlight in Vermont. The point is
that
> for the most  part, this kind of stuff doesn't require pyrotechnics on the
> diatonic but  fresh variations of "blues riffs" and lines that lay out
pretty
> simply in 1st  2nd & 3rd positions if you think outside the box. What's
the box?
> 12  bar blues and boogies and the cliche' riffs that go with them. And I
hasten
> to  add that there's nothing wrong with that stuff. I love it and I use it
> but  there are other ways to go. One other thing that's also useful  is
having a
> band behind you that can lay down a tight solid pocket groove  -- does
> wonders for the imagination.
>
> I'd also like to add this invitation to any harp-lers in the Chicago  area
> that might want to hear what I'm talking about: Come on out to the Harlem
Ave.
> Lounge this Saturday night, 4/23 and check out our band. Love to have  you
> there to groove with us. (BTW, if it wasn't for gigs this weekend I'd  be
at
> Buckeye right now!)
>
> T. Albanese
>
>
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