Re: [Harp-L] Review of JJ Milteau's Blue 3rd

["Planet Harmonica" <lists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

As a rule, I don't like to pan anyone or anything. A reviewer who delights in stating more than his appreciation is pleasuring himself, but not serving the reader.

As a matter of curiosity, do you own the record, Dave ?

ben
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Dave R. Fertig 
  To: Planet Harmonica ; harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Saturday, April 23, 2005 10:29 AM
  Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Review of JJ Milteau's Blue 3rd


  Ben, that's a really interesting review.  I especially appreciated your circumspect discussion of the stylistic and super-clean lyrical component, which you didn't find particularly engaging, as part of an overall very cool-sounding allbum by JJ Milteau.   You didn't cruelly pan that element as so many critics love to do, you simply described it.   And to me, your discussion of the subordination of virtuosity to musicality in ensemble, without diminishing the vitality of solo efforts within the combo, is quite welcome.   Ok, maybe I'm projecting, but that's what I got out of it....   Anyway, I look forward to meeting you in St. Aignan.

  -Dave Fertig

  At 06:41 AM 4/22/2005, Planet Harmonica wrote:

    JJ released his album Blue 3rd last year and I have only now found the time to translate the review I had written at the time. It is now available on my weblog at http://harmonica.typepad.com. Here are first two paragraphs : 
    "Blue 3rd is the most recent release of French harmonica player Jean-Jacques Milteau. JJ's approach on this album is similar to the one taken on the excellent Memphis released in 2001: recorded in the states, with a mix of local musicians and some of the talented crew that normally accompanies Milteau in France. The album features 13 tracks including 8 instrumentals and, as on Memphis, not only is the backing band partially native, but four guests enhance the record with their vocals and/or instruments. 
    This time, it's not in Memphis that Milteau decided to drop his harmonica case but in New York. Memphis was clearly aiming for a 'Memphis Sound' whereas Blue 3rd is not so much preoccupied with a context as it is with sound in general. It's a quest for a particular grain, a particular growl, the one, specifically, that we often associate with black singers. Unsurprisingly, the three vocal guests are therefore soul-blues songster Terry Callier, Nu Soul diva N'dambi and grandfather of protest hip-hop Gil Scott-Heron. The fourth guest, Howard Johnson, does not sing, but he brings with him that growling timbre of baritone sax and trombone that fits perfectly with the  album's concept." 
    Ben FELTEN
    http://harmonica.typepad.com
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