Re: [Harp-L] Re: Shakin Smith

["Planet Harmonica" <lists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

<< As far as blues is concerned the only fresh and groundbreaking blues
chaps are cats like:

Jason Ricci
Dennis Gruenling
Michael Peloquin

Those are the only guys that can hold my attention for an entire
night. Shakin Smith couldn't hold my attention for more that a few
bars.>>

Well, two of these three can hardly be defined as blues, and the third (Gruenling) isn't all that different from the masters that inspire him (and I say this as someone who enjoys this stuff). 

I think defining freshness in blues as 'people who don't do blues' is a bit silly. There are some players who manage to remain well within the blues idiom and still sound fresh. Yes, they are rare as rocking horsehit, but they exist. Steve Guyger is one of the them, Steven de Bruyn was one of them (he doesn't do blues anymore), Paul deLay, when he does blues, is one of them, and there are probably a rare few others around. That doesn't mean it's not possible, just that it takes someone special to do it.

So, to sum it up, I agree with you that there is precious little interesting released in blues today, but what there is isn't people taking a bit of blues and moving outside of its realm (interesting though Jason may be, he's more a rock act than a blues act, IMO, and Michael is a lot more into soul and jazz to my ears than straight-ahead blues)

Ben



>
>
>
>---- Original Message ----
>From: AV1901@xxxxxxx
>To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: RE: [Harp-L] Re:Improv in Blues : Re: Shakin Smith
>Date: Sun, 24 Apr 2005 10:58:51 EDT
>
>>
>> 
>>Mike:
>> 
>>I said I listened to all the MP3's on the web site you referenced.
>My  
>>comments clearly stated this, and did not generalize to the artist's
>work as a  
>>whole. I stick with my statement based on what I heard there. If you
>only listen  
>>to those MP3s on his site, and you know and use the licks of SBWII,
>you gotta  
>>say Shakin' was influenced by SBWII. His own posted bio tends to
>support my  
>>position. And being influenced by SBWII is not a bad thing.
>> 
>>I'll say this, as a general statement, many harp players sound
>better live  
>>than on CD/MP3. I'll take your word for it on Shakin Smith, as I've
>never  
>>seen/heard him live. You clearly know more about this player than I
>do. Does he  
>>ever get outside Buffalo? I'm near Philly.
>> 
>>Just my opinion - on the MP3s *you* suggested Harp-Lers listen to -
>I  didn't 
>>hear much new ground, except the last cut. And I like 'old ground'
>stuff  
>>done well, which is what Shakin' seemed to be doing there. New
>ground for  new 
>>ground's sake sometimes leaves me cold.
>> 
>>Its all good.
>> 
>>Andy Vincent
>>
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>>

Chris Michalek

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


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