Hi -
Just got back from a crazy road trip that took me to Richard Sleigh's (awesome harp tech and even awesomer individual), Buckeye, the St. Louis Jon Gindick Jam Camp, and Joe Filisko's class in Chicago.
Buckeye is always a hoot (pun intended), especially with the evening blues jams. Hearing Madcat, Ben Nathanson and (the finally agreeable) Rosco was a pleasure. Many thanks should go to Joe FIlisko and his work to keep the teach-in going at Buckeye.
After Buckeye I moved down the road to the St. Louis Jam Camp with Jon Gindick. I have done several of these before, and it is always a blast! When I first was asked to do the Jam Camp thing, I gladly accepted and went to work at my first camp not knowing at all what to expect. I must say that not only is Jon Gindick a masterful instructor who knows how to teach all the basics (and much more) on blues harp, but he is a pleasure to work with and knows how to make each student more at ease. Not a camp goes by that I don't pick up something from Jon myself.
Also, it should be mentioned that Jon's Jam Camps are NOT just for beginners. During the course of my weekend in St. Louis, we have covered everything from playing clean single notes puckered, to understanding the 12-bar blues format and playing musically over it, to bending and overblowing precisely with tongue-blocking...and everything in between. I have not been to a harmonica event anywhere where these topics were covered so completely and (with one-on-one sessions) to each students' own understanding and involvement.
Adam Gussow was also on board for this Jam Camp, and it was great to see him again after many years. His playing still inspires me, and he can seriously teach! John Costa also demonstrated some great Fox Chase and other pre-war style harp playing that left everyone breathless. To have all these players and teachers available for one weekend together is an amazing thing. Gindick's Jam Camps have a bright future...
I spent my last day of the trip with Joe Filisko and his evening group classes at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. Joe really has a great thing going on with his classes, and the level of playing by his students astounded me...though it doesn't completely surprise me, knowing Joe had to do with it. The hang after the class was equally fun, with plenty of harp stories, including several about Big Walter from local players who had knew him that are in the class.
All in all, it was a great weekend for me, and I hope to see more of you out there...perhaps at a Jam Camp in the future.
BTW - I don't get paid or even asked to write about the Jam Camps. I happen to believe in what Jon does with these Jam Camps, and totally approve of his teaching methods, down-to-earth approach, and sense of fun. We both agree it is all about the student.
-Dennis Gruenling www.dennisgruenling.com
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