[Harp-L] John Mayall

["samblancato" <samblancato@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

--- In harp-l-archives@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "jazmaan@xxxx" <dmf273@xxxx> wrote:
> So I was just watching the Mayall tribute.  His harmonica playing seemed
less than stellar.  Hard
> to believe he's the same guy who played "Room to Move".

I was never real impressed with Mayall's playing from jump street.  I think
Turning Point is a landmark blues record but for other reasons.  The switch
from the big, bashing sound of the Blues Breakers stuff to a Drumless,
distortion less, intimate groove was a good idea, but the people he gathered
there were simply awesome (Johnny Almond, Steven Thompson, John Mark) and
that's really where Mayall's talent lie- bringing together great musicians
in a way that created synergy, and dynamics. Mayall's singing and guitar
work seem to me to be where he was and is able to put himself across best.
I was introduced to Mayall about the same time as I was introduced to Walter
and Butterfield (age 14) and so I was unimpressed with his harp chops right
away.  But I loved his voice and the British slant he brought to the blues
which I thought was way more hip and modern.  At 14, I had a hard time
identifying with the 1st and 2nd generation bluesmen.  When my buddy put The
Paul Butterfield Blues Band album in my hands I looked at the cover and
thought "who the hell are these low-lifes?"  They didn't have long hair or
cool hippy type clothes, they were throw-backs to some era I considered old
fashioned.  They looked like the guys who worked in the mills around where I
grew up.  Mayall, on the other hand looked like my buddies and I, long
haired hippy-types. It's amazing how stupid you can be when you're 14 and
live in the suburbs.

Sam Blancato, Pittsburgh