Re: [Harp-L] John Mayall

[Mojo Red <harplicks@xxxxxxxxx>]

Oh yeah... John Mayall... Takes me back...

--- Richard Hunter <turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
> Mayall is certainly not a great harp player. 
<<snipp>>

No argument there. However, for a lot of harpers
(me included), he was very influential.

> He played harp on a rack, and he clearly hadn't 
> figured out how to use the whole harp while it 
> was locked in the rack.
<<snipp>>

Yeah, but he didn't ~always~ play harp on a rack.
Much better control when he held it normal. Rack
playing is exceedingly difficult to do well, as I
am currently learning. You want to hear killer harp
played in a rack? Listen to what Richard Sleigh can
do. Omiggodd...

> But so what?  He wrote and sang great songs, he
> led great bands, and he made great records. 
<<snipp>

Amen! And Mayall's no slouch on guitar and
keyboards as well. The guy's just dripping with
talent, yet surrounds himself with killer musicians
(often better than himself) and let's them take the
spotlight -- sometimes going on to fabulous solo
careers.

> I love Mayall's music.  For those who haven't
> heard it, I strongly recommend "A Hard Road" as 
> a starting point.  

Yup. And that first album, Breaking Point, with a
young Eric Clapton kicks too. I also highly
recommend Turning Point, an accoustic and very
lyrical album which features his most famous harp
anthem, "Room to Move" (chickka-chickka, anyone?).
Mayall's wonderful rhthm work is what made his harp
come off so well, IMO.

And also, for  me, I really ~really~ loved his
album Jazz/Blues Fusion featuring Blue Mitchell -
trumpet, Clifford Solomon - sax, Larry Taylor -
Bass, Freddy Robinson - guitar and Ron Selico -
drums. That album is what turned me onto the world
of jazz. I really like Mayall's harp work in that
album (especially on "Good Time Boogie". Nothing
too technically killer on harp, no overblows, but
everything's played with a wonderful jazz
sensibilty and tons of swing.

Nice to have this discussion on the venerable Mr.
Mayall. I hear he's still touring. And I bet he's
showcasing some amazing young talent too.

Harpin' in Colorado,
--Ken M.



		
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