Re: [Harp-L] I want to play chromatic like Stevie

[Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx>]

On Jun 10, 2005, at 8:58 AM, Robert Paparozzi wrote:

> Slim,
>     Your right, that's a definite "Stevie-ism"....
>
> Try clicking the tip of your tongue of the top of your upper palette, 
> 1st without the harp and you'll get a a sort of click-pop sound 
> effect. Then, take a few notes on the chromatic (upper register works 
> best above 5).

 Yes, I would say that this is the way to do it.
> When you first hear it it sounds like his giving the harp short 
> staccato type "Kisses" but it's really the technique above.......

 Hmmm, interesting. I always felt the harmonica was applied and then 
pulled away from the lips. Steveland is such a 'spastic' player, that 
it made sense to ME.

>     The Plucking in his version of 'Alfie' is awesome!

 I did Alfie at Buckeye. I feel bad for anyone who didn't hear it. 
While I didn't QUITE get the plucking sound in, everything else was 
close. Not that I was happy with it...just satisfied. In fact, I did 5 
numbers. Each was done in the style of a different person. A few astute 
listeners noticed it, but most did not.
> Good Luck............
> Rob Paparozzi
 I am generally a humble person but so as to give no misconceptions, a 
little about me.
Born 1942, I was a Consulate brat and spent my first 18 years about 
equally divided between N.Y. C. and Italy. At age 12 1/2 I started 
playing chromatic. By 14 I was playing in a sidewalk cafe in Naples. By 
15 I was playing in a sidewalk cafe in Paris. At 14 (1956) I played on 
the Andrea Doria the night before she sunk. I even blew a few notes on 
a couple Italian 45 record sides. At 17 I sat in with the Royal 
Canadians. I was almost as good as another teenager (Gene Jimae). In 
1959 I discovered what cutting the 5th draw reed on a diatonic UP one 
semi-tone would do. Soon thereafter, I quit active playing..Why, you 
ask?

 My parents were NON supported and did everything in their power to 
keep me from being a musician. I went on my own at 18 and everything I 
have I earned the hard way. I eventually settled in Pittsburgh. I once 
had a job for 27 1/2 years which didn't allow moonlighting. 
Specifically forbidden was to "hang around" liquor establishments.(long 
story I needn't go into). Every couple years I would appear on a 
telethon, Mr Rogers Neighborhood, local commercial, national commercial 
(American Motors, Mighty Dog) I belonged to the Pgh Jazz Society and 
was a regular, having played with the likes of: Richard Holmes, Jimmy 
McGriff, Kenny Burrell, Harold Betters. Whatever I did had to be under 
the table. I was once offered a movie shot, but couldn't do it because 
I would have gotten in trouble at work.

 My first SPAH was 91. I played an evening slot in 93 (Memphis). 9 
years later (2002), I played a second time at Columbus. My first 
Buckeye was 91. I played an evening slot in 94. 11 years later (2005), 
I played a second time.

 As you can see, my appearances are indeed rare. Now (at age 62) it 
hardly matters as I was better at 17 than I am now. Therefore, I play 
for fun, and that's the deal.

 JoJo