Iceman sez:
Yes, Jason does punctuate (hard attack with "T") most of his notes. This gives more punch to his lines and is actually hard to do at the velocity that he plays.
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Pierre axed :
I was reading the Kenny Werner book yesterday (Effortless Mastery) and he mentions a trumpet player he taught and said that the guy's tone was weak because he did not take a deep enough breath before his phrase. He said that this is typical of many musicians who are fearful of what they are about to play.
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Hurricane sezes :
The above posts are true and accurate , Pierre's question addresses it very well .
Deep breath - -
Think of the very meaning of it and put it inside your minds eye as in how Jason Ricci or Charlie McCoy , Howard Levy and countless other accomplished harmonica players would put this question inside themselves leading up to their collective day of " discovery " as it actually hit(s) him/them
- - You know how it hit them ? - -
I thought you'd never ask .......
It becomes all too clear to one when you hear repeated & constant comments from many others who explain to you why your sound is so much different from the rest and especially when it comes from a harmonica player(s) who is/are seeking out how to get to where your " tone " is at .
..... Or from ......
THE ACID TEST :
->>>---> Professional musicians who really dig your musicianship because you dig deep and play what ever they throw at ya and playy it with dominance , no matter what the genre of music is with a big ole you know what kind of grin on your face :)<---<<<-
Heh heh heh I live for those moments heh heh heh .
Many have read the posts of myself and others who have suggested a vocal coach ala " opera singer's " type of breath control to help solve the how and the why of it . The other side effects to garner when learning this is the startling difference in your improved tonal possibilities as you master the breath thang .
The results are the same no matter how you learn it , you learn it and dats dat from whom ever or on yer own simply put if your really serious about it !
Everyone learns a little differently than others do , my bet is that it was a " nachal thang " learning this deep breath control for Jason and many of the other heavy breathers like myself and that includes the " seasoned wood " harmonica players we have here in this particular forum .
For those wonderin and wantin to know :
Here's a bone to pick fer yas ta gnaw on ........
Ever see an accordion player wail on his instrument ( you know what I mean , Polish Polka bands , Mexican Norteño & Tex-Mex bands , Argentine tango accordion players , european gypsies & etceteras.. heh heh my granny was from *gitana origins from southern Spain ) with all sorts of fast and intricate stuff with super tonal quality ?
They hazzzz a little helper on the deep breath control thang .... They can get a deep breath in either the the totally open bellows , or closed bellows position from the mid bellows point open with the aid of a little bladder bleeder valve for those super quick attacking full tone notes . This is super important to those graceful ruthless speed attacks . With a little concentration , any one can realize this bleeder valve technique can be learned by a harmonica musician too ....... So think about it fellows & gals :) & - -
Not only think deeply - - - but breath & exhale deeply too .
As an after thought :
In the case of the accordion player's ability to either get a deep breath from mid bellows position , this also applies to the harmonica player too as in the case of a total ( or near total) emty lungs and fully deflated ( or near as possible ) diaphram for the same effect on tonal attack properties one can bring to the table of " varying textures & tonal " possiblilities one can get out of themselves when mastered to the point of making it look effortless ......
- - - But - - -
For dramatics on stage you can make it look like yer really working hard to deliver the goods , it does make for a really dramatic look heh heh .
*gitana = female gypsy in Spanish :)
Sincerely :
Hurricane Ramón
aka :
Party_Man1@xxxxxxxxxx
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