Re: [Harp-L] re: Looking for info on Mark Ford (and Ford Bros.)

["Rob Paparozzi" <chromboy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Agreed, Mark Ford is an Amazing player with some very refreshing approaches
on playin' blues.

    I remember sitting next to Rosco at SPAH in Dallas, our jaws were
dropped by some of the lightening runs as well as astonishing use of EFX.

    Does Mark have any recent solo releases?? love to hear them!

    I really enjoyed the Ford tribute to Butterfield last year as well.

best,
rob

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Greg Heumann" <greg@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, May 02, 2005 6:40 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] re: Looking for info on Mark Ford (and Ford Bros.)


> MN wrote "I have taken a freelance writing assignment..."
>
> I can't help too much, but I wanted to say I believe Mark Ford is one
> of the most undervalued harp players around. I have been a fan of his
> for a long time. His playing combines amazing technical virtuosity,
> fabulous tone (and a wide range of it), but most of all, creativity.
> His solos just always seem to include notes, runs, licks that nobody
> else plays.
>
> I have measured my progress as a harp player by my ability to play his
> solo from "Gimme Some", (from "Mark Ford & The Blue Line") which
> exemplifies his playing. I've gotten to the point where I can play it
> note for note - but it took me several years - and I still can't play
> it with his consistency of tone or fluidity.
>
> I have a pretty reasonable collection of albums with his playing,
> including "The Charles Ford Band" recording, his first as far as I
> know.    From the liner notes of those I can tell you that Mark was
> born 10/21/1953. Brothers Pat and Robben, who previously backed Charlie
> Musselwhite, formed the Charles Ford Band, named after their father, in
> 1970, with Gary Smith on harp initially. The album was recorded in 1972
> as the brothers were going separate ways and wanted to preserve what
> they had accomplished. Mark was 17 or 18 at the time, and the recording
> clearly shows he was already very talented.  Having guys like Charlie
> Musselwhite and Gary Smith as mentors didn't hurt! Of course he
> continued to record, both under his own name and on many of Robben's
> albums, for many years. He evidently also recorded with Brownie McGhee
> but I have not heard that.
>
> I have an MP3 of Mark playing "Summertime", another seminal, inventive
> performance showing his amazing skill. I do not know the album it comes
> from however.
>
> If you would like more info from I can glean from the liner notes feel
> free to contact me  off list.
>
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