[Harp-L] 2006 Buckeye

[Denny Noreikas <harpmessin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Okay enough time has passed and I have finally caught by breath.  The 
2006 Buckeye was a fun time.  As a first-timer I didn't know what to 
expect.  For me it was a short drive from Dayton, Ohio to Columbus but 
far enough where I needed to spend the night.  I jumped right into the 
seminars on jazz and playing chromatic harmonica.  Both were very 
interesting but I quickly learned my passion is with playing the blues 
diatonic.  Some of the material, concepts and instructions on the 
chromatic did carried over to the diatonic.

I was fortunate to meet Elizabeth (from Harp-L) and through her I met 
many more people.  The first evening I was able to jam with Jason 
Ricci, Lawrence (from the U.K.) and a couple of other blues players.  
This was my first experience at jamming and when Jason gave me the nod 
for my turn I about panicked.  I was able to hold my own for about 3 to 
4 rounds until I realized my improvising was starting to sound stale.  
It was still a blast.  Jason is passionate about the harp and very 
supportive to the less experienced players like me.

The next day I was able to sit down with P.T. Gazell and talk harp.  He 
is incredible.  He gave me some sound advice about playing to your own 
capabilities and not necessarily measure myself by others' standards.  
In other words, use the techniques you are comfortable with and make 
them work for you.  That evening P.T. gave a great performance and held 
the audience spell-bound.  It was a pleasure to see his performance and 
what he can do with a diatonic.  I also bought his impressive cd, Swing 
Easy...Hitting Hard.  Earlier that evening I was fortunate to see Al 
and Judy Smith, the Harmonica Hotshots perform.  Wow!  Talk about 
entertaining.  That evening I only lasted two rounds on the jam.  There 
was so much talent it was amazing.

Saturday evening's concerts were great.  I don't remember all the names 
but Chris Bauer was on chromatic playing lead with a cord player and 
bass harmonica player.  I have a lot of respect for the music and 
instruments they played.  Chris Bauer makes it look so easy.  He has a 
great cd, Now's The Time.  The final act of the night was Jason Ricci 
and New Blood.  They are awesome.  If you ever get the chance to see 
them do it.  I also highly recommend their new cd, Blood On The Road.  
Jason was very eloquent during a pause telling people how festivals 
like the Buckeye recharge him.  Just being around other harmonica 
players and appreciating their passion for the instruments (diatonic or 
chromatic, etc.) and their passion for their music whether standards, 
jazz, blues or rock.  He is a true ambassador for the harmonica.

At the conclusion of the concert, Elizabeth was yelling for one more 
song, Amazing Grace.  Unfortunately, Jason could not hear her.  My 
"grand finale" would have been Amazing Grace played by Jason, P.T. 
Chris, Al and Judy.  That would have been a memory forever.

I walked away from the Buckeye with a bunch of new cd's; more new 
harmonicas than my wife will ever know about; and a lot of new friends. 
 Thanks to all for the great experience.

Denny
Harpmessin'