[Harp-L] Subject: Re: Dissing Al Smith/ Robert Bonfiglio

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

I'm already tired of the "old men in silly hats" comment twice  used here to 
describe the venerable and easily recognizable (to any  current or former SPAH 
member) Al Smith.  His Railroad Hat was  worn precisely because he was 
demonstrating trains and performing for  children.  The video was, after 
all...showing the children's  class he and wife Judy were teaching at SPAH.  Kids like 
and enjoy  visual aids....as any grade school teacher knows.  The previous  
"silly hat" Al wore at the beginning of the segment I suppose you'll have  to take 
up with him next time you attend one of these Conventions, or one  of his 
many performances across the Country, because he wears it all the  time...it's 
his signature.  He's probably the most beloved of the  older players - by 
everyone including "blues guys", and with wife Judy  does a lot more modern songs 
including Star Wars and All that Jazz, that'd  knock your socks off.  
 
They're huge fans of Jason Ricci....and actually had the most melodic  and 
beautiful song in Jason & New Blood's repertoire "Sonja" dedicated  specifically 
to them by Jason during his Friday night  performance. 
 
 Diss the Media for choosing what they probably thought was a  nice family 
news story...something that would appeal to Denver  residents - parents of those 
very children, but kindly don't diss  Al.
 
Anyone attending, and anyone knowing Bonfiglio would have recognized  him 
immediately as well....from the very short clip where  he also played for the 
kids (the "Long haired dude"). 
 
During his Saturday night performance after the Banquet, he played  first 
Classical and then a Blues tribute on diatonic to Sonny Boy  Williamson, 
expressing heartfelt kudos to Jason Ricci from the  stage....but I guess you had to be 
there to appreciate him......
 
...which kind of brings me to the point that anyone can easily  criticize how 
things are run...and I certainly do too -  when it's  warranted. The fact 
that the jazz "jam" was stuck so far away in a room no  one could find was just 
sad as Smo-Joe has already mentioned....that it  had a small stage holding not 
too many people facing an audience doesn't  seem to lend itself to much of a 
"jam" the way the Blues jam does (held in  a much larger room with chairs 
arranged in a big circle including the  backup musicians - far more casual and less 
intimidating to anyone  wishing to participate).....
 
....but shouldn't those making the criticisms of how SPAH is run be  first 
and foremost members of the organization who actually  attended?  If you're 
bitching about the format......join up, pay your  dues, get your butt in there to 
volunteer and change things to your  liking.  They asked for volunteers in 
Harmonica Happenings to  help out precisely to maybe offset some of these 
problems...but of course  one had to be a SPAH member to read about it.
 
If the criticism is of the Media....then call up that local Denver  channel 
and ask THEM why they ran that particular piece....blame them  instead of 
having someone as cool as is Al Smith read that  insulting thing written about him 
here...precisely because out of all the  older "stuck in their ruts" folks 
that do attend these Conventions, Al and  Judy Smith are THE exceptions to the 
rule.  They appreciate and  enjoy every type of music and musician and don't run 
out the door the  minute the Blues guys begin to play like so many others do. 
 So  it just isn't right...Sorry.  And if you think this is  flaming?  Lose 
the insulting put-down of Mr. Smith and  I'll gladly cease and desist.  He 
doesn't deserve that.
 
Elizabeth