Re: [Harp-L] Willie Big Eyes Smith

[Mike Fugazzi <mfugazzi67@xxxxxxxxx>]

I am a little behind on posts.  Thanks to Steve for
the kind words, and more importantly making the 80mi
trip to support live harp music!

In regards to the conversation about Willie as a harp
player, here's my take.  When a totally authentic
bluesman from an era that is all but lost does his
thing it still gives me goose bumps.  He is as real as
they come, and while not the most technically advanced
player, he brings it straight from the heart.  

There are a lot of "wannabe" blues guys out there. 
IMO it is the job of contemporary harp players to
interpret what guys like Willie have done and bring it
to 2006.  He's a retro act and should be.  If I played
like he did, I doubt I'd be considered hip.  That
makes sense though.  I am a 25 year old from Minnesota
who has 50 years of the world separating us.

I compare him to Jason Ricci from a connection
standpoint.  They have two totally different ways of
making a point, but they still relate the same main
ideas.

Willie's playing reminded me of James Cotton.

> --- In harp-l-archives@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx,
> moandabluz@... wrote:
> 
> 
> Finally I have a little window of time to write
> something here. Last
> Saturday I made the 80-mile drive to see list member
> Mike Fugazzi
> and
> his band open for Willie "Big Eyes' Smith. I'm glad
> I did.
>    Mike and his band, Nite Rail, are just getting
> better and better.
> They will make a mark  on music in Minnesota, I
> think, if they can
> stick together. Mike's playing, especially for
> someone who has only
> been at it about 5? years, is damned good. Overblows
> with ease and
> has
> his own style.
>    Willie Smith.. I was prepared to be disappointed.
> I didn't know
> much
> about him as a harp player, but chances to see those
> old guys in
> person
> are few and far between. Well, I was wrong. Willie
> can play his a**
> off.  Using an SM58 into a Fender Twin. Classic
> Chicago sound. It
> did
> look like he had an adaptor/transformer of some kind
> between the mic
> and the amp. But he flat out nailed Juke and his
> years with Muddy
> Waters showed on Long Distance Call.  I don't know
> how old Willie
> is,
> but he played about two hours straight, took a
> break, and they said
> he
> was going to do one more set. I had to leave.   His
> bass player is
> older than dirt, and never missed a lick.  I see
> Willie is playing
> with
> an All-Star group this weekend in Iowa .. Mojo
> Buford and Pinetop
> Perkins among the group.
>   Anyway... highly recommended....  and if you are
> in Minnesota
> sometime... check out Fugazzi and  his band.
> Steve "Moandabluz" Webb
> still a fool for the harp
>
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> --- End forwarded message ---
> 
> 
> 


Mike Fugazzi
vocals/harmonica

http://www.myspace.com/mikefugazzi
http://www.niterail.com

"Capitalize on your own strengths; develop your own style.
The world needs another harp player doing Little Walter licks
as much as it needs another Elvis impersonator."
-Paul deLay


 
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