Re: [Harp-L] Re: spot on bends

[Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx>]

On Dec 13, 2006, at 9:15 AM, Jim McBride wrote:

> > Smo-joe writes,
> > It's like Charley (McCoy) and I were talking. If you can't get the
> > various semi-tones spot on at any level of 'bentness' at will, you
> > won't get the 'call'. I would (personally) add: spot on meaning
> > within a reasonable amount of 'cents' (percent).
>
>
>   I was luck enough to see Charlie McCoy perform at the Birmingham  
> Harmonica Festival this year and let me tell you, the guy  
> definitely hits those bends "spot on".

THAT's where we were talking. He also has a 'winter' place down her  
in Ft. Myers (Fl).

> Of all the great players I saw perform at the festival, he  
> impressed me the most. To see a diatonic player play fast melodies  
> and hit bends right on pitch is quite impressive. He doesn't hide  
> those bends like I do :-) He exposes them and holds them right on  
> pitch.

One of the few people I know who can do a convincing job on 'Ruby  
Gentry" THAT one is a real mouthfull (as far as held bends are  
concerned). He does put a quaver in on the word 'Like' (Ruby you're  
like a flame). I suppose that's to liven up what would otherwise be a  
hard to distinguish slide of only 1/2 tone between several other  
'already' bent notes.

See, here's where a person can really cover a hard to hold multi-step  
slur combo. Sort of like with 'T.D.'s Boogie. In the first 12 bars,  
almost everything is worked off the #3 draw (the natural tone and ALL  
3 steps). Pretty hard to get this clean. Especially at Boogie tempo.

> Once or twice I could hear a slight waver or small timbre  
> difference (well he is human after all - and the 10 hole has its  
> limitations), but he never backed off the note. He just held it out  
> there and kept it right on pitch. I was VERY impressed.

I guess it's all a matter of suction  :)

smokey-joe / North Port Fla, (formerly Pgh)
>   He also gave a talk about his early days in the music business  
> which was fascinating.
>
>   Jim
>
>
>
>
>
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