[Harp-L] A question

["Rob Paparozzi" <chromboy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I think we are focusing too much on the technique, it is the PLAYER that
validates the technique...sort of like the battles I'm always gettin' into
about TB vs. Pucker


Some will say it's the Pucker Tech has 'smaller' or thinner tone...but I've
never heard anyone say that Butter or Jr. Wells had 'thin' tone...The TONE comes from the PLAYER not the technique.


     If a player doesn't open his resonant cavity and train those muscles in the
back of the throat, all the TB in the world won't give him a FATTER sound.
IMO...It's the player.....not the Mic, Not the Amp, NOT the technique.

      Same goes with OB Technique, the technique without the accompaniment of
diligent pitch control and subtle bending is pretty useless.....it's the player that validates this technique.


    Howard Levy has recorded many excellent Ballads and Solos on
Ballads for major artists.


Let me give a few examples but there are MANY more:

Christmas without You - Pacquito D'Rivera
Celebrate me Home - Kenny Loggins (Live at The Redwoods)

Howard makes a Living doing this and has won a Grammy for his work on
Harmonica with Bela Fleck, how can you say the door is pretty much SHUT.
The door is as open as we make it.

     The Harmonica is on thousands of recordings and I get several call
every week to Play both Chromatic and Diatonic and get paid pretty well for
doing so. There are also Many on this list that make good money with their
instrument be it Diatonic, Chromatic or both.

     The door may be closed to Harmonica in GENERAL because of the 'novelty'
and cheapness in price, people are fooled by it's size and it's up to US to
keep pushing up the bar and breakin' down the barriers.....

     As I said before, it's the player NOT the AXE, Larry Adler was a Great
Player on the Chromatic, but IMO had lots of recordings with intonation and
timbre problems......

     I don't think we are doing the DIATONIC any harm if it's played,
performed and recorded well.

      The Blues players first picked up this strange Richter tuned
instrument....they immediately saw the strengths and weakness' and took the
little German folk instrument to uncharted territories now we have the world
of  "Blues Harp"

     Charlie McCoy didn't listen to the stuffy Bluegrass/Country purist, he
'pushed the limits' of the harp in those contexts...opening doors for great
players like Don Brooks, Mickey Raphael, Norton Buffalo and Mike Stevens.
and I'd go on in different genres, but you get my drift.

     As players of this 'underdog' in the music biz, it is OUR duty to educate
the industry and the public what good harmonica is about...and just when
they THINK they know what a TYPICAL harmonica sounds like....we prove 'em
wrong,-)

      This may not be as relevant, but today I got a call to head into NY
and play on a track for Alexa Rae Joel,
(Billy Joel's 20 Year old daughter)....The producer said he wanted a
"Stevie" Wonder sound, so I did my best Stevie impersonation and laid down
about 5 good alt tracks. They had an extra track so I asked if I could have
some fun, I took out a Diatonic and played over the same solo section. I
watched the Producer look at the engineer in amazement, that these changes
would work on Blues Harp..they had NO idea based on the 'their' limited
knowledge of the harps capabilities.

     After my session, I spent alot of time on the phone with The Blue Note
in NYC, they do Saturday afternoon Jazz Workshops, featuring name players. I
had done one w/ Bernard Purdie and wanted to set one up with Howard Levy.
They said, 'were not interested in the harmonica' it won't draw and this is a Jazz Club
etc etc.....I went on my RANT and told them that about 65% of their crowd
when they book TOOTS are Harmonica Players or enthusiasts!......and also
informed them of Howard's credentials.....bottom line is I think I convinced
them! (keepin' my fingers crossed FYI: Sat 3/25 it it flies).

    I say we 'explore' the so called impossible and make MUSIC, but mostly LOVE it and have FUN, but at the same time keep our standards high. (hopefully the $ will follow,-)



Paul Messenger, excellent post with some REAL valid points....when's the "Living Room" summit?,-))!

 

BTW, Howard is an excellent Chromatic player, I've heard him, but he has no interest in pursuing that instrument..Paul is right, he doesn't give doodle!,-)


My 8 cents,
all the best,
rob paparozzi