RE: [Harp-L] re: jazz instruments

["Michael Peloquin" <peloquinharp@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

> I said:
> > I don't get too many calls to play sax on death
> metal either- lame argument

> how is that a lame argument? it just seems to add to
> the proof that instruments, no matter how popular, are
> often relegated to or left out of certain genres
> because they don't fit either the musicians' or
> audiences' idea about which instruments play which
> kind of music. there will always - ALWAYS - be
> exceptions, but that isn't to say there is no merit to
> JR's point.

point well taken- sorry

> > facing extinction:
> > CLARINET-once was king--good luck today in jazz or
> pop, relegated to
> > emotional and comic status in advertising. I am not
> counting orchestral
> > appearances!
> > tenor banjo
> > tuba
> > bass sax
> > accordian (there is a reason that so many old tube
> amps had an accordian
> > channel)
> > solo basson
> > solo oboe
> > solo bass clarinet
>
> i find it interesting, for no particular reason, that
> at least 2 of those have shown up alot recently in
> "jam" jazz recordings - the tuba and the bass
> clarinet. i think that's true for bass sax as well,
> but i'm not sure. by the way, Hazmat Modine has not
> only TWO harmonicas, but a tuba and often a (sort of)
> bass sax ;)
> it's also fair to say that "jazz" as it was known when
> alot of those intruments were more popular is VERY
> different than it is today.

exceptions can always be found (esp. in the fringe areas that you mention), 
it seemed like we were discussing the mainstream and sheer numbers and 
percentages of occuruence.

> > BTW: This year's Downbeat Critic's Poll gave
> Miscellaneous Instrument honors
> > to:
> > Once again Toots
> > and
> >
> > RS (Rising Star) Gregoire Maret (Harmonica)
> >
> > not bad for this dinosaur instrument that gets no
> respect.
>
> of course, both are chromatic players. this discussion
> began with the a look at the diatonic harmonica's
> limitations in genres like jazz. has Howard ever
> gotten that honor, by the way?

Howard Levy plays jazz but outside of the mainstream of the jazz industry. I 
think that is what he prefers. Either that or the Downbeat Critics just 
can't stand his awful intonation and all.
I added the DB poll as a positive for our instrument and I guess I must have 
deserved more divisiveness in response.
Maybe polls, awards and such are very political and commercial visibility 
driven. Do you think?

I think Howard Levy, Paul Butterfield, Bob Dylan and John Popper are the 
best thing to happen to our humble instrument in the last 40 years for 
different reasons.

Michael Peloquin
http://tinyurl.com/5tpjg
http://www.harpsax.com