[Harp-L] Mr. Heresy rags on "music" and blues

["Dave R. Fertig" <drfertig@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hey I love this list, from which I learn so much, at least theoretically, 
and I occasionally have to scream at it.

Like now.   Many half-*ssed amateurs like me love the blues as a form of 
personal expression and communication,  don't know squat about music 
theory, 3rd or 11th or doggie-style position, overblowing and u- and w- and 
x-blocking (for various reasons; I happen to be stupid, lazy, busy with 
other things, genetically defective and quite possibly tin-eared.)

So when doubtlessly fine musos and well-intentioned professionals and 
critics say things like, (esp here re: a Gindick JamCamp finale jam) "Of 
course, once the professionals got up there, it went back to being music" , 
I just want to pull someone's hair out.  Please, it's a Jam, remember?  Not 
a Recital at Albert blinkin' Hall.

I think that's why Jon calls it "Jam Camp"!   Of course, harps and jammin' 
ain't all about blues, but the Gindick Jam Camp is certainly basically 
blues oriented, for better or worse.   (I think so, anyway, can't speak for 
my hero Jon "Got Gonads" Gindick, but it's my experience there, the one 
time in my life I took formal harp instruction in a group setting.)

So, anyway, perhaps a JAM, folks, is not a contest, not a Command 
Performance, not a clinic on positions, but a confiture de blues, a 
toss-your-best-stuff-in-the-pot-and-enjoy-it sorta thang!

Really, I deeply respect the professionalism and amazing skills and 
knowledge displayed on this list, and on stage, by many of you with awesome 
chops and technical acument.

E.g., I am still awed by Dancin' Dave Ferguson's (and Dave Dix' and Tim 
Hill's, etc.) masterful, soulful playing at a jam in Stratford last 
December, and of course the likes of major players like Jaw-Droppin' Jason, 
Professor "Homeboy" Winslow,  Tom "Havina" Ball and so many others who are 
truly major artists and serious contributors of music, thought, arcana and 
much-needed beauty to this crazy world.

But some of you all just gotta relax and remember the ten-hole diatonic is 
a (uh oh!) less-than-twenty-dollar toy!

Indeed, have FUN with it, and if you can make amazing, nuanced and 
profoundly sophisticated music,  as some of you actually do, great!  But 
please don't bust the chops of us half-*ssed amateurs just because we can't 
play like whatsisname in x position, 24 to the bar with smooth overblows, 
and please some of you forgive us if the notes are a semidemiquaver off 
true pitch or tar or feathers or whatever.

If someone's standing in front of you knockin' out some of what they call 
their blues and puttin' their heart into it, at least appreciate his or her 
guts if not their chops.  And if it's not music to your ears, at least try 
to appreciate what it means to the player who is trying to express him or 
herself, whether musically orthodox or no.

Defensively yours,

Dave Fertig
http://elmtreeblues.org/
(And yes, I sound like crap but I dig playin' with folks who enjoy relaxing 
with the blues!)

At 05:13 AM 1/24/2006, you wrote:
> From: "Gary Lehmann" <hqr@xxxxxxx>
> Precedence: list
> Subject: [Harp-L] 2nd position without end (was "why would someone ask this
>         Q?")
> Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2006 20:12:16 -0800
> I was there and said the same thing to Harmonica John--not to take anything
> away from the Campers, just that it was very samey to the listener.
> Of course, once the professionals got up there, it went back to being music.
> I would even have welcomed some first position stuff, just to change it
> up--when you play the instrument being presented, it's easy to "pass
> judgement".
> Still, I was happy to be there; it was a treat to see Jason and Michael
> play--and there were some talented amateurs--but all playing in 2nd
> position.
> Not all harmonica music is the blues.
> Gary