[Harp-L] review of "Paul Butterfield Teaches Blues Harmonica Masterclass"

["Paul F. Sehorne" <paul@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I just recently got interested in harmonica.  I wasn't listening to / 
noticing harmonica music back when Butterfield was alive.  From what I've 
read on this forum I gather that he was a great (blues harmonica) 
musician.  Based upon what I was hearing and because I am learning to play 
the harmonica myself now, I purchased "Paul Butterfield Teaches Blues 
Harmonica Masterclass".

I must say I am a bit disappointed.  It is a lot of demonstration with very 
little explanation.   I've found Jerry Portnoy's  Blues Harmonica 
Masterclass course a much better investment, even at four times the 
price.  (Butterfield's course ~$15, Portnoy's course ~$60). At $15 it is as 
much value musically as a good Harmonica music CD, but from a training / 
learning standpoint it is lacking.  What explanation is included is 
somewhat incomplete and sometimes ambiguous.

Of course, this is as much producer/director's fault (Happy Traum, Homespun 
Tapes) as the musician.  I have many Homespun Tapes video VHS courses that 
I purchased about 10 years ago (including 'every' piano video that they 
had  at the time).  Some of them are great.  Some are not.  David Cohen's 
Blues Piano videos are great.  Warren Bernhardt's Jazz Piano videos are 
not.  Unless you have some feedback from someone (like this feedback), you 
pays yore money and takes yore chances.

The Butterfield  CD audio course is distributed by Hal Leonard.  I 
purchased if from  Amazon.com 
<http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0793581303/102-6677938-2744148?v=glance&n=283155>here 


Paul "two cents" Sehorne