Paul,
Sorry you had to waste your money on that "Butter Instructional", he
WAS
a great player and Musician, but NOT a very good teacher as you found out.
So here is a Butter Lesson you WON'T be disapponted with, buy These 3
Records or CD's:
1) The Paul Butterfield Blues Band (Elektra)...his first
2) Paul Butterfield's Better Days (Bearsville)
3) The Paul Butterfield (Double) Live (Elektra-Rhino reissued a limited
pressing on CD)
Then take your time and listen to his work, watch how his playing grew in
the order of the above recordings.
Make up an index card with the Keys of the songs and the Key Harp he used
(on these records it mostly cross harp or 2nd position, if you have any
questions w/ keys we can help out here on the list.
Listen to his ideas, they are very "Horn like" and not typically "phrased"
like so many Trad. Players, but he knew how to incorporate all that and
when
he wanted to stay in a "Chicago" bag he had no problems holding his
own...(check out Fathers & Sons for that). He played the harp upside down
he
used both TB and Pucker...but PLEASE don't get all hung up on
that!.....study and listen to the MUSIC he's making 1st...the rest will
fall
into place.
But most importantly listen to his SOUL speaking through his music, it's
pretty DEEP, and at that point is when he TEACHES us the most, The blues
skills must emanate from that deepness, you won't find that on any
instructional tape....but it's all over the records of Butter, The
Walters,
Wells, Cotton, The SonnyBoy's and Terrys alike,-)))))).....
Map out and jam along with this stuff at your own pace....you WILL pick up
some great ideas, he WAS one of THE best!
again, the list here and myself can help out with any of the technical
stuff, so never be afraid to ask...and happy harpin'....you've mad a good
choice in Butter tho!,-)
I learned alot from this mans recordings and really do appreciate the body
or work he left us....enjoy
hope this helps,
rob paparozzi
----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul F. Sehorne" <paul@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, January 27, 2006 4:41 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] review of "Paul Butterfield Teaches Blues Harmonica
Masterclass"
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
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