Subject: [Harp-L] Blues on the chromatic
Damien Masterson writes (excerpted):
" Every time I tried to record something fresh and innovative
using chromatic in a "Blues" vein, it was shunned by Blues club owners
as "too jazzy" and written off by Jazz people as "blues" or soul, or
whatever. Maybe I just sucked. I'll never know. My point is, it's a
tricky area."
....and while it's been a long time since I read your story (I do remember a
most interesting background) ...I wanted to write this first before going to
listen to your music - please let me tell you that everything you've written
has struck a chord with me...most especially what you've said above. THIS is
what I think the idea of "Blues" on a chromatic should be. I can't stand
when some self-defined critic sticks labels on any music as "too jazzy" or "too
Soul, too R&B" or whatever. Jazz has grown, adapted and changed over the
years...and I love a lot of the newer versions of it...yet am constantly
belittled by music snobs because I like those changes and enjoy the way certain
musicians interpret it. How music makes you feel is what's important to me and
not some other person's idea that one has to stick with a rigid formula of
what constitutes Jazz or Blues.
As far as the harmonica goes, I've heard some nice chromatic playing by
some really good musicians, but frankly I'm not all that enamoured of the
old-style chromatic playing while accepting that people who play it do so by
choice, but I still have never experienced what I really think could be done with
the instrument in jazz or Blues, the way I've heard favourite saxophone
players express themselves.
I'm still dying to hear what I think of as "Jazz" or "R&B" and "Soul"....
the music I grew up with...the music that's in MY head. If I could ever play
it, I'd be thrilled, but I'm not skilled enough. Clearly you have the
skills....I've heard about you peripherally.....but like every other harmonica
player...you get no real respect from the music industry.
Now you have me very intrigued...and I want to hear what it is you play. It
just might be what I've been waiting all along to hear and somehow missed
till now. From the very little I've already known other people to say about
you....this much I would put money on....that you do not "suck". :)
So kudos to the poster who asked the question about Blues on chromatic...if
enough of us care, this just may be the beginnings of something good. Great
post!
Elizabeth
"Message: 4
Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2006 14:50:16 -0700
From: Damien Masterson <damienzm@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Blues on the chromatic
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID: <ae892732fcae3806105421b11e5e1eca@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
It's always a good idea to check the archives as well. There are
several postings on this subject from a couple of years ago.
Blues on the chromatic is a very subjective thing. What kind of blues
are you listening to? Are you one of these guys that heard Little
Walter and decided that was all you ever wanted to do with your life?
Nothing wrong with that. Listen to him, George Smith (who does little
for me personally on chrom) or William Clarke, others mentioned. Do you
prefer rock blues? Do you like twisted stuff? Are you a classic, black,
Chicago fan or a Stevie Ray Vaughan person? The truth is, these are all
very different sounds, very different chords and types of energy. What
is "The Blues", anyway? Some think it's one thing, few can agree. Try
Paul Delay's chrom playing and see what you think. The Harmonicats
recorded some nice blues. What kind of Blues do you like? That will
narrow it down quite a bit.
I love to play the blues on the chromatic. I like my blues chromatic
playing better than anyone out there. Hubris? Maybe. I love Bill
Barrett and there's Stevie Wonder, who is not typically playing "Blues"
on the chromatic, although one might argue technique-wise there's
little difference. I would. Do I have recordings of my best chromatic
"blues" playing? Not really... If I'm going to kick down 10 grand for a
record that expresses who I think I am, I'd rather try something
different. I respect people who use their instrument's potential in the
Blues, and have grown beyond the D minor draw chord/octave blowing that
was popular over 60 years ago. Everyone poses with a chrom, don't they?
Ignorance truly is bliss.
As wide an appeal the harmonica has, there's not a huge market for
people stepping outside the extremely limited paradigm, and even the
old diatonic masters are for the most part currently parked on their
couches. Every time I tried to record something fresh and innovative
using chromatic in a "Blues" vein, it was shunned by Blues club owners
as "too jazzy" and written off by Jazz people as "blues" or soul, or
whatever. Maybe I just sucked. I'll never know. My point is, it's a
tricky area. In the archives, you'll find JP Pagan giving a great
review of me playing blues chromatic in Barcelona. I wish I had a
recording of that night! I love Jimi Hendrix, originally found the
"Blues" from Led Zeppelin before I discovered the old cats. For
whatever reason, I am not capable of writing or producing a kickass,
cliché "Blues" album. Every time I try, I screw it up by trying to make
it more "Interesting"... In my mind, what's interesting about that
music is the passion and on the edge balance of emotion and delicate
restraint that allows someone to express themselves so completely
without harmony or their chops getting in the way. Obviously not so
easy... Maybe that's why the apparently limited diatonic, with it's
richter tuning, has been the choice harp for raw expression. Too much
freedom can really bog you down!
If you want to hear some different Blues on the chromatic, check
out Bill Barrett's "Backbone" as well his other recordings, from my
albums: Intercâmbio: "Joe's Fried Chicken" (Featured on Raw Record's
"San Francisco's Best Blues" compilation), my searing chromatic solo on
Cubacambio: "In my time", Half the solos and intros on Scrapbook,
especially "Jaded", "Student Loan" and "Funk ala Fax", and solos from
"Pocket Pool" and "Uh-Oh" on my ne'er to be released "Blue World Order"
project. I'll post some links later.
Are they 12 bar shuffle blues? No. Do they sound like "Juke"? Hell
no. But if that's what you're looking for, then maybe you should be
asking different questions. Mike Turk and Howard Levy can play
spectacular blues on diatonic harmonicas, but most of us have grown
beyond the blues harp of our forefathers. Not to dismiss it's beauty
and appeal. Listen to it. Study it. Learn as much from it as you can.
Then take a theory class, practice and learn how to create your own
thing. For all of the flack John Popper gets for being limited in
scope, he did what few of us are capable of: Developed his own way to
play the blues harp, developed his own sound and became an icon. Few on
this list can boast the same. Sucks, huh?
For those of you who honestly want to hear some "blues chromatic",
I suggest you do a couple of things: Expand your horizons on what the
"blues" are, Spend some money and support some chromatic players out
there. Take a risk! You know who we are! I'll give you a money back
guarantee. Listen to new music a few times, don't write it off right
away, the best stuff is often an acquired taste, or over your head. I
finally get music that turned me off 10 years ago. And lastly - if you
are playing harmonica and interested in the chromatic - get out of your
box and expose yourself to some scary, freaky music. Go to the other
extreme! Some of the best "Blues" I have heard have come from African
records. Labels will stop making sense. Your wife will hate your music.
Your kids will be scared. You won't be able to listen to the radio much
anymore. Hang in there - It's worth it!
Damien Masterson http://www.damienmasterson.com
or enter my name in any search engine
415 305 7138 damienzm@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Damien Endorses Hohner Harmonicas and Audix Microphones
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