[Harp-L] Damien Masterson - Chromatic Harmonica Blues

[Damien Masterson <damienzm@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

  Thanks for the clarification, Tim. And something worth noting, as 
well - Ab, in my mind, is a much better key to play the blues on with 
the chromatic harmonica that G, even though both of them have distinct 
advantages and detractors.

  A final note on the chromatic blues - and I hope that everyone can 
agree on this: The most important factor in playing the blues on ANY 
instrument is SOUL. If you can't "play it like you mean it" then forget 
it! I believe that's the one big factor that stops most well known 
chromatic players from kicking major ass on a blues, is that their 
playing tends to be more technical and less emotive. I'm not entirely 
convinced that it's by choice, some people are just more subdued by 
nature. Sorry guys, calling it like I see it.
   I started playing Blues harmonica (10 hole) at the age of 14, now 
well over 20 years ago. I wanted to express myself like Sonny Boy, like 
Little Walter, like Sonny Terry. That's all I wanted. Although I 
switched to the chromatic at 15, and started playing sax at 16, that 
desire never changed. But it's HARD! The chromatic is not as flexible 
as the diatonic. If it weren't for Stevie Wonder, who I consider the 
true master of soul/blues chromatic harmonica, I'm not sure if ever I 
would have been pushed beyond the norm as far as expressing my pain on 
the chromatic.
  There are some fine players out there. Toots can make a grown man 
cry! But to play the "blues" on chromatic, one has to dedicate an 
absurd amount of time mastering tone, air flow, trying different 
models, working with technicians and spending, inevitably, lots of 
money and energy getting there.
   I'll repeat my recommendations for those who want to hear very 
soulful chromatic - All of Stevie Wonders' playing. Tollak Ollestad 
(http://www.tollak.com) is a phenomenal player, and like me he has 
prioritized expression and feeling over technical chops, also he plays 
keys, composes and has backed up really famous people like Don Henley. 
Bill Barrett has some really nice stuff, and albeit a deconstructionist 
or "iconoclast", plays some really cool, original chrom. There are 
other players who have risen above the norm and really said something 
for a minute, but as far as that "one note" that moves you inside and 
puts your eyes all watery, there aren't many chromatic players doing 
that on a regular basis. That's my goal. Tell me when I get there.

   For those of you less investigative harp-l 'ers, I am posting a link 
from my website for "Joe's Fried Chicken", from my first C.D. 
"Intercambio". For the poster who made a comment about "mostly 
brazilian" music, you obviously don't own the CD. Anyway, it's 10 years 
old now, I've been playing twice as long. I'll let you all know when 
the next one comes and and learn to toot my own horn a little better:

                                          
http://www.damienmasterson.com/mp3s/intercambio/joes-fried-chicken.mp3

  Speaking of which, I won't see you guys at SPAH this year, I've been 
invited to participate in the Asian Pacific Harmonica Festival in 
Taiwan. See you there. And PRACTICE!

Damien Masterson

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

On Jun 29, 2006, at 12:49 PM, harp-l-request@xxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> From: "Tim Moyer" <wmharps@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: Re:  [Harp-L] Chromatic Blues - NOT Mike Turk
>
> Winslow Yerxa wrote:
> > That's a really nice snippet. The cool thing is, it's second
> > position (G on a C chromatic) and it's not that far from basic
> > blues - some leadin-ins to chords form a semitone above and some
> > slide-in sheets of notes to go with it, that sort of thing. While
> > Damien has monster chops, even the fast passages in this snippet
> > are not *that* hard to playy if you do a normal amount of shedding
> > on your scales and arpeggios.
>
> I need to clarify here: the snippet that is called "Mike Turk
> Solo.mp3" is now, in fact, Mike Turk, playing in G on a C chromatic
> (http://www.workingmansharps.com/Sounds/other/Mike%20Turk%
> 20Solo.mp3).  The clip of Damien is now called "Damien Masterson
> Solo.mp3", and Damien plays in Ab on a C chromatic
> (http://www.workingmansharps.com/Sounds/other/Damien%20Masterson%
> 20Solo.mp3).  Tim Moyer
> Working Man's Harps
> http://www.workingmansharps.com/