Re: [Harp-L] Tommy (1st Take) Morgan

["Michael Peloquin" <peloquinharp@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Great point Chris.
I think that this is the point that was missed by our respected colleagues 
who rushed to TM's defense.

I think:
Nobody doubts Mr. Morgan's musical prowess.
Most diatonic parts are more conceived than written.
There is no way to write "play it in a loose sloppy Jim Rockford" style.
Some on this and other lists have problems with names, ie: Harp, Tin 
Sandwich, etc., also with the harmonica player as circus clown mindset.
But, there seems to be a general disdain for diatonic harp amongst "legit" 
chromatic guys. Just look at slidemeister!
Am I off base, or shouldn't an accomplished chrom guy  be able to master the 
"toy" that is diatonic harp?
I would have thought that TM would have been the kind of guy.
Maybe he was/is capable of playing the Rockford Files clean and in tune and 
the producer wanted it dumbed down, we will probably never know.
I heard the story about the DB Cooper score (1st take of course!) from TM 
himself at Denver SPAH -I am going to rent that movie to refresh my ears on 
the TM short harp quest.

Michael Peloquin
http://tinyurl.com/5tpjg
http://www.harpsax.com


> From: "Chris Michalek" <chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Don't take away the repsect I gave to Tommy Mogan. I think he is a 
> incredible musician and one of the most important harmonica players in the 
> history of the instrument. Tommy did play the Rockford part at the cue of 
> the composer or producer HE SAID he made it up himself. The part was 
> originally written for the chromatic but Tommy thought he idea was better. 
> According to many studio musicians this is a NO NO but Tommy prevailed due 
> to his much earned respect. Just because he can play the dickena out of the 
> chromatic does not make him a good diatonic player. He's the first to admit 
> that he doesn't play diatonic "like the blues guys" You can't convince me 
> if some producer said I want you to sound like little water on this cut he 
> could do it. He simply can not, so let's not pretend that he some ultra 
> advanced diatonic player he will readily admit that he is not. It's clear 
> to me that he uses it moreas an effect instrument rather than a "real" 
> instrument. Afterall if he wanted play lines he'd use the chromatic. He 
> could be better than Levy if he took the time to figure out thre short 
> harp.
> Again I said, I have no disdain or cotempt for Tommy Morgan. I think he's 
> one of the world's elite musicians.