[Harp-L] Toots harmonica patterns

[Robert Bonfiglio <bon@xxxxxxxxxx>]

I had several chromatic students in the 70's - Clint Hoover, Randy 
Singer, Rob Paparozzi, Donny Brooks, etc. that were not interested in 
classical music and wished to take the chromatic into jazz or at least 
improvisation.  I had a discussion with Toots at his apartment in New 
York City on the East Side about his approach and he said that he took 
Charlie Parker II-V-I progressions and played them through 12 keys 
figuring out which ones fit i the harmonica.

I then had Chris DePino buy a copy of Charlie Parker II-V-I 
progressions which he still has.  It would be interesting to take 
Winslow's discoveries of how Toots approached his solos and apply them 
to the ii-V-I Parker progressions.  I think the key is the legato 
around doubled C's and F's.

Harmonically yours,

Robert Bonfiglio


Winslow wrote:
Years ago I transcribed several of Toots' solos with an eye to seeing
how he came up with melodic patterns that "lay well" on the
instrument - my idea of what lay well being very similar to your:

"lines which are based on the layout of the harmonica . . .. lines
that need 'limited' control over all the variables at the same time."