[Harp-L] Re: Stevie Wonder/Tony Bennett

[jazmaan <jazmaan@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Some people disagree with the very notion that one player can be the "best".  They don't like
comparing musicians period.    I am not one of those people.

When Charlie Parker was living, he was universally recognized by his peers as being the best alto
player on the planet.   In his prime, Bird was so highly regarded that when he showed up for an
unplanned unrehearsed guest appearance with the Woody Herman Herd, every musician in that band
ceded his solo space to Bird!

When Jimi Hendrix first arrived in England as an unknown, he asked if he could sit in with Cream. 
At the time people considered Cream's guitarist, Eric Clapton to be "God".  When Hendrix began to
play, Clapton was stunned.  He walked offstage mid-song and asked Jimi's manager "Can he really be
that good?"    Jeff Beck saw him play and bitterly asked Pete Townsend  "Am I just supposed to
give up playing guitar now?" 

I use Hendrix and Bird as proof of the concept that one player can indeed be "The Best".  If you
accept that concept then let me say that I have been privileged to see Toots, Howard, Jason, Rick,
Kim, and Rod play live in person.  The others on your list I have heard through their recordings
only.   And as far as I'm concerned they are all incredible players.   But Stevie is a genius.  In
my opinion, what Stevie played last night with Tony Bennett was on a "whole -- 'nother -- level!"
(to quote a current character on Mad TV.) 











--- Haka Harri <harri.haka@xxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Stevie sure is a great harmonica player but I'm surprised that everyone on this list agrees on
> him being "best on earth" . Wonder  has an incredible 45 year career as a multi-instrumentalist,
> but from a purely harmonica point of view it is hard to justify him as THE best. No matter what
> your musical preference, how would you compare him with the likes of James Cotton, Rod Piazza,
> Kim Wilson, Rick Estrin, R.J. Mischo, Mitch Kashmar, Howard Levy, Jason Ricci, Toots Thielemans
> and others who are specialists in this instrument? This is not to underestimate Stevie Wonder as
> a harmonica player but a reminder that there are players out there who, with any criteria, are
> in the top .2%.
> 
> Harri 
> 
> > Just saw Stevie duet with Tony Bennett on "For Once In My 
> > Life".   After that solo, is there
> > really any doubt who the best harmonica player on earth is?
> > 
>