Re: [Harp-L] The best Stevie - overated perhaps

["Planet Harmonica" <lists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Keeping in mind that I am of the opinion that dubbing anyone "the bast harmonica player" is ludicrous...

Stevie's playing is distinctive, no doubt about it. So is Howard Levy's, Coltrane's, Art Tatum's, BB King's, etc. Would you seriously consider saying these guys are not serious improvisers ?

Listen to this, assuming you don't know it. This is a snippet of Stevie's playing I used for the latest quizz at Harmonica Ramblings : http://harmonica.typepad.com.nyud.net:8090/harmonica_ramblings/files/Q3EX3.mp3

Consider the chord sequence, consider the key he's playing in (in relation to a standard chromatic) and tell me that's no serious improvisation ?

Now I'll agree with you that not everything Stevie recorded on harmonica denotes serious improvisation, but that hardly makes him a second rate improviser. And not to knock Norton Buffalo, but that improv' you mention on Bonnie Raitt's track is not improvised at all. It's a written down sequence that sounds like an improv', as the story has been told many times. Still mightily impressive, and sounds amazing, but not improvised.

Ben FELTEN
http://harmonica.typepad.com


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Pierre 
  To: chris smith ; harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Saturday, November 25, 2006 2:55 PM
  Subject: Re: [Harp-L] The best Stevie - overated perhaps



  I used to be a big fan of Stevie, but I'm starting to think he is overated. 
  His early successes were awesome, no doubt there. But over the last few 
  years I have heard him play on other people's CDs and no matter what they 
  play (latin, jazz) all he does on these sides sounds like blues. It's not 
  bad, he is talented, but it's really not that great. I think Stevie is great 
  compositionally and with learned pieces, but improvising is not his strong 
  suite. We've all seen great improvisers an he is not one of them. Think of 
  Norton Bufallo on that Bonnie Raitt tune, now that's a session.

  With respect to him being instanly recognizable, dosen't that mean he always 
  sounds the same and thus has few tricks in his bag?

  Chris said:

  >Stevie is, he is ,alas, human and isn't better than everyone at everything.

  Yep, to be fair so is everybody

  Anyways for me, not the best as there are so many fine harp players and 
  musicians who deserve more credit, but I admit some of his compositions 
  certainly were the best,

  Pierre.

  PS: If there are any recent (last 20 years) tracks I should hear, let me 
  know.




  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: "chris smith" <harpshredder@xxxxxxxxx>
  To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
  Sent: Wednesday, November 22, 2006 11:39 PM
  Subject: [Harp-L] The best Stevie


  > Hey David,
  >                   (Jaazman) Nice to hear you give Stevie kudos.Check out 
  > how brilliant he was at just 18 on Eivets Rednow, his unpromoted 
  > instrumental album. However, I think the concept (the best) is juvenile. 
  > I'm one of the most ardent, adoring fans of his but seriously do you think 
  > he could rip off a blazing Irish fiddle tune ? Do you think he can 
  > outblues any of the heavy blues players ala Big Walter, or whip out a 
  > classical piece ?
  >  He himself defers to Toots who seems undaunted by harmonic challenges. As 
  > amazing and trailblazing as Stevie is, he is ,alas, human and isn't better 
  > than everyone at everything.He is the primordial chromatic R&B man,though, 
  > and nobody can touch him at his own Wonderful style (there are a few of us 
  > nipping at his heels). And frankly the way Clapton is playing now 
  > (incredibly well) I don't think Hendrix would intimidate him though who 
  > knows how Jimi would be playing were he still alive. I'll unhesitatingly 
  > give you Bird though !
  > 
  > Chris
  >
  >
  > Chris "Hammer" Smith
  > Hammer Smith Band
  > Official Myspace Page http://myspace.com/chrishammersmith
  > harpshredder@xxxxxxxxx
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