Subject: [Harp-L] Best Harp show...Jason Ricci

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

Jeff writes:
 
"Again, Mssr. Ricci's Friday show at SPAH this year...never have I  been so 
glad to live in Denver...

Jeff G"
 
....and I have to second that.  Not that I've a lot of  experience with other 
harmonica acts outside of the last two Buckeye  and SPAH's  (though there 
have been extremely good ones....Madcat,  Howard Levy, Bonfiglio, Pat 
Ramsey...I'm honored to have heard them all  play in the recent past). 
 
 Now it seems I've become something I never before thought  I would...a bona 
fide groupie, rather late in life...and all because of  the irreverent, 
story-telling, f'-bomb dropping, profane and very funny,  OCD kitty-cat of Harp-L -  
Jason Ricci.    :)
 
I'm not from Denver....Jeff's lucky... I trekked all the way  from the East 
Coast.  Perhaps some day a Convention will make its way  here...in the meantime 
I  make it my aim to catch as many of JR  & New Blood's shows as they're able 
to bring to New York...   The last time I saw him at Terra Blues in the 
Village, he added an off the  cuff and unrehearsed  jaw-dropping rendition of 
Summertime with  just his bass player (Todd Edmunds),  making everyone in the  
audience sit up and take notice of this whole new jazz sound our boy was  putting 
out there...wonderful, innovative stuff.  In that  dimly-lit club, he's in his 
element....the audience thrilled to be  witnessing this new direction....
 
Yet ...onstage in Denver, as Jeff has said....SPAH '06.  Far too  brightly 
lit, not the best chairs...sound or setting. Not enough of an  audience...  None 
of it mattered.  It was by far the most  exciting performance I've ever seen 
by a musician....including Jason  before that.  He was beyond good....edging 
into the outrageous  column.
 
..the bar has been raised folks..
 
....and I'm still reeling...
 
Elizabeth