Re: [Harp-L] reading things into the best

[Michael Fugazzi <mfugazzi67@xxxxxxxxx>]

In all the discussion of Jason on the list, I was
always amazed that nobody would say anything negative
about him.  This is one of the first times I've heard
somebody speak anything but affectionate about his
playing.

What surprise me and several other is that the
negatives come out of this really well written
article.  I give Brad the utmost respect for being
honest.  So many articles and press releases are just
recycled fluff, and this, like Jason's playing, gives
insight to who he really is and how important he is to
the harp community at large. Brad exactly captured who
Jason is and what his emotions towards music/life are.
 The article described Jason as he would describe
himself (although I'd doubt he'd say he's the world's
best).

Great work and thank you, Brad!  You are trying to
help Jason and many of us other harp players by
telling it like it is and not backing down from the
truth.  Regardless of our personal "best" opinions,
nobody can deny that what Jason is doing is absolutely
AMAZING!  He is exactly what every musician on any
insturment should strive to be...totally connect to
their insturment with an unmatched sense of history
and the ability communicate emotionally through an
individual voice to a mass audience.

Jason's playing may be "out there" compared to trad
harp, but the last time I saw him all he could go on
about was Little Walter and spending hours on end
tracking down lost tapes of his from Alligator.  He
has done what every hero of ours has done...take the
standard for the day, master it, and then blow it
away.

Bottomline, he should be a household name in AT LEAST
the blues world by now.  He is going to go down as the
SRV of harp.

And I am sure Brad said Jason was the best for this
very reason.  It causes a stir and all press is good
press if you know what I mean.

You want to talk about a BS harp statement...How about
David Hasseloff calling LD Miller the best harp player
out there???  How about all those people out there who
think Taylor Hicks is an amazing harp player?  

It is amazing how people get talked about on the board
sometimes. I am sorry, but I am much more upset at
those offended by the article then I would be at Brad.
   While I personally would not have said world's
best, the comment is not worth getting worked up over.
 With all the crap that gets said about musicians and
how great they are, this statement isn't even mildly
offensive.  Let complain about top 40 radio and how
much the music sucks even though we're told it is
great.

How many of us have even streched our role/importance
in music?  That's half the deal right there.  If I
told everyone Chris Michalek sucked, some of you would
buy into that.  If I went on about how great he was
that could sway your opinion too.

Comments like that are good marketing especially when
trying to help a friend.

Mike

> --- In harp-l-archives@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Chris
> Michalek" <chris@...>
> wrote:
> 
> C'mon Guys, lay off Brad.  He's done more for the
> harmonica without
> using a harmonica than most of you put together
> using your harmonicas.
>  Jason is doing great things and he's one of the
> true original players
> that will be remembered forever. I don't think there
> is anybody on
> this list that can stake that claim. Unlike the rest
> of us, Jason and
> Brad have the ability to inspire thousands and you
> guys are tearing
> them apart and beating them down.
> 
> Do I think Jason is the best blues harp player in
> the world? Hell
> yeah!!!.. because he's doing his own thing his own
> way.  He's not a
> clone or copy cat like Kim Wilson, Rick Estrin or
> even Steve Guyger et
> al.  When I see those guys, they make me feel like
> I've heard it all
> before. When I see Jason, I can't wait to get home
> and practice.
> Jason knows how to move people and build a fire of
> inspiration in
> people.  Look at how he moved Bonfiglio, I've never
> seen Robert talk
> about another harmonica player the way he talked
> about Ricci.
> 
> That is why Jason is the best. Shame on all of you
> that express any
> kind of disappointment in Brad Kava, he is what we
> all need, he is
> what this instrument needs.
> 
> Thank you Brad and thank you Jason.
> 
> 
> 
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Jonathan Ross [mailto:jross38@...]
> >Sent: Tuesday, September 5, 2006 04:35 AM
> >To: harp-l@...
> >Subject: [Harp-L] reading things into the best
> >
> >I read the article and read the sentence.  I was
> disappointed to see
> >it used in this way.  Never did I say that the
> writer called him "the
> >best"--I think that what he wrote is just about as
> bad.  It implies
> >that there is some thing such as "the best blues
> harmonica player".
> >If he had said "many people consider him one of the
> best" I probably
> >wouldn't have said anything.  It may seem like a
> small difference,
> >but the difference in meaning and attitude is
> significant.
> >
> >Yes, people do read things into what is written.  I
> never said that
> >the article called him "the best", rather I said:
> >
> >"Frankly, I was disappointed but not surprised to
> see the word "best"
> >come up in this way in a newspaper article."
> >
> >
> >
> >  ()()    JR "Bulldogge" Ross
> >()  ()   & Snuffy, too:)
> >`----'
> >
> >
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
> >Harp-L@...
> >http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l
> >
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
> Harp-L@...
> http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l
> 
> --- End forwarded message ---
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 


Mike Fugazzi
vocals/harmonica

http://www.myspace.com/mikefugazzi
http://www.niterail.com

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