Subject: [Harp-L] Bridging the Gap ( and Buckeye Continued)

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

Paul Davies writes:
 
"I want to applaud Jimi Lee as well, in putting up a show with  invited 
guests that played to the audience that was in front of him.   That's true 
shownmanship which Jimi is all over.  With a huge kudos  to Jack and the Ohio team for 
continuing the Buckeye  tradition!!!!!!

I really don't think the bridge is as wide as some  think. SPAH continues to 
put put up acts in all types of harmonica playing  to attract the muliple 
facets of the axe that we have chosen to play. It's  a difficult task to design a 
convention that meets the needs of all the  varied  players with completely 
different agendas  We try really  hard to fill the convention hotel with a group 
of mutually respectful  people that are open to all harp players regardless 
of  style. Folks  that continue to come to the conventions are these type of 
folks that want  to learn and be humbled by the world's best.  That's what a  
convention is designed to do.  

I don't remember that the  Golden Age of SPAH (1996-00) that Larry mentioned 
was any different than  todays conventions.  I think every year we continue to 
grow into a  more mutual harmonica society and will gather as a tribe once 
again in  Milwaukee.

Hope to see everyone there.

Paul Davies"
 
....and I absolutely agree, since I just came back from Buckeye  and the 
person talking about some vast difference between the  so-called "Golden Age" of 
SPAH vis-a-vis today wasn't in attendance at  this or any recent Buckeye or 
SPAH. It seems clear to me from my  attendance at my last 5 conventions that the 
very same  folks who continue the division and just don't want to attend or  
give respect to a diatonic player would no more have attended such a show  8 
years ago than they would now.  Nor would some diatonic players sit  through 
what they see as "old-timey" music.  It's a "taste"  thing.  You can't please all 
of the people all of the time...just a  fact of life.  But as Tom made clear 
in his post..he was  referring to "past" SPAH's and Buckeyes he had 
attended.....(and he did  not specify just how far back in time they were)... not the 
current  one.  
 
However, I've noticed there are more players who  play both types of axes 
feeling free enough to switch from  chromatics to diatonics and back.  That does 
MY heart good...since  I'd love to be equally as able on both.  I attribute 
quite a bit of  this to Winslow and Michael Polesky (among others) playing their 
 chromatics in the Blues Jams during recent conventions despite being  
outnumbered by diatonics probably 40 to one...as well as people such  as Jimi who 
are bound and determined to marry the various forms of  harmonicas onstage, and 
folks like SmoJoe playing his diatonic alternately  with his chromatic during 
his Jazz sessions.  The core  audience....the ones who stayed to listen, were 
thoroughly  entertained.
 
A lot of the music being played this time around  suited everyone, from Danny 
G's Band in a Box backing tracks  (I'm personally more interested in the 
Music Minus One  Phil  Caltabellotta uses so didn't attend the seminars), but it 
was very nice to  hear Danny playing songs from The Eagles to Bob Seger to 
Barbra Streisand  songs, all favourites of mine.  How cool is that?  He got a  
wonderful reaction from the audience, so not all chromatic people  are bogged 
down in so-called "old-time" music.  There IS  room for all, and I was very 
pleased to hear the mix of Blues, Jazz,  Old and New Standards....even to some 
classical.  Great music  all around.....
 
.....as Paul says: "multiple facets of the axe we have chosen to  play".  
Very well put, indeed. 
 
The Hotel was very nice, with a staff extremely eager to  please.  I even did 
my wee bit furthering the advancement of the  Harmonica with a lovely 
waitress who became fascinated by  my chromatics, having never before seen one with a 
"button", so  got into an involved discussion about just what it's for and 
the different  types of harmonicas.  It turned out her grandfather played harp 
and  guitar...she had always had a fascination with them, her daughter is a  
music major...by the end of my lunch she had finally made up her mind  and was 
seeking out Jack to sign with the Columbus Harmonica  Club.....what a thrill to 
see her genuine excitement when I told her this  was an Annual Event, and she 
would be more than welcomed into the  Club.  Another waitress had already 
bought a harmonica in the Harp  Depot store.  Wonderful friendly people at the 
Concourse....none of  this would have happened had Jack not chosen this 
particular  Hotel.  
 
Some young (early 20's) Flight Attendants on a layover late  Saturday Night 
came into the Bar where we'd set up a keyboard and  guitar and were 
entertaining (by request) were absolutely taken with  the whole harmonica/guitar sound, 
requested specific songs and  couldn't get enough of us (as nonprofessional as 
our little group  was).  Will be getting in touch with me via my myspace site 
to  continue our conversation/new friendship. One other woman completely  
unconnected with us extended her stay just to listen in and mingle with  these 
"wonderful harmonica people" as she put it....closed out the night  with us on 
Saturday.  The Concourse was a very cool place to  hold this Buckeye in, and 
kudos to Jack.
 
Somehow the impression seems to be that this so-called "chasm" began  when 
Douglas Tate became President of SPAH, is that not  what one poster is implying? 
 On the contrary, it seems  that all of the photos I've seen, stories I've 
read, anecdotal tales I've  been told since joining SPAH, Harp-L, and going to 
Buckeye  showed Mr. Tate mingling and having the happiest times and most fun 
with  players of every stripe, including many diatonic players, and he seems to  
have been quite beloved by everyone he met.  I'm only sorry I didn't  get the 
chance to know him in person prior to his untimely  passing.   
 
Sure missed Bobbie at this Buckeye, though, since she's such an  integral 
part of the Conventions for me, though I did get to meet and make  more new 
friends this trip.  That's the best part of Buckeye and  SPAH,. that one makes new 
and forever friends.  Shelly Lulov a fellow  Long Islander, is the funniest 
man I've ever met, kept me laughing from  the second we were introduced. Had the 
most scrumptious dinner out  with Shelly and Phillip Thibodeau. Phillip had 
gone out on his  own to scout out all the best restaurants in the area.  We  
three highly recommend Ocean for anyone living in or visiting Columbus  :) 
 
More later.....
 
Elizabeth 








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