[Harp-L] talk here, not there

[Jonathan Ross <jross38@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Chris M. writes:

"I started a thread on the buddhas garden forum that shows a  
collection of things that have greatly influenced me and my harmonica  
playing."

Why not have the discussion here?  I don't want to join any other  
lists, fora or the like, so am not about to join another list to have  
a discussion which can take place here just as easily.  Indeed, a  
discussion which was started here and has been going on decently for  
days.

As for harmonica players who inspire me, lately it's Donald Black.  I  
got two CDs of his recently and he is just a fantastic player by any  
measure.  He seems very much like Chet Atkins in that while he has  
all the technique in the world (and uses whatever is needed at the  
moment), he doesn't seem to care about the technique when he plays-- 
he may be doing something incredibly hard, but he does it not because  
it's hard but because it's right musically.  That's not always the  
case with the most technically proficient musicians.  There's a great  
video on YouTube of Atkins playing on "Hee Haw" or the like where the  
crowd goes wild after he does a fairly simple but showy sounding  
lick--he just smiles a half smile while going on to the next part of  
the song which is much harder to play.  Of course, he plays that part  
perfectly.  I can imagine Donald Black doing much the same when he  
plays (of course, you couldn't see the smile because of the  
harmonica)--a similar mindset where love of the song is what matters  
most.

As for music in general, I've been expanding my knowledge of  
Stravinsky lately with "The Soldier's Tale" and his three  
symphonies.  It's easy to forget how innovative Stravinsky was at the  
time, but these help fill out the picture.



 ()()    JR "Bulldogge" Ross
()  ()   & Snuffy, too:)
`----'