Re: [Harp-L] Name That Tume.... Please/Harp in Western swing

["Cara Cooke" <cyberharp@xxxxxxxxx>]

Just an FYI, hearing the term "bluegrass harmonica" should not be any more
odd than hearing the term "bluegrass dobro".  Flatt and Scruggs had both.
It may be more unusual to have a harmonica player on the ball enough to do a
good job in the music than on the other instruments, but that does not mean
that it cannot ever be considered an authentic bluegrass instrument.  Just
because we aren't accustomed to it, doesn't mean that it never happened
somewhere else or sometime else; and it does not mean that it cannot be
re-applied by those capable of holding their own with the other players.

>From what I've seen, the same is true of western swing.  The fellows I have
met and played with from the orginal era of western swing tended to look at
things a little differently than we do today.  If it worked, then they went
for it.  They weren't concerned with whether or not it was traditional or
authentic.  It was their "bar" to set.

I do know this, though:  I know I can bring a smile to Johnny Gimble's face
(and other swing fiddlers' faces) when I play harmonica in swing (or
anything else), and I have similarly brought smiles to many of the old
bluegrass fiddlers' faces -- so skill, musicianship, and taste was what was
important to them.

Cara Cooke
Austin, Tx.
http://manchacaallstars.tripod.com
www.cyberharp.isonfire.com




On 7/29/07, Rick Dempster <rick.dempster@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> Hey Slim;
>              This makes me feel the same way as hearing about
> 'bluegrass harmonica'.
>              Chances are that putting a harmonica in an 'authentic
> western swing band'  means that no-one will think it is 'authentic
> western swing' anymore.
>              Having said that (I play steel in an 'authentic' western
> swing band - but very little harmonica!) see if you can get your hands
> on some stuff by the 'Rice Brothers Gang'.
>              This hot little outfit consisted of guitar, bass,
> chromatic harmonica, steel and sax, and was both very 'down home' and
> hot at the same time.
>              Don't know who any of 'em were, but the steel player was
> hot as hell (and kinda rough as well; always 'going for it' - check
> their version of 'Alabama Jubilee') as was the chrom. player, who, by
> the way, only ever plays in C (ie 1st position) They even make key
> modulations to accomodate him (her?)
>             Of course there's 'Swift's Jewel Cowboys'  a  band that
> were hardly a 'classic' hot Texas string band, but certainly had some
> affilliation with the style, and did include some hot chrom. solos by
> Jimmy Riddle (who later played piano & some harp with Roy Acuff)
>             The only Rice Bros. stuff I've heard was radio
> transcriptions on a Japanese vinyl release in the late seventies, with
> Cliff Bruner on the A side.
>             Doing a Google yields this:
> http://www.mp3.com/albums/162919/summary.html
>
> http://www.mmguide.musicmatch.com/album/album.cgi?ALBUMID=1115274
>
>
> .........and much more. Good luck!
> Rick Dempster
> Melbourne,
> Australia
>
> >>> Slim Heilpern <slim@xxxxxxxxxx> 30/07/2007 8:27:04 >>>
> "Over the Waves", I think.
>
> If you like that fiddle style, you might check out Johnny Gimble's
> recordings -- he is one of the masters of that style.
>
> Harmonica content: I don't recall ever hearing a harmonica played in
> authentic Western Swing music, but I would like to give it a shot some
>
> time... ;-).
>
> - Slim.
>
> http://www.slidemanslim.com
>
>
> Special20 wrote:
> > Here is a short audio clip from the movie The Last Picture Show.  At
> a
> > town Christmas party the band plays the most beautiful waltz.
> >
> > The Last Picture Show
> <http://www.davisbluesproject.com/music/lpswaltz.mp3>
> >
> > Now, I know this is a very common, well-known waltz, but for the life
> of me
> > I can't remember the name.  The second you hear it you guys are all
> gonna
> > say, "Heck yeah, that's The _ _ _ _ _ Waltz."
> >
> > I'm a blues guy who does not usually get inspired by waltzes, but
> this has
> > me by the throat.  The stuff the fiddler does the second time through
> (while
> > Sonny has his brief conversation with his dad) is killer stuff.  I
> need a
> > tab.  To find a tab, I need the name of the song.
> >
> > Many thanks to whomever can help.
> >
> > -Spec20
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