[Harp-L] open letter to those criticizing the video performance of randy singer and toots thielemans

[randy singer <randy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

A few years ago, one of the highlights of my life actually happened.  
I performed a duet with the great TOOTS THIELEMANS.

This was a dream come true and happened when the master came to  
perform in miami beach at the van dyke cafe.

Due to my friendship with him, he invited me, via email, to play his  
composition BLUESETTE with him.

I was extraordinarily honored to receive this invitation from my  
idol, the master of jazz harmonica, toots thielemans.

That evening (which also happened to be his birthday) at the very end  
of his show, I was called up to perform this song.

I was extremely nervous, quite visible in my sound check (where I  
played the same jazz run twice to see if my mike was on). In fact, on  
the video, the first thing I said into the mike was "THANK GOD FOR  
TOOTS THIELEMANS" and I meant that. It was all I could think about  
and that statement completely summed up my emotions.

A friend of mine was in the audience and recorded this duet on video  
which is on youtube (with the kind permission of toots, of course)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bjB0AU5X_0

In these years, I have received about a dozen extremely negative  
reviews of this video. They have accused me of trying to overplay  
toots and other attacks.

At first, I did not feel that it did not deserve a response, but the  
recent posting from jens on Harp-L has stirred me to defend  my  
innocent actions that evening.

Let me be clear here to anyone who may feel that I was trying to  
disrespect him by over playing must keep this in mind. Toots was  
feeling ill that night, it was his birthday, it was late in the  
evening and he had just finished playing two nights and our song was  
the last song of the evening for the two nights. He encouraged me to  
play more solos than he during the performance.
>

> Watch the video again -Every time I finish a solo, I stop playing  
> (so he can play) and he points at me TO CONTINUE PLAYING!!.!!!!!!!!!!

Look at toots' right hand. You will see him indicating over and over  
to me to continue to play. You can see me stopping to let him play  
and he simply points back to me to play instead of him playing  
himself. Toots seemed to enjoy just playing counterpoint to my  
playing! You can see it in his facial expressions and body language  
and by his choice of lower harmony notes.
> > This continues to the end. where he encourages me to trade lines  
> > playfully even after the band has stopped.


> > I love toots too much to want to try to outplay him, besides, he  
> > is the master. I played WITH him, not OVER HIM.

> > I respect him to the highest.

LONG LIVE TOOTS!!!!!!!!!!!

Respectfully,

Randy Singer
http://www.randysinger.com

> Randysinger (il y a 11 mois)
> Randy ,
> >
> > i have to apologize, sorry , you are right , thats probably what  
> it is, i saw the video again, and he is pointing at you all the  
> time, sorry again, i will never ever give any comments again, but i  
> did and i have to deal with it. Best Regards Thomas

> harmonicajazzcm (il y a 4 mois)
> Thank you for that excellent vidéo Randy.
> Thank you for your very good playing.
> Thank you for that playing of you both with Toots.
> For me, all is perfect for yours playing of you two. You have  
> played according with Tootsn, there is no problem.
> BRAVO RANDY and... of course... BRAVO TOOTS !