[Harp-L] RE: Harp in bluegrass

[Tom Ball <havaball@xxxxxxx>]

Just thought I'd chime in on this one:

Yes it's true there are many bluegrass purists who regard harmonica 
as a non-bluegrass instrument; just as it's also true that many blues 
purists don't accept mandolin as a blues instrument (despite Yank 
Rachell, Johnny Young and Ry Cooder.) <shrug>  What can you do? 
Everybody's entitled to their opinion.

Also true that Mr. Monroe wasn't a particular harmonica fan; but 
having said that, frankly I find myself in agreement with him, at 
least on one level -- the classic 1940s/50s bluegrass quartet/quintet 
sound would not, in my opinion, have been improved by the addition of 
harp.

Having played folk and bluegrass festivals for 30 years, however, 
it's been my experience that the more cutting-edge, genre-bending 
musicians (of all ilks) have little problem mixing things up. Tony 
Furtado has been known to record banjo pieces with a steel-drum 
player. Sam Bush has recorded with harmonica; same with Jerry 
Douglas, Bela Fleck, Tim O'Brien, Kate Wolf -- the list goes on and 
on.

As for myself, I've had the privilege of sitting in on-stage with a 
ton of bluegrass players who were (and are) quite open to harmonica, 
provided it is played on songs that warrant it, and played in a 
manner sympethic to the song at hand.

As to recorded examples of harp players playing bluegrass, Mike 
Stevens and Mark Graham have already been mentioned. Norton Buffalo 
as well, on occasion.  Early in his career, Howard Levy played some 
fine stuff on bluegrass-leaning recordings by Don Lange and by 
Lorraine Duisit. Certainly some of Charlie McCoy's stuff could fit 
the description.  And if I may be so shameless, I could mention that 
I've played on over 60 bluegrass CDs for the CMH label alone.

I think the problem may be that some harp players insist on playing 
blues harp over bluegrass melodies and chord changes; the same way 
many mando players insist on playing bluegrass mando over blues 
melodies and chord changes. Sometimes the easy path of playing rote 
licks just doesn't fit.

Personally I love playing bluegrass but at the same time I understand 
-- and agree -- that harp is not a traditional bluegrass instrument, 
and it only really fits on certain well-selected songs. But then 
drums aren't a traditional bluegrass instrument either, and they're 
utilized to perfection by Allison Krauss and many others. <shrug> 
Life is short.  It's all music, and rules were meant to be 
challenged, if not broken outright.

cheers to all,
Tom Ball
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