[Harp-L] SPAH

[moandabluz@xxxxxxx]

Back home from SPAH, my fourth time at the annual harmonica 
extravaganza. I can only pass along some of my own impressions. I spent 
all four days there, arriving about 1:30 p.m. on Wed.

I wanted to get there early enough to check in and then catch the blues 
harmonica showcase, which is always an eye-opener and a great way to 
start the week. I won't even try to describe each player, but it's 
humbling to watch. Adam Gussow, PT Gazell, Joe Filisko, Dennis 
Gruenling, my Minnesota friend Bruce "Creeper" Kurnow... hmm. .was 
Winslow onstage too? Winslow was everywhere so please forgive my aging 
memory. THis was hosted by Jason Ricci, who had each player show a 
little of what he did, and then talked about it.

There were so many great players again this year. And good seminars, 
too. I will certainly agree that SPAH needs to seriously examine where 
it will be in a few years, but I will also say that there was something 
for everyone here.  From 88-year-old show biz veteran Jerry Adler, who 
said this was his last public performance, to 13-year-old speed demon 
L.D. Miller, to blues veteran Charlie Musselwhite, to masterful Brendan 
Power, etc. etc.

I enjoyed myself. Maybe a little too much a couple of times :)... but 
that's another story.
Some of my highlights:
  * hallway jams with Jimi Lee
   * visiting with other Harp-L'ers
    * listening to Ben Nathanson and Warren Bee (two of my favorite 
players)
    * hanging a little with Warren Bee, whose "Blues for Breakfast" 
seminar was great. It allowed people to just talk about their harp 
ambitions and how they got involved with the instrument. The talented 
and charismatic Mr. Bee also spent some time showing this struggling 
player about fifth position, which was one more step for me in the 
right direction.
     * playing in the corner of the hallway with a small group of 
bluegrass/country musicians led by Cara Cooke and Lonny Joe Howell. 
That was lots of fun and they all helped me immensely. Special thanks 
to that group.
    * My last musical shot at SPAH came LATE Saturday night when I 
picked up the acoustic bass after Allen Holmes called it a night and 
then got into a (almost) never-ending last song with Joe Filisko, who 
was playing guitar for the diehards at the blues jam. We played for 
nearly an hour on the same 12-bar progression and my fingers are still 
sore... My harp-playing at the blues jam sucked as usual...
    * Also got to visit a little with our Harp-L friend "Smokey" Joe 
Leone, who always adds more than just his wonderful musical ability to 
these events.
    * Talking about nice guys with monster harp talent, we have to 
mention PT Gazell and Jellyroll Johnson, both Nashville musicians and 
guys who can (and have) play with any number of big stars. No big egos 
with these guys, who are there in the blues jam and in the hallways and 
at the teach-in.
    * Also, 16-year-old Kaleena Hutchings was seen in the hallway 
playing Orange Blossom Special, backed by Bud Boblink and Frank Warner, 
another bright spot, seeing a teenager playing like that with a pair of 
veterans. I also later saw them playing with PT Gazell and that was 
superb.

   THis is just off the top of my head, but I certainly felt that I got 
my money's worth of fun and instruction.
Now, I need to practice. A lot.
Steve "Moandabluz" Webb
a fool for the harp in rain-soaked Minnesota
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