Subject: [Harp-L] SMOKIN' Joe Leone at Buckeye

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

Wow...those are major Kudos, Bob.  I've been telling Smokey the same  
thing...but you've missed a few....there are probably 6 videos by now...I've  lost 
count :)
 
I hear some studio time calling.... he thinks I'm exaggerating.
 
Speaking of "the Band".  They're made up of CarolBeth True, who's  been a 
stalwart of Buckeye and SPAH (I believe) for a long time...but the rest  of the 
group are not her regular band.  They were made up of a couple  of professors 
from the local University...I don't have any further  details.  Check with 
Smokey as to their identities. ..or maybe  Sandy  German might have more 
info?....I did recognize the guitarist and bass  player..who've played with CarolBeth a 
couple of  times  before.  
 
Another fact about this particular "gig"...SmoJoe had absolutely  NO chance 
of rehearsal prior to going onstage. Time (as it tends to do  at the 
Conventions) got away, other people needed her for the  all-too-limited rehearsal time, 
so all he got was a moment to hand her  his music sheets and a "see you 
onstage". 90% of it was "winging" it.   The smiles on the faces of the band members 
at the end of One Note Samba  tells it all (to my mind).  They know the 
quality of musician they're  accompanying...
 
Keeping all of THAT in mind...and that the videos were shot from the back  of 
the room by a friend of SmoJoe's who loves his playing...I think they're  
pretty damn good.  Just imagine what he'd sound like in a real studio, with  real 
rehearsal time?
 
Major thanks to Danny Gajovski ....who attends Buckeye, set up his camera  to 
capture Smokey  and other of his friends playing ..but  himself is a major 
proponent of Band in a Box...so would rather be playing  chromatic and 
performing than spending all of his time shooting other  people.  There are some videos 
of his own songs available to watch on  Slidemeister.  That he took the time 
to get all of  Smokey's performance on videotape says a lot for his admiration 
for SmoJoe,  their friendship (and Danny's good taste :)  He very generously 
forwarded  the videos to us for posting on YouTube.  He's just the nicest guy.
 
Elizabeth
 
"Message: 9
Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2007 09:11:52 -0400
From: Robert Coble  <robertpcoble@xxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] SMOKIN' Joe Leone at  Buckeye
To: <Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID:  <C2FAE8D8.1552D%robertpcoble@xxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain;   charset="US-ASCII"

WOW! That's two GREAT performances by Smokey  Joe at Buckeye!
World-class playing, backed by a world-class band! I  already
had a very high opinion of Smokey Joe's playing from the
Virginia  HarmonicaFest. It just went up a few gazillion notches.
I just love his style  and feeling on every song, as he
really "gives it up". Lordy, why don't  somebody capture this
great artist in a studio for a beautiful CD?!?!? I  could listen
to him play forever.

Thanks to whoever captured these  songs on video!
Crazy ('bout harp!) Bob"
--  





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