[Harp-L] Sharing playing skills, turn-arounds and old blues guys (was Jason Ricci sharing)

[B Boggs <ceudoazul@xxxxxxxxx>]

On the Big Island in the 80'. my friend encouraged me to ask the Bobby Ingram Blues Band if I could stand-in. They were at the Kona Convention Center, tickets, FOH (front of house) sound man,etc.
  I didn't want to be disappointed in the evening if I got rejected, but I asked Bobby at the edge of the stage before they stared. I said ," I am a harmonica player..." and he turned his back in mid-sentence and walked away. I knew I shouldn't have asked.
  They played a hot first set and I walked to the stage all happy and said to Bobby Ingram, "You guys are really playin some hot blues!" and he said, 'What keys do you have? You can use that mic and we will call you up after the second song.
  I pleyed well and got called back up to play later on another song with the best sound and was very thrilled.
  BB
   
   
   
  From: Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] My comment on Jason Ricci-One more thing
To: Michael Peloquin <peloquinharp@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx

On Dec 3, 2007, at 8:35 PM, Michael Peloquin wrote:

>
> Another thing is that the old blues guys played very close to the  
> vest with their knowledge, tips & tricks.

I'm glad you mentioned this Michael. I left home and went on my own  
when I was 3 months shy of my 18th birthday. While hoboing through  
the south doing odd jobs, I found myself working as a tack welder at  
the Dravo Corp. ship repair yard in Baton Rouge, La. Hitting all the  
(mostly black) 'juke joints' within a couple hours of my hovel for  
the next 10 months, I got to see & hear many of the greats of the  
time. And it was a wonderful time. But I was poor.

While attempting to talk to Rice Miller, I got snapped at. Now at the  
time there were racial problems between the black students of  
Southern U. (north side of Baton) and the white students of LSU  
(south side of Baton). At the time I was an older 'than' looking 18  
year old with a DA, moustache and goatee. I don't feel like I looked  
like a college kid, but I understand.

Several months later, I was in boot camp at Great Lakes, and upon  
trying to meet Little Walter, I got a dirty look, and a 'what the  
**** do YOU want'. With the exception of Jimmy Cotton, most of those  
old heros (that 'I' met...or more correctly TRIED to meet) weren't  
very friendly...NOR pleasant. This made me sad, so maybe I have a bit  
of resentment and it has jaded my recollections somewhat.

> Just ask Madcat about his "lesson" with Big Walter (one of my early  
> heroes and influences.)
> Jason Ricci will tell you EVERYTHING he knows about the harmonica  
> and is actively involved in education and advancement of our humble 
> (ing) instrument. (Not that it would help one to play like him!)  
> Jason Ricci IS the harmonica in so many ways

Jason, on the other hand, saw right away that I was a pleasant,  
humble, mannerly, harmless, old man and treated me with kindness  
right off the bat. So, if I happen to appreciate him, then I'm guilty.

smokey-joe


       
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