Re: [Harp-L] Playing harmonica in a rack?

["Vern Smith" <jevern@xxxxxxx>]

If you refer to a rack player performing with a band, then I can see your 
point that without hand-cupping, the tone and color can suffer a little. In 
this situation, the guitar's contribution is relatively unimportant.

However, in a solo situation, things are entirely different.  The thing that 
makes me "SHUDDER" is more than one piece in a set on unaccompanied 
harmonica.  There, the contribution of the rhythm, chords, and harmony of 
the guitar is infinitely more important than absence of hand cupping.   A 
good "triple-threat" solo performer (guitar, harmonica, and vocals) can keep 
an audience interested for a whole set.

Of course, harmonica soloists can used recorded accompaniment, 
karaoke-style.  However, to me, the all-live performance has unique charm.

Triple-threat artist Enrico Granafei has dynamite chops on both classical 
guitar and chromatic harmonica plus a very pleasant singing voice.  He stood 
up there all by himself and made a big hit at the Garden State Harmonica 
Festival. The audience applauded after his harp, solo guitar, and vocal 
segments as they would separate performers in a jazz ensemble.

I can hardly imagine that you would "shudder" at hearing a Jimi Lee 
performance or Paul Oscher playing blues.

I think that you must have formed your opinion listening to the likes of Bob 
Dylan who honks around on a diatonic to lend some variety to a song.  Even 
that doesn't sound too bad to me.

I have spent many years developing equipment and practicing my chops for 
playing chromatic harmonica on a rack.  There are some harmonica players 
with impaired use of their hands who enjoy playing on a rack.  Neither mode 
of rack playing makes me "snicker."  Where you see a "contraption", I see a 
triumph of engineering development!   ;o)

Vern
Visit my harmonica website www.Hands-Free-Chromatic.7p.com


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rebecca Davis Winters" <wordworkshop@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2007 12:10 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] Playing harmonica in a rack?


> Playing the harmonica - in a *rack??* SHUDDER. Wasn't the rack originally 
> a
> medival torture device? Sometimes people sound torturous when they play
> harmonica in a rack. And dividing one's attention between the harp and a
> guitar? Talk about some harmonica infidelity!
>
> Have there ever been any serious harmonica players who utilized a rack? 
> How
> could one ever achieve a decent tone using a rack?
>
> My feeling is, you have players like Bob Dylan, Taj Mahal, and Neil Young,
> who use the harp as something of a flavoring, and are kind of known for 
> it,
> but (in my feeling) do not really dedicate themselves to the instrument.
> There's also Jimmy Reed, who for me comes the closest to actually being a
> harmonica player of note who used a rack. But his playing was not, in my
> opinion, particularly virtuosic. His songs are great and that's really 
> what
> it's all about. His singing and harp playing were, well, distinctive. But
> technically outstanding? I don't think so.
>
> But then, I could be wrong. I'd love to hear it, if it exists - rack
> harmonica playing that is more than just functional or mildly decorative.
>
> What are your feelings on racks? Are they handy for 
> multi-instrumentalists?
> Or do you find yourself snickering at the very thought of such a
> contraption?
>
> --
> Rebecca Davis Winters
> http://myspace.com/blindowlwilson
> http://blindowl.informe.com
> _______________________________________________
> Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
> Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
> http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l