Re: [Harp-L] Warren Bee Checkin' In....

moandabluz@xxxxxxx · Sun, 11 Feb 2007 03:11:03 -0500

One could do much worse than pattern himself after Warren Bee.... Those 
of us who have heard the big guy play know his ability. He can make you 
feel what he is playing way better than some of those "other big guys" 
he has named. Quit lurking so much, Warren..  Go play your *ss off....

Steve "Moandabluz" Webb

frozen fool for the harp in Minnesota
-----Original Message-----
From: theharpman@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Cc: EGS1217@xxxxxxx
Sent: Sat, 10 Feb 2007 1:49 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] Warren Bee Checkin' In....
   I have been a serious lurker as of late. I do read my "digests" 
religiously.

Recently there have been some great threads and some laughable ones. It 
is

just an amazing thing when personal thought and opinions collide with 
the

World Wide Web! As the popular saying goes, "it's all good". Just always

keep the finger on the delete button and take it all with massive 
grains of

salt. We are all on individual journeys and one persons meat and 
potatoes

might just not be what some one else is hungry for at any given time.

Harp content wise I have a few things/thoughts to share. First off 
tonight

(Saturday, Feb 10th) I have a gig here on Long Island, NY. I mentioned 
it a

while back but want to spread the word in case anybody in my neck of the

world has an interest. The gig is at Grizzly's Sports Den @ 888 Sunrise 
Hwy

in Bay Shore, NY. It is on the southside service road just past Manor 
Lane

(exit 42 on Sunrise Hwy,) we are on from 10:30-2:30PM. Mike Mercury and

Inner City Soul is a trio that now with me is a quartet. The line-up is

Bass, Drums, Keyboards and my Harp. I have sat in with these guys a few

times and I know the drummer fairly well but overall this is a real 
wing-it

situation for me. The set list (of which I have no clue) will be a mix 
of

Blues, Soul & Rock n' Roll. Playing without rhythm or lead guitar is

different. Lot's of room to spread my improve wings, which is basically 
what

Warren Bee does best. Recent threads about pattern players, scales, 
copying

licks, practice regimen etc. always make me both a little insecure and

secure at the same time. I have trouble identifying with all of that. I 
just

play! I have never learned a song note for note. I still don't have the

patience to"do scales". I have never learned positions as much as I have

discovered them by trial & error along with necessity. Any "patterns" I 
use

just evolved from playing for over 25 years.  When I play tonight it 
will be

without any rehearsals at all. The last time I sat in with this crew was

back last summer. My number one weapon tonight will be my ears. I will

listen and then I react by breathing emotion through my harps. That has

always been my formula. I know where I am in the pecking order of real 
harp

players. I am nothing compared to the Ricci's,  Michalic's, Peloquin's,

Paparozzi's etc but I have my own style and delivery. Which is what I 
want

all of you guys and gals to think about no matter where you are in your 
harp

journey?  Don't always go after sounding just like someone else. Be all 
that

you can be. In my case all that Warren Bee can be!

The "grip" thread was a great one. Michelle had mentioned my name and I 
was

flattered. I indeed use the "scoop the water" grip. It has always been 
my

choice because I use the same basic grip with or without a mic in my 
hands.

The seal between the hands and your face is critical for maximum tone. 
For

all still working on the grip I suggest thinking about what the end 
result

you want is and experiment. Many grip their axe in their own special 
way.

Minor variations for some and major for others. The goals are good seal,

maximum cavity space and the ability to use your hands to shape tones. 
Most

importantly is have fun. My favorite golfer has a great expression he 
uses

regularly. John Daly says "grip it and rip it" Right on brother John!

The amp threads are always fun. Tonight I will leave my Sonny Jr 4-10 
home

and use my Crate Palomino 16. The room just isn't that big to merit 
dragging

the "beast" Since I will be doing a lot of background and fill work to

makeup for no guitars I will also mic that baby through the PA. Mostly 
just

for balance. That Palomino is a fine off the shelf all tube amp. I would

prefer10" speaker but the 12" works. The only mod I did myself to the 
amp

was replace the first preamp tube 12ax7 with a 12au7. It just gives me 
more

room before feedback. I will be playing through a custom bullet mic 
(Dennis

Oellig/ Mr. Microphone) into the Palomino and I will have an SM57 set up

straight through the PA as well. My guess is I will use the PA mic as 
much

as the amp. Clean through the PA is a great way to do background fills 
and

control volume on non blues tunes. Especially the ballads (if we do 
any!)

I will end with a comment on the "wonder repeater thread", John Popper.

Respect everyone period. I respect what that dude has done with the 
special

20 harmonica and his ambition. I own a few of his albums. I rarely play 
them

any more. But on a day that I wake up wanting to be inspired and fired 
up

about working on me, myself and I on the harp. I will crank up some 
Popper

along with, some Butter, some Cotton, a few Walters, some Sonny's and

various others. Then I will turn off the stereo and listen to me. I love

mys3elf as an audience :-)

Peace, Love & Blow till the Cows come Home!

Warren Bee

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