Re: Subject: [Harp-L] Brendan Power

["Rick Dempster" <rick.dempster@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I see from the email from Elizabeth, appended below, that she is not
familiar with Brendan Power's playing.
I occasionally see Brendan's name on harp-l, but as he is a fellow
Antipodean (that's Southern hemisphere, most readers being in the
North)
I wonder just how many readers/lurkers/contributors do know his
playing. He seems to be mentioned most of all as a customiser.
I've been aware of Brendan since around 1979, when excellent (though
now invisible) West Australian harp man Michael Fagin (best known for
his work with WA. R'n'B outfit the 'Elks') played me some recordings of
him. He was no slouch then. It was sort of funky rock/blues if I
remember correctly.
In the mid-nineties a friend gave me a cassette of his album "New Irish
harmonica". I was immediately impressed and ordered a copy of the CD.
It was not just great harmonica playing; nor was it just great
renditions of Irish tunes; it was a thoroughly entertaining record with
enough variety and interest to  become a favourite in my household,
played over and over by my wife and sons (who generally don't play
'harmonica' recordings - wonder why?)
It is not easy to make a whole CD of solo harmonica that stands on its
own legs. I must confess, I haven't kept up with Brendan's recent
recordings, and I should probably make up for that soon.
I'm sure there is a lot of great stuff out there that I haven't heard,
but 'New Irish Harmonica' was a milestone for the harmonica, as far as
I'm concerned.
It is recorded largely on Brendan's custom tuned chromatics, with, I
think, the diatonic (Suzuki Promaster?) on some trax.
You can sample it on Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/New-Irish-Harmonica-Brendan-Power/dp/B000005CTU

Regards,
RD
>>> <EGS1217@xxxxxxx> 15/06/2007 5:02:56 >>>
Walter responds to Brendan:
 
"Brendan,

Thank you for the links, unfortunately only the second or  middle link

worked, the other two gave me a 404 file not found error  message."
 
...Walter..occasionally if you scan the parentheses just past the link 

you'll get the error message...you might try typing it in instead, see
if it  
works?....

"My first question is, what instrument was that piece played  on? I'm
betting 
a valved diatonic, but I know I may be wrong.

You  have changed my mind about the potential of playing a chromatic 
instrument  as the tone on the piece I heard has balls, I hope you 
don't 
mind the  language."
 
...well, whether or not Brendan minded, you are putting that language
out  
there for the entire international list to read.  I personally have 
managed to 
overlook the "boys will be boys" language always accepted  on this 
list...actually find your use of "balls"  much milder than  some that
has passed muster 
fairly recently, so feel free to express yourself,  even though there
are some 
ladies present ;)   
 
What I'm especially glad about is your realizing that half-valved
diatonics  
aren't all "wimpy" sounding as you'd previously stated.  I had intended
to  
respond to suggest you might want to give a listen to PT Gazell (I'm
not all  
that familiar with Brendan's playing)...but am quite familiar  with
PT's music.  
He's an amazingly good Jazz oriented player who has  garnered a very
wide and 
enthusiastic audience over the last few conventions  I've
attended....SPAH 
and Buckeye.  And there's nothing "wimpy" about his  playing. I'm now
very 
interested in hearing more from  Brendan, too.
 
Elizabeth
 

"One thing this list has taught me is that there are a lot of great 
modern 
players that I have never heard and know nothing about.

You  piece has taught me that a great player like yourself controls the
tone 
of  his instrument, the instrument doesn't dictate the tone to them.

Again,  thank you for the links, I'd love to hear the other two if
possible.

Any  suggestions on my stumbling blocks?

More specifically, how do I get tone  like that on a chromatic
instrument, 
and how would you suggest I go about  studying music theory, especially
as it 
applies to harmonica  playing?

I want to add to that that one list member has already offered  me
great 
advice on how to proceed from an earlier post of mine and I am not  
discounting that, I'm just looking for your perspective if you would be
kind  
enough to share  it.

Regards,

WTJ"





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