Jonathan Ross writes (about Chris' Buddha's Garden website):
"Why not have the discussion here? I don't want to join any other
>lists, fora or the like, so am not about to join another list to have
>a discussion which can take place here just as easily. Indeed, a
>discussion which was started here and has been going on decently for
>days."
....If I may, Jonathan...it isn't a List like this one, but a website (a
la
the new Slidemeister ll which seems to be based on just how Chris set up
his
site ages ago....or whoever developed Slidemeister used a similar
format...because I find them quite alike).....
.....where one can go to different topics, rooms...carry on different
discussions as one chooses. The language is also much free-er, in
designated
areas. I don't visit all that often but have thoroughly enjoyed
participating in
the discussions, listening to the many downloads of music provided by
participants there, read and even given my own opinion a time or
two. It's
comparing apples and oranges, actually. Might as well suggest that
chromatic players
shouldn't participate in a site specifically geared to chromatics. (Trust
me, that went over like a lead balloon when I first wondered about it ;)
Slidemeister was a fairly simple list until they added the
new Slidemeister ll,
where there are even people posting their music snippets to be critiqued.
Chris is providing a similar service. It's all in what floats your
boat :)
You also write:
"As for harmonica players who inspire me, lately it's Donald Black. I
>got two CDs of his recently and he is just a fantastic player by any
>measure. He seems very much like Chet Atkins in that while he has
>all the technique in the world (and uses whatever is needed at the
>moment), he doesn't seem to care about the technique when he plays--
>he may be doing something incredibly hard, but he does it not because
>it's hard but because it's right musically. That's not always the
>case with the most technically proficient musicians. There's a great
>video on YouTube of Atkins playing on "Hee Haw" or the like where the
>crowd goes wild after he does a fairly simple but showy sounding
>lick--he just smiles a half smile while going on to the next part of
>the song which is much harder to play. Of course, he plays that part
>perfectly. I can imagine Donald Black doing much the same when he
>plays (of course, you couldn't see the smile because of the
>harmonica)--a similar mindset where love of the song is what matters
>most."
....Absolutely agree. I wish then you'd been at SPAH in 2005, where
Donald
performed brilliantly. It was a thrill for me to have someone from my
old
Country playing my former axe of choice (double sided Echo tremolos) and
making
them sing with the sweetest Scottish music of my childhood. Did my heart
good. He was extremely gracious in a later conversation when I
introduced
myself as an Ex-Pat. and someone who was very happy to make his
acquaintance.
He's a down-to-earth Scotsman who wouldn't have been there to thrill the
SPAH
audience had it not been for Winslow......who participated in the
on-stage
Seminar along with James Conway, and other players I've simply blanked at
the
moment.....Winslow could tell more about the experience.....it
was lovely.
Donald did with ease things most of us could only imagine, just as you
surmise,
eliciting gasps and much applause from the audience. A most enjoyable
experience for me especially, as a Scot.
This is one of the things I've come to appreciate about SPAH...the
amazing
variety of talented harmonicists who abound.
Elizabeth
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