Re: [Harp-L] Blue Mitchell and John Mayall

["Haka Harri" <harri.haka@xxxxxxxx>]

I agree 100 percent on what Richard said on Mayall running a band and partly agree on his comment of Mayall's talent as a harp player. He isn't the greatest but who, after all is? Many serious harp players quote "Room To Move" as one of their influences and all time favorites. We come back to the never ending debate of what is most loved by harp freaks VS what is "greatest". For me Mayall opened ears and eyes and through his music I pretty soon discovered the real thing.

Harri 
  

> From: Richard Hunter <turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Blue Mitchell and John Mayall
> To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
> Message-ID: <464F4ECD.7070204@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
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> 
> ----- Original Message -----
>   Blue Mitchell was much more musically advanced than Mayall and it 
> became obvious fast.
> 
> Running a band is a talent, just like playing an instrument.  
> Throughout 
> his career, Mayall consistently took great musicians and melded them 
> into great bands, one after another, each with a distinct 
> character that 
> obviously flowed from the talents involved.  Very, very few 
> band leaders 
> can say the same.
> 
> I still hear John Mayall's album "A Hard Road" in my head 
> nearly every 
> day.  And that's just the one he made with Peter Green and Aynsley 
> Dunbar.  Think of all the other great records in his catalog.
> 
> Mayall isn't and wasn't the greatest harp player ever born, 
> of course. 
> Big deal.  He made a lot of great music.  If he needs a great harp 
> player sometime, we can all recommend a few to him, I'm sure.
>