[Harp-L] Jason, New Blood, Peloquin...Mui del Funco!

[Blueharp1@xxxxxxx]

Hey all,
 Drove up the canyon to the Little Bear Saloon in Evergreen, CO., last  night 
to hear Ricci & Co.
I was hugely pleased and surprised to see Michael Peloquin joining the  boys. 
The Little Bear is a 160-year old saloon about 45 minutes into the  mountains 
west of Denver. All wood/heavy timbers, heavy plank stairway to the  2nd 
level, so old there's a smooth groove that actually guides your feet on  the way 
down the stairs. The place is like a 75-year old Martin guitar  that's soaked 
up and resonated with so much music over the years, it  almost has its own 
voice by now. And probably the best sound system  and sound guy in the region. 
Perfect setting to hear a really  exceptional harp player and band.
 Michael's in town as a teacher for the Rockers in the Rockies  get-together 
this weekend, and adds an extra measure of harp/sax funk and  sass to a band 
that already pumps it out in huge measure.
Jason, Shawn and Michael standing together, trading funky fours...what a  
treat.
Small turnout, on account of it being a Wednesday night mountain gig, but a  
loyal contingent of harpers and hangers-on showed and stayed all night, making 
 for an intimate and enthusiastic night of reveling in the New Blood's 
amazing,  amazing show.
 I always say it, (because its always true), this band is consistently  twice 
as good as the last time, every time. Highlights were the title  cut of the 
new CD, Sun Ra gem "Rocket Number Nine," and of course Jason's  new 
close-cropped bleached blonde "do", a sort of Billy Idol/Eminem LoveChild  look. Almost 
didn't recognize him at first, but for the consistent creative  energy the guy 
exudes.
I don't believe there's any musician anywhere that can touch or maintain  the 
musicianship of any one of these guys on their respective  instruments. For a 
"crowd" of maybe 25 or 30 listeners, they kicked it  up and kept it there all 
night long, as always, with the professionalism,  artistry and consistency 
they've become known for. "Dodecahedron" with Michael  blowing on it, has a new 
life. "Lovin' Eyes", just a beautiful thing.
When I hear Jason (and again, same with Shawn, Ron and Todd) play these  
days, I'm not hearing a guy playing a harp, the distance and separation between  
one and the other just isn't there.
 
Last spring's Rockers in the Rockies was a giant leap toward that  
sensibility for me. No affiliation other than great admiration and gratefulness  to 
Jason and all the Rockers teachers and participants. Blatant promotion here:  If 
you can get to a Rockers seminar, just Do It. Beyond the scales,  modes and 
positions, way past the theory and gear, is that "place" you  find when you keep 
on going.  And that's the aim of this generous offering  to the harp 
community. I'm still working every day on the stuff I learned at the  Spring Rockers 
get-together, there was/is just so much to chew on. But my goal  is always to be 
able to momentarily forget, (or at least have the  confidence, courage and 
faith in the fruits of my labors to  let go of), all that "thinking"; to play 
not only the instrument, but  the music through the instrument. The way I heard 
it done again  last night. What a treat.
 
Jeff Gathercole
Denver CO.



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