[Harp-L] Tollak Ollestad on PBS concert special

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

Was helping my wife correct papers in front of the TV last night and on
comes an Andrea Bocelli concert taped outdoors at Lake Las Vegas (such
a place exists?). Bocelli is the blind Italian quasi-operatic tenor who
became something of a pop sensation a few years back. Anyway, he's
holding forth on various tuneful songs with piano, acoustic guitar,
percussion, and a full string section when all of a sudden there's a
chromatic harmonica player taking a solo. Sorta Toots-ish, sorta
Stevie-ish. The tune ends and Bocelli introduces Tollak Ollestad. 

You may remember Tollak Ollestad as the harmonica player on the theme
of the TV show Northern Exposure. I met him a few years back when he
was touring with singer Michael MacDonald, who was double billed with
Kenny Loggins, back when Howard Levy was touring with Kenny.

Evidently the music director heard something Tollak had done and he and
Bocelli liked it so much they flew him out for this minute-long cameo
even though he hadn't been on the CD that the concert was supporting.
(Not to take anything away from Bocelli or from Tollak, but when did
PBS's "Great Performances" stop being what the title implies and start
becoming a promotional opportunity for whoever has a new product to
flog?) 

The concert (and DVD) is called "Under the Desert Sky." Tollak isn't
the only cameo, just the one of greatest interest to harmonica players.

Winslow

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
http://mail.yahoo.com