Re: [Harp-L] In Praise Of Stevie

[Roger A Gonzales <gonz1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I don't remember the show but I remember see Stevie play Alfie accompanied by the man who 
wrote it.  Burt 
Bacharach and Stevie were both guests on this particular variety show, perhaps it might have 
been a Bacharach 
special, I don't exactly remember.  I do remember the look on Bacharach's face while 
watching Stevie play his 
remarkable rendition of Alfie.  

Bacharach looked at Stevie with amazement almost with tears in his eyes.  After the song was 
over, the camera 
slowly pulled away from the close-up and the screen went to black with Bacharach hugging 
Stevie to 
thunderous applause.  From that day on I never forgot the song.  This was LONG before I 
became a harmonica 
player but loved the sound it makes...still do.  I was used to hearing Stevie play what he 
played, his own songs.  
But when he played this, who else could do THAT?  uh no one.

regards 
Roger Gonzales  

----- Original Message -----
From: chris smith <harpshredder@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 10:05 pm
Subject: [Harp-L] In Praise Of Stevie
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx

>    I just happened to look over an old thread and
> felt compelled to share what a very well-established
> composer told me when I asked him if he'd ever heard
> Stevie (Wonder)'s version of "Alfie". He said,  "I saw
> him do it at the Hollywood Bowl and it was like
> watching Jascha Heifetz." That pretty much took my
> breath away. I totally got the immensity of that
> compliment : a consummate virtuoso who plays
> effortlessly with tremendous feeling sprinkling
> surprises in with great power. 
>    We may never get there but it's a beautiful light
> at the end of that tunnel.
>                                                      
>                      Chris "Hammer" Smith
>    
> 
> Chris "Hammer" Smith
> Hammer Smith Band
> Official Myspace Page http://myspace.com/chrishammersmith
> harpshredder@xxxxxxxxx
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