[Harp-L] The Chromatic Sounds like a Machine

[Robert Bonfiglio <bon@xxxxxxxxxx>]

I have listen to and judged a few thousand harmonica players, and the  
harmonica never sounds like a machine to me.  It is the most  
expressive of instruments, even played poorly.

Stevie is a wonderful player, but he is not the only one that can  
play with that sound any more than there is only one funky, bluesy,   
jazz saxophone player in the world.  He is the one who did the work.   
So often I hear diatonic players come down on chromatic, with Stevie  
being the exception, but they don't play the instrument.  If you are  
a virtuoso on chromatic and you still think it sounds like a machine,  
then that's something different!!

Remember too that the throat vibrato and wah-wah sounds, that  
everyone feels equals good tone and emotion, may not be the desired  
sound in jazz or classical music.  Confusing musical styles with good  
harmonica playing may be a mistake. One does not hear wah-wah's in  
Bach, or for that matter many good pizzicato blues solos.  This does  
not mean the music is not good or emotional or first rate.

In all my classical reviews I have never had a reviewer say the  
chromatic sounds like a machine.  BUT my machine is a synth that  
plays in tune, has a very regular vibrato, can quantize, never makes  
a mistake or misses a rhythm.  It can also play REAL FAST!!  Hey,  
maybe I should play as good as the machine?

For my chromatic emotion - http://cdbaby.com/cd/bonfiglio2  -then  
play number 9, Thais Meditation

Harmonically yours,

Robert Bonfiglio
http://www.robertbonfiglio.com