Re: [Harp-L] Discussion topic: Why do you want to play blues?

["Patrick Lines" <plines@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

For me it's definitely a passion for the genre and I definitely would want 
to have an original voice. It reminds me of the dude who came up to me at a 
gig and asked about my gear and pontificated on the fact that since I didn't 
have a bassman with 4-10's and I wasn't using reverb or delay how was I 
going to sound like Little Walter.
I don't think you choose the blues, the blues chooses you. Here's some 
things I wrote down and carry in my harp case: " Some may say I can't play, 
but no one can say that I didn't play." Adam Gussow said in an article in, I 
believe Blues Revue," One can play from other places, certainly-the head, 
the gut, the balls- but the discipline of blues harmonica does seem to 
demand, at a certain point, that you figure out a way of unburdening your 
broken, raging heart with the help of notes."  Albert Collins Blues 
Philosophy 101A: " You play to try to get other people to feel what you 
feel. And if they can't feel you, ain't no sense in playing, man."
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Buddha" <groovygypsy@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, August 20, 2008 12:17 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] Discussion topic: Why do you want to play blues?


> This is mainly for diatonic players and of course the question doesn't
> apply to all.
>
> Why do you choose to play blues on the harmonica? Because you love
> blues or because you love the harmonica and it seems to be heavily
> intertwined with blues?
>
> I ask this because all of my students come to me wanting to learn
> blues but instead I end up just teaching the harmonica in a way where
> the student leaves with the ability to play whatever they want. So
> far, none of my students are as steeped in blues as they were in the
> beginning. Most venture off into jazz, rock, funk, fusion, pop or
> country.
>
> So is playing blues an ability issue, "copycat" issue or one of
> passion for the genre? Is there a reason players don't seem to seek an
> original voice on their instrument? A good example of original voice
> is, George Brooks, watch the SPAH jam vids, he sticks out every time
> it's his turn to play, even when he plays 2nd position.  Jason Ricci
> is another person with an original sound as are Little Walter, Lee
> Oskar and Howard Levy etc...
> _______________________________________________
> Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
> Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
> http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l