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

["hazcon" <hazcon@xxxxxxxxxx>]

> 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?

        Well in my case it would be that the only music i like is 
Blues,well apart from some Classical/opera(in small doses).Jazz will send me 
screaming from the room and harmonica playing Pop standards is not the icing 
on an insipid cake for me.
        As far as choice of instrument to play the blues on well i guess it 
was a mixture of awe at the sounds i was hearing from the ODBGs on the Harp 
that didn't bear any resemblance to Dylan or Adler etc,the fact that all my 
mates were playing guitar and lastly some innate ability that wasn't so 
apparent on other instruments.  Portability was a factor too,nothing to lug 
around in those pre amp days.

> 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.
               Thats great for them and seems to be a trend in modern Harp 
playing.Adam Gussow has just stated on his latest U tube that he is 'over' 
old style blues Harp and enthuses over the playing of the modern Harp 
Meisters such as Jason.I can appreciate the skill and talent involved but 
would still rather listen to classic blues Harp such as Charlie and Kim play 
so well.
             I have been playing for a long time but am still(imo) a very 
average player and have no real ambition to explore any other facet of 
harmonica other than straight blues harp.but thats just me and i realise 
that if we want good Harp music to still be around for a while we need 
people who are willing to expand the(diatonic) instruments horizons to 
encompass music it was never intended to play.
           To sum up I guess i play the blues because i love the music,it 
is somewhat technically easier to play(well as oppposed to learning o/bs 12 
keys on one harp etc) and i guess i'd always be happier as the 12th violin 
in an orchestra rather than the lead in an avant garde ensemble.
           I dunno maybe it's just because i'm bone idle ,musically 
challenged and just plain unadventurous.No wonder i've got the Blues ;-)
Rick
in NZ

> 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...
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Richard Marsh
Test Certifier No: 00050