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

[Roger A Gonzales <gonz1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> 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?

There is usually and initial attraction to the blues because most of the diatonic players heard 
their first harmonica played in the blues, usually by hearing the four biggies of the post WWII 
era; Little Walter, Big Walter, James Cotton and Sonny Boy II.  You gotta have a love for the 
music to play it, regardless of the genre, blues and country is where the diatonic harmonica's 
fame pretty much came from.  There is nothing that says that you gotta stay there and play 
blues for the rest of your life, God knows we have enough Little Walter sound alikes.  
 

>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.

All the genres you mention came from the blues anyway so its a natural outgrowth of a 
player that is evolving and maturing musically to want to pursue the aforementioned genres.  
I would think a player who is adventurous to play other styles also might venture to play a 
chromatic harmonica as well as a diatonic.  There is nothing wrong in playing both.  

Some players might find that they like how jazz, or funk, pop or fusion might sound on the 
chromatic.  Maybe even using both in a single song.  It offers more colors.  

Nonetheless the blues is a fun music to play, its what got me started and the best I can figure 
out is that I had a passion for the harmonica when it played the blues.  Every time   I would 
hear early cuts of  Butterfield, of Whammer Jammer or Canned Heat's "On the Road Again" 
that harp would cut me to my soul... and its still like that today.

regards,
Roger Gonzales
Fresno, CA.