Re: [Harp-L] Re: Bluegrass Harp ~ Jam etiquette

harmoniman@xxxxxxxxxxx · Sat, 06 Dec 2008 18:01:49 +0000

My friend Ed wrote the book on jam etiquette, here it is.
http://home.comcast.net/~epollak/jam_etiquette.htm
-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: PETER OCHALSKI <pochalski@xxxxxxxxxx> 

> 
> 
> --- On Sat, 12/6/08, PETER OCHALSKI wrote: 
> 
> From: PETER OCHALSKI 
> Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Bluegrass Harp and the Dixie Flyers 
> To: "David & Jackie Naiditch" 
> Received: Saturday, December 6, 2008, 5:30 PM 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Thanks David, 
> 
> I did read a series of post on Bluegrass jam etiquette and some fascinating 
> accounts by harp-l members and their challenges in various Bluegrass 
> subcultures. The jam etiquette points were all gold, and if they were yours, 
> David, thanks for that resource. 
> 
> I think basic jam etiquette is similar in all styles of music and I have been 
> particularly dismayed by harp players (particulalry blues harp players) over the 
> years in different jam settings, though I have found that lead guitarist jerks 
> have the advantage in numbers. 
> 
> At the moment, I could probably make a reasonable accountintg of myself at a 
> blues jam, just playing on auto-pilot, although I think I can aim a little 
> higher than that... As a former "jam slut', I have played in many different 
> muscial contexts and I have picked up a few things. Blues licks can work in 
> many contexts, but not all. Even on recordings I often hear technically 
> masterful professional players wedge blues licks into musical contexts that to 
> my ear, don't quite work, so it's not just novices. Frequently this occurs on 
> resolving or just-before changes portions of long and otherwise musical phrases 
> in jazzy or pop contexts. Soca jams taught me that you can't think like a blues 
> harpist, if you're not playing blues. 
> 
> Most of the players I'm thinking of have reached a higher level of technical 
> proficiency than I probably ever will. My harp pride lies in only one area: I 
> may not add to the sound of a given jam due to limitations of technique, but I 
> won't actively detract from it by playing notes, when rests are what I should be 
> playing. 
> 
> Anyway, that's why I set my likely Blugrass debut for 2010. I have a lot of work 
> to do before then. 
> 
> David, I also noticed what you mentioned in your observations about the more 
> eclectic --rather than straight bluegrass-- which is why i'm looking for the 
> Dixie Flyers records. I'm no ecpert, but they sound like bluegrass (rather than 
> OT) to me. I'm hoping also, that because bothe Mike Stevens and the Flyers are 
> form Ontario, where I live, thet local bluegrass communities might be more 
> accepting of harmonica players. We will see. Anyway, Iceman and others, rest 
> assured that I'm making a note of each recommnedation and will check it out. 
> Thanks all. 
> 
> Andrew 
> 
> --- On Sat, 12/6/08, David & Jackie Naiditch wrote: 
> 
> From: David & Jackie Naiditch 
> Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Bluegrass Harp and the Dixie Flyers 
> To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx 
> Cc: pochalski@xxxxxxxxxx, "James Sterett" 
> Received: Saturday, December 6, 2008, 7:32 AM 
> 
> Peter, 
> 
> Mike Stevens has many fine CDs such as "The World is Only Air." Go 
> to his website: 
> http://www.mikestevensmusic.com/ 
> 
> Jim, 
> 
> Mark Graham and Grant Dermody mostly play old-timey music rather than 
> bluegrass. 
> 
> I'd also check out Bob Littell who plays with the Mossy Creek Band 
> and with musicians such as Tommy Emmanuel: 
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=758j0IWuhY0 
> 
> 
> I've played chromatic harmonica at numerous bluegrass jams and at 
> festivals such as Summergrass, Wintergrass, SuperGrass, Blythe 
> Bluegrass Festival, Huck Finn Jubilee, Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest, 
> Grass Valley Festival, and the Strawberry Music Festival. I also 
> host a monthly bluegrass jam at the Coffee Gallery in Altadena, 
> California. I encounter few other harmonica players at these events, 
> and never a chromatic player. 
> 
> I must admit that bluegrass musicians often cringe when they see a 
> harmonica player saunter over to their jam. If the musicians don't 
> know me, I have to "prove myself" before I'm made to feel 
> welcome. 
> Unfortunately, the few harmonica players who show up at bluegrass 
> jams often haven't taken the time to learn the genre and don't 
> understand bluegrass jamming etiquette. They often don't know the 
> melodies, play too loud when others are taking their breaks, or take 
> breaks that are too bluesy. I¢ve tried to avoid these problems by 
> learning the leads to many bluegrass tunes and by playing softly, if 
> at all, when it isn¢t my turn to play. 
> 
> As I mentioned in a recent posting, you can hear me play with some 
> great bluegrass musicians on my new CD, the "High Desert Bluegrass 
> Sessions." Samples of each of the 13 tunes can be heard on CD Baby: 
> http://cdbaby.com/cd/naiditch2 
> 6 tunes can be heard in their entirety at: 
> http://www.myspace.com/highdesertbluegrasssessions 
> 
> David Naiditch 
> www.davidnaiditch.com 
> 
> On Dec 5, 2008, at 8:47 AM, James Sterett wrote: 
> 
> > Andrew, 
> > 
> > Among others, I would recommend Mark Graham... he's a monster. 
> > Southern Old time Harmonica is a great record, and if you e-mail 
> > Mark, I recommend asking him if he's got any copies of the record 
> > he made with Tom Sauber on banjo, 'Thought I Heard It Blow.' 
> > 
> > http://www.mongrelfolk.com/soundfra.html 
> > http://cdbaby.com/cd/markgraham2 
> > 
> > Grant Dermody is another fine player in this vein and I would 
> > highly recommend The Improbabillies record. 
> > 
> > http://cdbaby.com/cd/improbabillies 
> > 
> > There are more (far more than I can think of to list:) 
> > PT Gazell (country/fiddle) 
> > Tony Eyers (fiddle) 
> > Brendan Power (Irish/fiddle/etc.) 
> > Charlie McCoy (country/fiddle) 
> > 
> > Jim. 
> > www.mcmule.com 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> >>>> PETER OCHALSKI 12/5/2008 11:20 AM 
> >>> 
> > After a long hiatus learning piano, I'm looking to re-dedicate 
> > myself to the harmonica and in particular, I'd like to explore some 
> > bluegrass harp. 
> > 
> > I had a cassette made for me by a friend that had some music by a 
> > great Canadian band called the Dixie Flyers that had some tasty 
> > diatonic work on it. It's been years since I have listened to it or 
> > even owned a cassette deck and I can't find the tape and don't 
> > recall the name of the record. The current line-up doesn't include 
> > a harp player and there was no harmonica on the samples from their 
> > recent albums. Can anyone recommend one of their earlier albums 
> > that is more harmonica-intensive? 
> > 
> > I've been told I should check out Mike Stevens as well. Any record 
> > suggestions for him? 
> > 
> > Thanks. 
> > 
> > Andrew "I've got blisters on my lips" 
> > 
> > _______________________________________________ 
> >