Re: [Harp-L] Re: Harp-L Digest, Vol 59, Issue 8

[Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx>]

On Jul 5, 2008, at 10:06 AM, Richard Hunter wrote:

> Joe Leone wrote:
> <Actually, I am better as a guest or last minute add in. Before I play
> <a REAL slot, I get sick. I actually get sick. It happened spah 02. I
> <told Paul Davies I couldn't go on. Tall Paul (MR. diplomacy that he
> <is) talked me out of it, and I finally did go on.
>
> Red Skelton had a weekly live variety show on TV for something like  
> 10 years, and before every single taping, he threw up.  Then he'd  
> go out and do an hour of brilliant comedy.  I doubt the audience  
> ever knew that performing was so nerve-wracking for him.

I don't have as much a problem at Buckeye. Mainly because Buckeye is  
almost family. Not that the people at spah aren't wonderful too. It's  
just that there are so damn many BIG GUNS.  I may (or may not) have a  
different vision of harmonica than some. I have tried other  
instruments. IN fact, I had an album out done on sop/alt/ten sax,  
clar & flut. But harmonica is SO vocal, so emotive, so gut wrenching,  
so melancholy, so sorrowful, that I don't think there's any other  
instrument like it.

Then I put myself in a situation where I literally turn myself inside  
out and reveal my soul. The harmonica breathes FOR me. My very life  
is flowing through the harmonica. The danger here is that I may  
reveal my heart only to have it crushed by the cart wheels of  
life..much as in the story 'The Robin and the Rose'. My great is fear  
getting up there and dumping. Mainly because I have so much respect  
for the instrument and those who play it.
> If you're not nervous before you perform, you're not paying  
> attention. Not paying attention is more dangerous to the quality of  
> the performance than a case of nerves.

I have to second that emotion. Not wishing to scare any newer player,  
remember that these are only my opinions and should be taken with the  
proverbial grain of salt.

smokey-joe & the Cafe s
> Regards, Richard Hunter
> hunterharp.com
> harmonica blog at http://myspace.com/richardhunterharp
> Latest mp3s always at http://broadjam.com/rhunter
>
>
>
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