Re: [Harp-L] Harmonicas and respect



Richard Hunter wrote:
I mean, the guy was the pinnacle of the blues, for Pete's sake. If you're going to slam him for that, why don't you slam T-Bone Walker and Stevie Ray Vaughn while you're at it?
I don't believe that anything I wrote in my message was a slam at Little Walter. This is what I said:

"And, alas, as much as Little Walter influenced me as a blues player, as unique as his playing was, as good as his gift was, he was handicapped as a musician. Do you think it was a badge of pride for him that he didn't know any music theory? Do you think he would recommend that young musicians avoid learning music theory because it will make them better players? Do you think he could have been an even better player if he had had some training?"

Now, if he couldn't read, then he would have had to have music interpreted for him. That's a handicap. His inability to discuss his music technically with other musicians would also be a handicap. But notwithstanding, I don't see how any of that is a "slam" at Little Walter's playing.

If you want a slam, then try this. I actually don't like every single thing that he played. There are things I have heard Howard Levy play that I didn't like. There is work by T-Bone Walker and Stevie Ray Vaughn that I don't like listening to. There is also work by Mozart, Beethoven, Bird. Coltrane and Ol' Blue Eyes that I didn't care much for. And I bet if you search your soul, you could say the same thing.

-LM

BTW, I never heard anything by Bill Evans that I didn't like.



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