Re: [Harp-L] Re: Harmonicas and respect

[IcemanLE@xxxxxxx]

It has been suggested that Little Walter listened to a lot of jazz -  
especially sax - Louis Jordan in particular. 
 
A number of years ago, I heard Little Walter quote part of a Louis Jordan  
sax solo in one of his recorded harmonica solos. Unfortunately, I don't  
remember specifically the tune.
 
Anyone that listens to jazz solos, quotes them or is influenced by them, is  
- on some level - involved with music theory, perhaps not in the classical or  
classroom sense, but more so in the intuitive sense. One can transcribe a 
solo  on paper using music notation, using HNA harmonica notation, or simply  
transcribe and play on their instrument by virtue of listening over and over and  
over.
 
Music theory books say, if the bass note is the tonic and you play a 4th  
over it, that note will move to resolve down to a form of the 3rd.
 
Your ear says, when you hear the "A" in a religious "A-men" choral sound,  
your ear and emotions will want to hear it tumble down to the "-men" note. You  
will feel unresolved until it does.
 
These are both the same thing.
 
The Iceman
 
 
In a message dated 7/7/2008 2:04:07 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
fatdogamps@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:

Larry,  the argument is not that you are "slamming" Little Walter.  It's  
whether or not he knew music theory.  You appear to be saying that he  
did not know music theory, and that he was unable to interpret  music.  I 
disagree.  I think it's obvious that he knew theory  very well, even if 
he did not read.  Just listen to the  recordings.  Those guys knew what 
they were doing, even if they  didn't go to classes. 





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