Re: [Harp-L] Chaka Khan I Feel for You (warning....long)

[Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx>]

On May 9, 2008, at 3:30 PM, Rob Paparozzi wrote:

> Smo-Joe,

Yes, amazing Rob
> This is an interesting Thread...Us Chrom players often wonder such  
> questions ???

Wow, TELL me about it. I spent years sending letters to my queries.  
Mostly with no luck.
>  But  what about his Classic Solo's in E "Isn't she Lovely" and  F#  
> "For Once in my Life"...to my ears these sound like the original  
> keys??

Yes, they do. There are exceptions. As I was saying, a lot of the  
older stuff is between the keys (or gimmicked). It's like someone  
once told me that back then, they didn't have the equipment to make  
the recordings spot on and you could get variances. Especially with  
the smaller studios.

I feeling was: what do I look like? Some sort of 'Choocho'? I mean  
Tom Dowd and Rudy VanGelder were nailing down tracks within ONE CENT  
way back in the 40s. By the 50s, Les Paul was nailing down 16 tracks  
on machines he built HIMSELF.

As for Isn't She Lovely. I don't think it's being done on a C chromo.  
It sounds like a draw key to me. As for Once in My Life, that tune is  
possible in F#.  I do that tune, but the singer uses C & C#
> My Fav solo is his Creepin' in Ebm starting on that funky bent down  
> "A" note..

Shure. It is wonderful. It's a C chromo, played 'like' in Dm with the  
button pushed in, culminating in Ebm. Same keys as used in other  
tunes like Around Midnight, Take 5, etc. Dm is actually easier than  
C. And Ebm isn't far behind. I actually started playing chrom the  
wrong way. When I first picked one up. I (like all good Itralians)  
sucked instead of blowing. Funny that, because it's not like I  
started on diatonic in cross harp. That was later.

Anyway, I progressed the following way. Dm, D, C, F, Db, Ebm, G, Am,  
and yada yada.

> we'll have to hear from the transcription mavens!!! Winslow and  
> Hunter,-)

I agree, THEY would be the difinitive source on this topic as I once  
heard that no one has studied Stevie more than the Wizard. And as for  
Hunter, he's should be declared illegal to PLAY harp.

My suspicions led me to write to the Steveland organization several  
times over several years. First of all, your chances of getting an  
answer are somewhere between no never and don't hold your breath, BUT  
finally, after 7 years of this nonsensee, and after having sent  
numerous letters with enclosed self addressed stamped envelopes, one  
day I got an idea.

I sent an affadavit addressing exactly who I was, where I was coming  
from and the reasons for my queries. I promised under my oath of  
office to never divulge anything they didn't want me to, enclosed a  
questionaire, and it had 2 blocks stating:
1..... Information is not sensitive
2..... Do not divulge

I went to a magistrate, had it stamped and sent it. Believe it or  
not, I finally got an answer. I (basically) found out something that  
everyone already knows. The 'Stevie' organization would make the  
MI-5, CIA, Homeland Security, DEA, ATF, KGB ALL look like Mr Roger's  
Neighborhood. Now Stevie doesn't answer 'Bzyczk'. It's all done in  
the front office. I got quite a few answers. Some good some bad.

> Another one I've often wondered about was Toots' solo on Ralph  
> MacDonalds "Smoke Rings and Wine" on his THE PATH LP.

I am not familiar with the tune nor the album.

> ..I always forget to ask Toots about this when I see him on  
> occassion....The song is in E and what a smooth Jazzy solo which  
> leads me to be he used another key 270 at the time.......

This is the quandry. Many players are assumed to play only a C  
chromo. I don't believe it. I'm not calling anyone a liar. I just  
won't buy it. And since I'm no one they are never going to have to  
prove it.
'I' was the one that had a job where everyone had to prove things to  
me. That's over. The fat lady sang.

 Jerry Murad was one of those 'Play everything on a C and ONLY a C'  
guys. Meanwhile, he had a briefcase whom his Itralian friend made  
pockets inside. There were SEVERAL other keys in there. Most were  
270s, but a few were 64s. An F, a Bb, and I think a B.

Why he once played Mack the Knife with 4 keys and TWO chromos. a Bb  
and a C. He!!, even little old 'I' can do that tune on 1 chromo in 5  
keys.

And for all those who went through the ordeal of reading this, you  
have been a real brick through it all and I want you all to know that  
Robs' rendition of 'A Christmas Song' is absolutely the best you will  
ever hear. I hear a lot of top super stars and they (while stunning)  
don't move me. Very few players have ever made me actually cry. Rob  
holds that distinction.

smo-joe
> all the best,
>
> Rob P
> www.myspace.com/hudsonriverrats