Re: Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Stevie Wonder

["G. E. Popenoe" <gpopenoe@xxxxxxxxx>]

Reminds me. A producer buddy of mine came along with pro cameras and  
an assistant when the Original Harmonica Band played at the SPAH  
convention in the eighties.

He interviewed some great people some of whom are no longer with us. I  
think that was the year Charlie Musselwhite was there.

He and I were just talking about the tapes last might. I think it's  
time to go over them and look for some special moments.

Gary Popenoe

On May 10, 2008, at 7:23 AM, EGS1217@xxxxxxx wrote:

> I even have some video from last year's SPAH of this fabulous  
> 'kid'...taken not when he was up on stage...but in a separate 'jazz'  
> jam with Charles Spranklin, Jim Lohman(?), Phil Caltabellotta,  
> SmoJoe and "the other Joe", Klein (?)  ;) - -  Julian had come along  
> to listen in and then was persuaded to play a little...he had no  
> idea I was taping him.  He's not only gorgeous...but his entire  
> style of playing is based on Stevie Wonder and Wynton Marsalis'  
> music...(kid has his head on straight) :)
>
> ...and then his 'jazz jam' playing of Fever while LDMiller did the  
> vocals .....although it was dimly lit, the sound level seemed good  
> the one time I played it back.
>
> I taped for most of the  5 days I was at SPAH 2007...caught other  
> fabulous moments...(Richard Hunter outside waiting for the Airport  
> shuttle, jamming on his favourite diatonic..with Jason Ricci  on  
> CHORD harmonica); brilliant lobby jamming by Wally Peterman and Phil  
> Caltabellotta...many of the other 'name' acts; (all of the first  
> night's Jazz jam, but those came out rather dark, so I wasn't  
> horribly disappointed when I ran out of tape just as Howard Levy  
> joined in on the 2nd night), so much else I've forgotten by now.
>
> I didn't tape Charlie Musselwhite...wanted to enjoy his performance  
> without a camera for once.
>
> These are those tiny little DV tapes.  I wasn't thrilled with the  
> camera, much preferring my older one; so still don't know how to  
> 'dupe' these to either DVD or even a full-size VHS tape.  ....or to  
> get them onto the computer to send to the people in them...I'd be  
> more than happy to send out  final DVD's to the performers (and/or  
> get their approval before ever posting any clips to YouTube)....
>
> I'm not all that technologically proficient either on the computer,  
> or with recording/video-recording devices. So would sure appreciate  
> help...but not if the instructions are terribly complicated.  I  
> don't mind buying yet another DVD (or duping) recorder device/player  
> (if reasonably priced) if need be. Layman's terms would be most  
> appreciated, if anyone has some good ideas?
>
> Elizabeth
>
> "Message: 11
> Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 06:29:07 -0700
> From: "G. E. Popenoe" <gpopenoe@xxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Stevie Wonder
> To: Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx>
> Cc: "harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Message-ID: <A2B2C552-EBC1-497E-8F06-214039A1259F@xxxxxxxxx>
> Content-Type: text/plain;    charset=US-ASCII;    format=flowed;     
> delsp=yes
>
> There is always some one new coming along. Ain't it great!
>
> Who's the kid?
>
> Gary Popenoe
>
> On May 9, 2008, at 10:59 PM, Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx>  
> wrote:
>
> >
> > On May 10, 2008, at 1:43 AM, G. E. Popenoe wrote:
> >
> >> Joe wrote:
> >>
> >> "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."
> >>
> >> I just played along with that one. He could have done it on C  
> chromo.
> >
> > That's the one that's in E? Yes, I must have been thinking of
> > something else. I just went in the garage and tried it.
> >>
> >> Dave McKelvy once played a track or two for me from a rare
> >> intrumental album
> >> by Stevie.
> >
> > You're talking about Eivets Rednow
> >
> >> Stevie can make a plucking sound on the instrument that almost
> >> sounds like plucking the string of a violin.
> >
> > Yes, a real mind bender. You will notice it's on the blow notes. He
> > is flicking his tongue while making a clucking motion embochure.
> >
> >> To this day I have not figured out the trick. The album proved that
> >> he can get around on the instrument quite well thank you very much.
> >> I'm sure he has his pick of keys.
> >
> > To be sure, BUT while he may have his pick of keys he also has to be
> > careful to pick a key where the note sequences work. It's hard to
> > chip notes on the top reed plate. Chipping into notes on the bottom
> > reed plate is the way to go.
> >
> >> He can bend on blow or draw using his powerful attack and saturated
> >> tone. Sure he
> >> may shift a key to get at a particular lick. Why not. Guitar
> >> players detune
> >> there instruments to get to particular sounds and expand
> >> possibilities.
> >>
> >> Look, there is a reason his last name is Wonder.
> >
> > There's now an 18 year old who sounds a lot like him.
> > smo-joe
> >> _______________________________________________
>
>
>
> Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight?