Re: [Harp-L] My grandpa, the prewar Blues harp player

[BostonMoeJo <bostonmoejo@xxxxxxx>]

I recall Michael Rubin of Nashville relating an experience at a campsite jam at a bluegrass fest in the 70's.. As I recall the story, he was blowing away pretty good on some bluegrass standard (I forget exactly which one). When the song was over Bill Monroe came over to him and said (and I'm paraphrasing here) "Mighty fine pickin' son...but it's not bluegrass." Who would be more an authority on what is and isn't bluegrass then Ol' Bill himself?

If bluegrass can be defined as mountain music played  on bluegrass instruments [those instruments that were used by The Bluegrass Boys (mandolin, guitar, banjo, fiddle, and string bass] then by definition, anything played on non-bluegrass instruments isn't bluegrass. Why does it have to be called bluegrass anyway? Flatt & Scruggs, long considered innovators in bluegrass music (they, among other things, added the dobro to the list of acceptable bluegrass instruments) made it a point to not call their music "bluegrass" but rather "old time mountain music." 

Let the bluegrass purists take their ball and go home.

The harmonica has been a part of mountain music since early on (i.e. pre-"bluegrass") whatever you call it.

Doc Watson plays a mean harmonica and he was certainly instrumental (no pun intended) in popularizing "bluegrass" in the 70' & 80's but he's not "bluegrass" per ce, IMHO.

Bill Monroe recorded, at one point, with both piano and drums.

Elvis' first hit record was Bill Monroe's "Blue Moon of Kentucky."  Rockabilly, not bluegrass....

Is bluegrass music played on non-bluegrass instruments still bluegrass?

Who cares?




In a message dated 05/12/08 12:04:00 Eastern Daylight Time, dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:



Thanks for passing that on, Bostonmojo. You're right. I was just venting against the bluegrass purists who say no harmonica in bluegrass. Thanks for passing that on, again you're right. Both those were from the 70s, I think, but Grisman kept up the jazz, so are guys like Johnny Staats. 
I like in that one video where Mark O'Connor looks like he just picking up his fiddle after a hard day of pimping, with that feather in his hat, purple pants, etc.. 

Dave 
_____________________ 
Dave Payne Sr. 
Elk River Harmonicas 
www.elkriverharmonicas.com 


----- Original Message ---- 
From: BostonMoeJo <bostonmoejo@xxxxxxx> 
To: David Payne <dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx 
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2008 10:52:13 AM 
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] My grandpa, the prewar Blues harp player 


I would submit to you that the jazz influence hasn't ended 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x05z27blg80 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imFd1XAMLWI 


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