Re: Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Daddy's Gone to Knoxville - For Smojoe and David Payne

[Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx>]

On Sep 30, 2008, at 11:21 PM, EGS1217@xxxxxxx wrote:

> Hey Smokey, you never confirmed whether or not we'd ever play a  
> real honest to goodness 'duet' together before this.

It's hard to get something organized when you are 1,240+ miles away  
(2,ooo+ Kilometers for our European shut in friends).

>  Your backing me at Spah was a different set up altogether,  
> although very much appreciated.  Couldn't have done it without you,  
> and I am feeling more confident, thanks to you.

You did 2 good tunes at Denver, none at Milwaukee and 3 at St. Louis.  
But your repertoire is too vast. What you need to do is pick 6 tunes.  
2 you want to nail, 2 to staple, 2 to tack, and maybe 1 standby tune  
to pin. Let me have the list and I will work out a part, even if I  
have to write it out (ala Peloquin).  lol  Keep the list short..(for  
now)
> Are you actually saying you consider me good enough to want to play  
> a real duet with? If so, I'm immensely flattered. I know you have  
> very high standards.

It's not a matter of standards. I rarely play at a festival. The main  
reason is: (and I don't want to sound arrogant here..but) I can't get  
the back-up that I need. It's not that I'm any good. It's that I am  
NOT and therefore need all the help I can get. I have played with  
Carol Beth several times but the combo is always a pick-up group and  
they (themselves) have usually never played together. THEN, I have to  
get up there with NO set-up time and wing it. So, I have to pick easy  
pieces.  Inasmuch as I am at a disadvantage, I feel that I get by.

The possibility of getting back up at a fest is slim because: they  
are too busy with players that are established. It's like anywhere  
else. The big dogs get the bones. Sometimes a backup player is SO  
good that that doesn't work either. Here I am trying to go one way on  
a tune and that very accomplished player is going another. The  
ramifications here are that he/she is a schooled musician and has the  
feeling that I should already KNOW where they are going with the tune.

Well, I'm not that accomplished and I can't have that because these  
off the wall tangents may be how it's usually done, but I want to do  
it the way 'I' want to do it. Here in Fl I don't have a problem  
because even though we may be doing a tune for the first time, we  
already know what's in each others heads.
> .
>  ....but:  I'm not sure all of those songs would work.

I was making a funny.
>  I've heard No. 1 "You May Think" (not sure it's great as a duet).   
> Just tracked down No. 2 and it was actually called "Been Caught  
> Stealing" by Jane's Addiction.  Sounded like just a mess of 'noise'  
> to my ears...can't imagine how to get a harmonica solo out of it,  
> much less a duet (unless it's another song?)  I somehow suspect  
> you're 'having me on'...  ;)

'Caught Stealing' You got the right tune. It's not a good harp tune.  
'You Might Think' is Also silly.
> Didn't you know that 'Crazy' has long been one of my favourite  
> songs too..I'd easily (and happily) duet on it...or 'triplet' if  
> Christelle could be persuaded...
>
> ...hey, now..there's a thought. A new style of harmonica 'trio'? Of  
> course I'd be in way over my head, but the two of you can make me  
> look (and sound) good <G>

Christelle will be too famous by next year.   () (praying hands)
> Do know No. 3...but it's not one of my favourite Paul Simon tunes,  
> although infinitely preferable than No. 2 above.

Just mentioned for fun. Like Crocodile Rock.
>  Hadn't heard "Like Young" (No. 4) before...so just found an Ella  
> Fitzgerald version...and yes, most definitely could play that one  
> with a little practice. Great song!

What YOU need is a CD backing. The i-pod was ok but we had to mike  
it. Then they're hard to shuffle-index. I had thought to get my buddy  
John Chapman (Johnny Appleseed's great grandson) to make a back-up,  
but I have been too lazy.
> ...and as for Paris....you did know Christelle doesn't live near  
> there but in a small town elsewhere in France?

Yeah, I asked once (what she was near) but got no answer. :(

> ...so you'd still have to be hoofing it to hear her play <G>

I could hide a recorder outside her window and then abscond with the  
tapes. Then I could play them over and over while lying in my bed at  
the hospice. I could die peacefully.

smo-joe
> Elizabeth
>
> **********