Subject: Re: [Harp-L] a summation

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

But Ben:
 
You're assuming he has no prior experience in those other genres....
 
Robert has long played blued diatonics...even done so on a SPAH stage.  
Just because one's main focus is one particular genre should not preclude a  
harmonica player from other styles, should it?  
 
I think use of the word 'dilettante' is a quite unfortunate choice on a  
list such as this which is primarily to promote the harmonica, not encapsulate 
 us into neat little categories. For my part I play all sorts of styles and 
 genres which appeal to me and won't be forced into limiting myself just  
to one because somebody decides for the rest of us that's how he  thinks it's 
supposed to be. 
 
While your premise might have some truth for 'some' musicians,  it's most 
likely because they're simply not talented enough to carry off  the sound 
they're attempting to play...not because their main focus is  another genre. 
Would you have given the same unsolicited advice quite so  freely to Miles 
Davis or Bob Marley, had either decided to switch his main  musical focus to 
Classical? 
 
I had the privilege of attending Robert's seminar at the Grand  Canyon.  He 
also celebrated a big birthday there with a special concert  'party', 
afterwards, where he 'got down' with his band. It's as far removed  from his 'tie 
and tails' onstage Philharmonic persona as you can imagine, and in  fact 
they issued a CD called "Harmonica America" with guest star Phoebe  Snow. 
 
One shouldn't ever jump to conclusions about musicians...something I've  
learned just from being on harp-l.
 
Elizabeth
 
"Message: 14
Date: Tue, 08 Dec 2009 19:32:35 +0100
From: "Ben FELTEN  [ML]" <lists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] a  summation
To: jim.alciere@xxxxxxxxx
Cc: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx


>  Some of us are hoping Robert will take a break from classical music to  
cover
> the works of the Neville Brothers, George Clinton, and Jimmy  Cliff.
>   
And, with all due respect to Robert, some of us  are not.

Playing in other musical genres might not require the same  rigour, but 
it does require other talents and experience in these  genres.

There seems to be a myth going around that a sufficiently  talented 
musician can play anything, but my ears and heart tell me that's  just 
not true. It's particularly blatant with improvised music where it's  not 
just a matter of playing but very much of creating as you play. But it's  
also true of genres where improvisation is less nototious. I don't think  
*any* classical musician can play Reggae like a Kingston native or Funk  
like a New Orleans original.

I'm not talking about musical  determinism: you can become a convincing 
Reggae or Funk musician no matter  where you come from by devoting years 
to practice and touring in these  genres, until the music is second 
nature to you. You can't just turn to  these styles as a dilettante and 
hope to do anything more than a poor  imitation.

I don't have any advice to give to Robert, but I think he  should focus 
on the musical genre he has made his career in and where his  talent has 
brought him well deserved success and leave Reggae, Funk and  other 
styles to other musicians more willing to embrace these with a  passion.

Benoit"