[Harp-L] Re: Butter TV spot

[Ev630 <eviltweed@xxxxxxxxx>]

John,

I wasn't addressing that comment to you, but more broadly to some (but not
all) of the other responses.

I do think (again as a general observation) it's going to be hard for anyone
to objectively establish that Butterfield was the last harmonica player to
be emotionally expressive with the instrument, which I think is what Tom
Ellis was contending.

cheers
Drew

On Mon, Dec 21, 2009 at 7:31 PM, John F. Potts <hvyj@xxxxxxx> wrote:

> Ev 630 writes:
>>
>
>  I have to say that I am still inclined to think that (with some stellar
>> exceptions) a lot of what is being presented is subjective appreciation of
>> Butterfield as a performer (why you personally dig him) rather than
>> objective comparative analysis to define his place in the history of harp
>> music.
>>
>
> Drew,
>
> i was writing in response to comments about the comparative depth and
> sincerity of of emotion expressed in PB's playing.  When we talk about the
> emotion evoked by any artist, the assessment is necessarily subjective.
>
> A more objective musical assessment of PB would include an explanation of
> the highly musical nature of his note selection and the quality of his tone
> and technique.  I don't have a good enough ear to identify and articulate
> why his note selection is consistently so exceptional, but it is and there
> are others on the list who have the expertise to explain why.  PB almost
> invariably plays "right notes" with a terrific sense of time, meter and
> placement. Unfortunately, I do not have the musical knowledge or expertise
> to analyze and explain why this is so, but I know enough to recognize that
> it is not simply because I happen to like what he does.
>
> As far as tone and technique is concerned, I am not aware of anyone
> expressing the view that PB was anything less than masterful in that regard.
>  So i assume there is no debate on that point.
>
> Best regards,
>
> JP
>
>
>