Subject: [Harp-L] fave harpists

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

Some really good stuff there...:)
 
I'd only add in re your:  "except for ricci, who i have no cd's  yet, but 
would be right up there, especially if he slowed down once in awhile  and let 
the emotion build (only shortcoming, in my opinion...and that's a teeny  
weeny fault!)"
 
....is that ....unless you haven't yet gotten to see the band in  
person..then you probably haven't yet heard him play exactly as you're  
describing...'slowed down and letting the emotion build'.  Because he  really DOES do 
that every so often when you least expect it :) 
 
The No. l cut as you open his website _www.jasonricci.com_ 
(http://www.jasonricci.com)  
 
;Sweet Loving' (with my Baby)from Done with the Devil..the latest  CD and 
quite brilliant is one such really nice (and much slower)  song...where he 
incorporates some really 'sweet' playing reminiscent  of  his Led Zep cut 'Goin
g to California' with Heidi and the El Cats (my all  time favourite of his 
sideman pieces)...
 
The thing is most people only think of Jason as a 'fast player', see/hear 
certain cuts on YouTube and have no idea what else it  is he does.  Seeing an 
entire show (and that entails an hours' long  experience)...will wring you 
out. Those of us who've attended many of the live  shows have seen and heard 
him play everything from slow to supersonic ....and  know he can and does 
do it all...it depends how long you're willing to hang for  the duration of a 
performance. Some people cut out after one set and then have  no clue what 
went on during the rest and miss some of the best stuff. I  always stay till 
the very end to hear it all.  
 
True JR&NB fans don't go home until the band quits at the end  of  the 
night. :)  So hopefully one of these days you'll get to hear  that missing piece 
you haven't yet heard. I would so like you to have  that....think you'd 
appreciate it. 
 
If you get a chance to hear 'Sonja'...which is on the Rocket No. 9 CD,  (as 
well as Loving Eyes)...let me know what you think. You can check them  out 
on one of the downloads on Jason's site ...provided by Garry Hodgson of this 
 list. It's sometimes hard to tell where Shawn's guitar leaves off and 
Jason's  harmonica begins.... my favourite songs by them. 
 
 
I haven't heard Estrin yet. I realize that makes my harmonica education  
lacking, so I'll check out 'Rain'.   ..I saw him come into  the ballroom late 
at night at SPAH and sit down chatting with someone, but never  did get to 
hear him play. I'll rectify that. Much appreciated.
 
I'm enjoying seeing other people's versions of harp  compilations...would 
love to see more.  I do love that Paul Butterfield  song Steve Webb talked 
about: 'Please send me Someone to Love'...it was nice to  finally find out who 
sang it.
 
Elizabeth
 
"Message: 10
Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2009 21:12:45 -0500
From:  <bfrain@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] fave harpists
To:  Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx

drove for 7 hours today listening to nothing but harp  players.  here's 
what i came up with...
little walter and butterfield  are tied for 1st.  walter's tone is STILL 
unbelieveable! and so inventive  is his playing!  butter's playing is still 
amazing!  everyone else is  in 2nd place. except for ricci, who i have no cd's 
yet, but would be right up  there, especially if he slowed down once in 
awhile and let the emotion build  (only shortcoming, in my opinion...and that's 
a teeny weeny fault!)   musselwhite is a great technical player, but he's 
lost a bit of emotion.   (louisiannna fog is his ultimate tune)  kim wilson 
is right up there as  well.  amazing player. cotton, yup.  big 
walter...doesn't get enough  credit.
ok, everyone else is in 3rd...estrin is very close, too.  (rain  is still 
incredible tune)
um...everyone else is in 4th.  i think. piazza  just doesn't have the 
emotion that hits me in the heart..but he's got tone like  a big elephant in a 
small room.

butterfield on that live 'everything  gonna be alright' and live 
'countryside'  are the ultimate in live  playing...and his studio stuff on 'one more 
heartache' and 'run out of time' and  'east-west'  and a bunch of others is 
untouchable for playing the right  note at the right time.  

7 hours...drove to the texas coast to  palacios...too cold to fish...xlnt 
bbq in  lockhart!



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