Re: [Harp-L] Re: fast playing

[Chesper Nevins <chespernevins@xxxxxxxxx>]

> Actually, I've yet to hear anyone mention a time when they heard someone playing too slow or not enough notes--any examples of this?

With regards to playing jazz - which is not the only style represented
here I know - I find it difficult if not impossible to NOT get into
playing fast at some point.  I am on board with wanting to play
tastefully and soulfully.  But even if one can be extremely clever
about using half time, over-the-beat poly rhythms, or a soulful moan a
la Ray Charles, it's tough to get away from playing fast at some
point.

If you play all kind of wonderful rhythmic jabs, bends with incredible
tone, etc, but you never play lines, show that you can play the
changes, or just plain swing (this could mean different things to
different people) at some point during the evening, it just won't be
jazz (at least to my ears).  Maybe I am over simplifying the
definition of jazz here to make a point, but...

So if tone is sacrificed at the moment of playing fast during a solo
(fast for me, anyway), well, it's just gonna happen because it has to
at certain points in the music.

Sometimes the inventiveness of the moment comes before perfect
technique, even with players who already have mastered phenomenal
technique.  (For example, John Coltrane)

That said, I am always trying to produce a better tone.  :)

-- 
See the website I put together for Bill Romel:
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