Re: [Harp-L] Slow Boat to China

[Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx>]

On Feb 22, 2009, at 3:06 PM, Tom Albanese wrote:

> I'm trying to learn this tune on diatonic purely as a bend exercise
> and excuse to play a great melody that isn't normally heard on a harp.

Ok, but I don't understand the bend exercise part.

> I'm doing it in first position (starts on the 2 blow).

Ok, I was using 5 blow. but now I follow you. The reason 'I' used #5  
was to be high enough that when I got to the word "on" (in the phrase  
'ON a slow boat to China'. I was able to blow that #5 down a semi  
tone. Using the 2 hole as a start, I would have to blow the #2 down,  
and I have trouble with that one. It's so low.

> The entire head can be
> played on holes 2 through 6 without any OBs but there are some totally
> exposed two and three hole draw bends that need to be hit perfectly  
> or it
> sounds like crap.

#2 draw on the word 'slow', #3 draw on the word 'boat', #2 draw on  
the syllable 'ah' in Chin-ah.
> There must be someone else out there who's taken a swipe at this  
> number. Any
> suggestions for other positions besides first? Or maybe this would  
> be a
> reason to try an alternate tuning.

Try it in second position. Start on 3 draw. Bend #3 draw for the word  
'on'. bend #4 draw for the 'ah' in Chin-ah.
BUT, But then it wouldn't be as challenging a bend exercise..would  
it?  lol
> I'm using Charlie Parker's version as my model. Listen to it here:
> http://www.last.fm/music/Charlie+Parker/_/Slow+Boat+to+China
>
> BTW, I'm sure it can and has been played on chromatic but that's  
> not what
> I'm after.

Too easy on chromo, and not enough 'bite'

> Let me revel in my diatonic lunacy.

It's NOT lunacy, Khrome Klondike (reg t.m.) is harder to master than  
chromo.

> So, any of you jazz blowers
> out there care to wade in on this one?

No, I think I'll sit this one out.
smokey-joe  (scissors designer to mr. Edward Hands)
> tom albanese
>
> http://www.myspace.com/bigrealdeal
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