Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Best chromatic blues songs...

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

Michael, Steve, Rick.....while I think the playing and singing is amazingly  
good...if you listen to some of the words there's something awry....
 
.... I distinctly suspect (as Brits would say), that someone's having  us all 
on..
 
Here are some of the names in the discussion of the 'lawsuit': lol
 
Jack Hoff (Jackoff)
 
Juan Motime (one more time)
 
Hugo Mixnowe  (you go mix now)
 
'almost every artist of that era was a 'BS' Artist'? (trust I don't  have to 
translate that?)
 
He lists among his harp influences 'Joe Filisko and Giuseppe Leone (Joe  
Leone)..this seems to me someone who goes to SPAH...and is having a good laugh,  
since his 'address of Mars, California...mimics where SmoJoe used to live in  
Mars, Pa.
 
.....the whole thing smells like a set-up.  I'd like to find out whose  voice 
is actually singing?
 
Elizabeth
 
"Message: 7
Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:34:16 -0800
From: "Michael  Polesky, MPA" <m.polesky@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Best  chromatic blues songs...
To: "Steve Merola" <stevemerola@xxxxxxxxx>,  <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID:  <0A2D75E8A2944E3A854C0702401DAB5A@SherriPC>

Hi All,

I  thought this was a cool recording. This is a nice example of "2nd 
position"  on chromatic.  The tune sits in G and he plays it mostly in the 
minor  blues "mode" (G, A, Bb, C, D, E & F).  However, he switches to a B  
natural occasionally and trills between the 5th and 7th of the G chord  
(holes 5 & 6 draw) as well, the way you would use whole 3 unbent or  trill 
between holes 4 & 5 on a diatonic.  G (2nd position) is a  great key to play 
chromatic blues on.  My favorite keys are G, C, F,  Bb, Eb and Ab.  Ab is a 
much maligned key (curs you Ab haters!) which  is really just like 2nd 
position, hole 3 to 7, diatonic blues with all the  extra notes you get in 
that area - including bends - with good harmony as  well.

As for the tone, this a player who has likely been influenced by  Stevie 
Wonder's playing.  It is not the instrument that gets that  wonderful vibrato 
it definitely is the player.  The way to learn to do  this is to practice 
your vibrato daily.  Don't be afraid if you use  different techniques for 
vibrato on the draw notes than the blow - this is  more common than most 
players will admit.  While most players use  extremely similar techniques for 
blow and draw they are, in a certain way  "different animals".  Then get the 
"Eivets Rednow" recording and learn  the tunes by ear.  After that, practice 
to the CD (or after having  listened to the CD) daily for about 10 years. 
After that, you can call me in  the morning ;-).

All said and done, this is clearly a player who has gone  beyond the 3rd 
position blues and also a player with terrific tone.   For anyone who plays 
diatonic, the ability to play in this key on chromatic  is, literally, "built 
in" to your understanding of blues diatonic.  The  extra C on the chromatic 
is a pain - but not undefeatable.  I have had  a lot of success teaching 
diatonic players chrom blues by starting in the  key of G.

Anybody know any more recordings by Billy  Lightcap?

Michael

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve  Merola" <stevemerola@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent:  Tuesday, February 24, 2009 9:53 AM
Subject: RE: [Harp-L] Best chromatic blues  songs...


> Rick
> Yes quirky, but I must say it's a nice  change of pace from "I woke up this
> morning" etc.  I like the  guitar work as well.
> He's got a Hohner HardBopper with an acrylic comb.  Also a black 16 hole
> which I assume is a Super64X.
> Steve  Merola
>
> Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2009 17:23:13 +1100
> From: "Rick  Dempster" <rick.dempster@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: RE: [Harp-L] Best  chromatic blues songs...
> To: "Steve Merola"  <stevemerola@xxxxxxxxx>, <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
> 
> Steve;
>          Pretty quirky  songwriter...I like his chrom. playing though. He
> seems to be getting  some big vibrato. Know what sort of harp he's using? I
> can't see any of  my chromatics allowing that kind of vibrato. Is it
> something I haven't  tried, like a 'Slideharp', or some such?
> Thanks for this.
>  RD
>
>>>> Steve Merola <stevemerola@xxxxxxxxx>  21/02/2009 7:46 >>>
> Hello Harp-l
>
> There's some  very original, bluesy chromatic stuff at this link. The 
> artist
>  is Billy Lightcap <http://www.myspace.com/billylightcap>
> Not  traditional, but bluesy nonetheless. Especially "Drunk & 
>  Brokenhearted".
>
> Steve Merola
>
> _http://www.myspace.com/billylightcap_ 
(http://www.myspace.com/billylightcap) 

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