[Harp-L] Butterfield

[michael rubin <michaelrubinharmonica@xxxxxxxxx>]

I am a hardcore Butterfield fan.  Cotton and Butter were my first two
harp albums, bought on the same trip to the record store.  Both
artists were huge influences on me.

I do not understand what you do not like about Butter's third position
playing, Gino.  I love the East West stuff.

As to third position stuff, or playing things that sound wrong, I
think he has feeling and energy and soul to spare, so I am not so
worried about perfect note choices.  Although I may seem like a theory
guy from my posts and seminars, feeling trumps theory anytime.  I do
not care if you are hitting notes that are offscale or offpitch,
(within reason) as long as I can sense feeling in your playing.
Butter always hads loads of feeling.

I do think Butter put out lots of music I do not like.  North South
has to be one of my least favorite records, and though I enjoy some of
Put it in Your Ear, I think most of it is super cheezy.  I am not
above loving the cheese, however.  Even on these albums, his harp
playing is incredible.

I love Mark Ford, but to me Butterfield's influence on Ford is very
powerful, almost so powerful that sometimes I feel like I am listening
to a copycat, other times he seems to have found his own voice.  I
admire Ford.  I enjoy the 3 CDs I have with him, especially the Live
Charles Ford CD.  I was blown away at the Dallas SPAH.  He has always
been nice to me.  But, in terms of how Ford affects my soul, he is
nowhere near as powerful as Butterfield.  Few are to me.

I feel it with Rice Miller, the Walters, Cotton, Clarke, Delay, some
Musselwhite, Sam Myers, Papa George Lightfoot,  Stevie, Toots, and
some others escaping my memory.  There are many others who I am amazed
by and enjoy repeated listening.  Of all of those, Butterfield affects
my soul the most.

Just sayin'
Michael Rubin
Michaelrubinharmonica.com