Re: [Harp-L] Howard Levy !!!!!!!!!!!! Key of Bb, second position

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

The tune is actually being played in Bb, not Ab. (Ellington originally recorded it Bb but sometimes played it in Ab). 

Like Rob, I initially thought it might be in 12th, but close listening reveals that it's in second. For one thing, the low flat 5 in the scale that he plays at the bottom of the harp would be D in the key of Ab. And if he were playing in Ab on an Eb harp (12th positino), that D would be below the bottom note of the harp (Eb). But as the tune is in Eb, that flat-5 note is actually E-natural (or F-flat if you want to be picky), which is a Hole 1 draw bend - a deep bend, but oen Howard can certainly manage.

Although some of the other bent notes occasionally sound like they don't belong to second position, I think this is an illusion caused by the low pitch of the harp - bends in the top octave may sound like they belong in the middle octave, where they wouldn't normally be possible.

Winslow

Winslow Yerxa

Author, Harmonica For Dummies ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5

--- On Thu, 3/5/09, Rob Paparozzi <Chromboy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
From: Rob Paparozzi <Chromboy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Howard Levy !!!!!!!!!!!!
To: "Richard Hunter" <turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Date: Thursday, March 5, 2009, 5:13 AM

Yes....Richard....I agree about Howard's work on 'Family Thing'...I
was so impressed when I fisrt heard it I bought the soundtrack. It's Howard
with some onf NY's finest studio players and it kicks BUTT!

Ben, yeah, it sounds like a LOW Eb to me too....I'm Winded just
listening,-)
This is Duke Ellington's MOOD INDIGO in Ab, I guess on a low Eb (12th
Position). I Love Louie Armstrong's VOCAL version of this song as well.

best,
Rob Paparozzi

----- Original Message ----- From: "Richard Hunter"
<turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, March 05, 2009 7:59 AM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Howard Levy !!!!!!!!!!!!


> "Ben Bouman" wrote:
> <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6XZEQ676Z8&NR=1<
> <
> <I've met Howard a few times, heard him often, sat with him in the
dressing
> <where he was rehearsing..but this is INSANE!!!
> <He's playing a low Eb ( I think.....)
> 
> Howard is indeed amazing.  The most amazing thing about him is how much
emotion he packs into his playing.  It's easy enough to be dazzled by what
he does, but it goes way way way beyond dazzle.
> 
> If you want to hear Howard playing the naked emotion minus the dazzle,
rent the movie "A Family Thing," which stars Robert Duvall and James
Earl Jones as half-brothers.  Howard's playing is featured on this
soundtrack, and it's got more emotion in it than 5 episodes of "Big
Love," packed into a mere handful of notes.  Utterly moving and inspiring.
> 
> Regards, Richard Hunter
> latest mp3s and harmonica blog at http://myspace.com/richardhunterharp
> 
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