[Harp-L] Music

["Dennis M. Cooper" <dcooper@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Over the past several years I've backed away from the more traditional
approaches to harmonica-driven styles and started playing "pretty" songs for
about 25% of the content of my live performances. I still play "show tunes",
of course, but the songs that audience members always comment on are the
pretty, slow songs. I must allow that my listener demographics run in the
50-80+ age range, which is fine with me. I have had a number of harmonica
players comment with just a touch of sarcasm that I'm kind of like the Kenny
G of harmonica players, but my shows are very well attended and album and
digital download sales are brisk.

I put together a tunepack with a few "pretty" examples at:
http://www.reverbnation.com/tunepak/1501482 All of the songs are original,
except "Still Got the Blues For You". My personal favorite is "Pangaea", an
original harmonica spiritual that seems to have a lot of emotional impact on
audience members. They either love it or hate it.

Back in 1978 I received a piece of great advice from a touring traditional
blues musician that our band at the time opened for in a Portland, Oregon
waterfront club: "If your audience members don't walk away from the show
humming or whistling something you played, you lose." 


Best Regards,
Dennis M. Cooper

http://www.dennis-cooper.com
http://www.harmonicaBootCamp.com
http://www.reverbnation.com/denniscooper
http://countryharmonica.ning.com