Subject: Re: [Harp-L] How Disturbed Are We?

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

Absolutely, Rob! - it's one reason I really dig your new CD  'Etruscan 
Soul' so much...your segue from Peg (o' my heart) into Peg by Steely  Dan is so 
incredibly cool musically....
 
I'll never be in your league, but I play anything and everything which  
feels 'right' to my ear - from '60's R&B to Roy Orbison to Sax or  flute solos 
(to me the instruments I hear in my head)....whatever sounds  good to me. 
There's almost nothing in my Ipod 'backing tracks' which  originally started 
off for harmonica.
 
I love listening to Toots and Stevie - and to harmonica players like you,  
Smokey, Phil, Randy and Robert. Michel Herblin's 'Voice' for inspiration  
;)   ..Jason and Chris for my 'diatonic' fix....but I'm not  particularly 
interested in playing already covered harmonica pieces (except for  two songs 
in particular: Sonja by Jason Ricci & New Blood and Ashokan  Farewell which I 
haven't yet mastered). 
 
IMHO people should play music they love. Some songs/tunes simply don't work 
 with the harmonica. Your ear should tell you which ones don't. Toss them 
and  move on to the next. There are thousands of great songs out there. I 
agree  with SmoJoe about how boring it is to hear the same old, same old all 
the  time.
 
Elizabeth 
 
"Message: 10
Date: Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:02:29 -0500
From: Robert  Paparozzi <chromboy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] How Disturbed  Are We?
To: David Fertig <drfertig@xxxxxxxxx>,  <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>

A good question Martin! IMO, I think we have to  stop thinking like
'Harmonica Players' I don't think it HAS to be blues or  any genre in
particular it just has to be 'Musical'. I'm in constant search  for melodies
and licks that sit well on our axe. But the best way to do that  is to 
listen
to other instruments, styles etc...

Toots once scolded me  and said, "Stop listening to ME (toots) and you will
find your own voice if  you like jazz, listen to the greats and find
something to bring back to your  harmonica".

I'm always looking for music to bring back to the axe, The  more you play 
and
are comfortable with the instrument, the more you will hear  what will 'sit
well' on your harp....

When I went to make my record, I  had to keep reminding myself that it 
wasn't
a record for Harmonica Players,  it's for Music Lovers!,-)

Not really a direct answer to the  question....but I bet our non harp 
friends
will appreciate more of what we  play if we keep this in mind.....

All the Best,
Rob  Paparozzi"