Re: [Harp-L] Stevie Wonder on Brand New Day

[Slim Heilpern <slim@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Amen!

Both Rob and Brendan sound terrific on this tune.

The original with Stevie is of course priceless. I also saw some tv  
show a while back (I forget which one) where both Stevie and Sting  
were featured and they did a live version of this tune together. Two  
great talents and one cool song.

As for harmonica being a sideline for Stevie, I think this just  
illustrates how a person's musical experience will come through  
regardless of the instrument they're playing. Stevie learned how to  
make the harmonica work for him when he was still a child -- best I  
can tell, he invented this style of playing just like he invented a  
vocal style that's already inspired a couple of generations of singers.

Since there are many fewer chromatic harmonica players than vocalists  
to carry on his brilliance, it warms my heart every time I hear a  
harmonica player going for that elusive Stevie magic on the instrument  
-- even when the motivation is literally a commercial one. Nice job  
Rob and Brendan! You are both awesome!

- Slim.

On Sep 28, 2009, at 3:09 AM, Brendan Power wrote:

> Cool to hear Rob Pararozzi's version of Stevie-style harmonica on  
> Brand New
> Day, sounds great :) It is really fascinating to study Stevie's style
> closely, one can learn so much!
>
> His highly sophisticated sense of timing is really the key, I think,  
> as well
> as the way he inflects the notes. What an incredibly talented man he  
> is: one
> of the greatest harmonica players of all time, and it's just a  
> sideline for
> him! Truly awe inspiring...
>
> Brendan Power
> WEBSITE: http://www.brendan-power.com
> YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/BrendanPowerMusic