[Harp-L] Re: Charlie Leighton

[HTownFess <Spschndr@xxxxxxx>]

Richard, if I may ask, and since you are someone who might know, how
did Charlie Leighton like his chromatics tuned?  One thing that
strikes me about the beauty of his tone is a different version of an
element that also, IMO, makes Toots's tone wonderful: their intonation
is consistently sublime *relative to everything else that's going on
around and behind them*.  I mean, it's as if they find the absolute
perfect pitch for their notes to be at, every instant, for what they
want to say in that context.  At least, that's how it struck me the
one time I was in the same room with Toots (at the 2000 Summit), and
strikes me when I hear Leighton do it with stronger vibrato, and don't
hear many people manage to do on either chromatic or diatonic: that
there may be an element we tend to call tone that is actually
meaningful precision of intonation.  Anyway, I assume Leighton liked
his instruments tuned to something consistent, just curious as to
what; I know it won't give me that tone, but wondered if he had a
tuning reference point.  I don't doubt he could get a beautiful sound
out of anything, btw.

I think people usually sound better with a harmonica that's well tuned
for their purpose/context, regardless of skill level, so I remain
curious about what people use.  I think I am back on a hobby horse if
I say it again, but when I check out classic/vintage harmonica
orchestras/bands/solo artists on YouTube, so often they sound to me as
though their instruments have been tuned with some care.

Today I was realizing that I probably won't be happy with myself
trying to lead "All Blues" in G with people until I have a first-rate
C diatonic tuned to 12-ET, so it's time to retune one of my Cs and try
some more, see if the head sounds right, or at least better.  The
Charlie Leighton thread helped me realize that, if it's a valid
insight.  I'll gladly dedicate one C to that purpose if it yields a
reliable throwdown jazz tune for me to call.

And thanks for telling us what his advice was.  It's clear how six
months of working at that would pay off.