[Harp-L] Another Chris M Story

[Mojo Red <harplicks@xxxxxxxxx>]

After reading through so many Chris stories, thought I'd add one of my own.

I was at a Filisko teach-in a number of years ago and he was trying to convince 
me that I should explore 12th position, and I was giving him my reasons why it 
was beyond me. He accused me of not playing up to my potential. He made me play 
the scale, got me to stumble my way through the Flintstones theme song. I got up 
to leave and he goes: "That lesson was like pearls, Mojo. Now don't go all swine 
on me." Great parting shot. I hated him in that moment because that's just what 
I was just thinking. "I'll never use that stuff... not ever, ever, ever."

Okay, a few months later I was trying to learn the song "Nobody Knows You When 
You're Down & Out," and I posted on the L, asking what harp/position to use. 
Madcat Ruth contacts me offline and tells me it lays out great in 12th position, 
and he hooks me up with a recording of him doing it. Hmmmmm... Well, I needed to 
learn it for my band, so I put in the woodshed time and Voila! After a while I 
start using 12th more and more.

Fast forward a year or so... another SPAH convention. Hallway blues jam, tons of 
guys milling about. I get called over to the jam and when I get my turn, I 
decide to try it in 12th... just for fun. It worked nice. And then I hear this 
outrageous laugh coming from behind me... I'm playing great and this guy's 
laughing!! ... I turn and of course it's Michalek doing the laughing... and he's 
laughing, like RIGHT AT ME. I finish up and ask him what the heck his problem 
is.
"You were playing in 12th, Mojo. And it sounded really good! And you thought you 
were going to blow me off.... Hah!"

Harpin' in Colorado,
--Ken M.