[Harp-L] Re: no subject

[Ev630 <eviltweed@xxxxxxxxx>]

>
> EV630 wrote:
> "The proper way to address some of the issues would be to provide counter
> examples to prove I am wrong."
>
> I did exactly that and you know what you did? You dismissed it and
> then continued to judge obs as played by players who can't really do
> it.
>


Actually, I didn't dismiss it. I said that I didn't want to discuss you or
me, so I didn't listen to your tracks. I don't want this to become personal.

People like Jason Ricci, Carlos delJunco, Otavio Castro, Howard Levy
> and myself have proven time and again there is a place for OBs and
> they can be as transparent as any other bent note.
>

And I have said as much myself. Perhaps you didn't read far enough into my
posts? Used in the appropriate context, they're a great tool. But I've heard
material by some of those players which demonstrates the issues I've
identified with OBs. Having said that, remember: I am not advocating
anything. I am just discussing this technique, just as I have discussed
countless other techniques on forums over the years. It's not personal and
it doesn't diminish anyone's artistic choices. I have great respect for all
of those players.

Furthermore, you continue to make the mistake of thinking Traditional
> Blues is the only way to play harp so all others are judged from the
> traditional blues perspective.
>

That is a complete mischaracterisation of what I have been saying.

You'd better be careful because a player like Fugazzi could mop up the stage
> with a player like you
> using real musicianship skills.
>

Mike Fugazzi is an excellent musician. But do you think you could be a bit
less personal and avoid gross assumptions?

Isn't being a good musician what matters most? Who cares about style?
>
Yes, of course. And those observations are not inconsistent with the points
I have been making. Having said that, it's entirely valid to not want to
play an incongruous style when sitting in with a certain genre. That is a
valid consideration, not an impugning of other genres.

I used to play all of that blues stuff and I find it to be boring.
> That doesn't mean I don't like it nor that I don't respect it, it
> means I like to play other music and for what I do, requires good tone
> and the use of the entire instrument not just the first 6 holes.
>

Good for you. It's great to see someone being enriched by the gift of music.
The fact that you find your choices artistically rewarding is wonderful. It
doesn't impact on the validity of my observations regarding overblows, but
it's really cool to see someone happy with their choices.

Drew