Re: [Harp-L] Is Howard Levy the most technically advanced harmonica player?

You must first define the question before deciding whether to include chromatics in the discussion of diatonics. These are ultimately different instruments. While close relatives, they're distinguished in size, sound, effects, note layout, chords, intervals, operation, price--amongst other traits. Most importantly, they're played differently. One requires pushing a key in order to get certain notes; another requires bending/overbending techniques to get all the notes.

So if you're deciding what teacher to learn from, then it will certainly matter whether your teacher is a "master" of the diatonic or chromatic. In the original post to the thread at hand, the instrument in question was a diatonic harmonica, so chromatics were not considered. On the other hand, if you're asking who the best harmonica player is, then you might want to include the chromatic, since it's a harmonica after all. But it's also a different instrument, so that opens the door to other reeded instruments, which then risks opening the door to any instrument, and then you're in a big mess. Or maybe not. Instruments are ultimately just vehicals for musicians to express themselves with, so you could argue that if you're comparing musicianship, it doesn't matter what the instruments are, as they're just the medium in which an idea is conveyed. But that's a whole separate question, one which I don't want to touch with a ten foot pole....

I honestly didn't mean for the discussion to degenerate into a "greast player" pissing contest, although I might have inadvertently courted the subject. My original intent was to recommend a diatonic harmonica school taught by a virtuoso of the instrument. While there are many great players out there, I do think that no one approaches Howard's level of mastery, and consequently no one can teach at his level of proficiency. If you want to take the diatonic with the seriousness that conventional instruments are approached with, then you must learn scales, chords, theory, and all the fundamentals at the core of music. This is what students of the violin, piano, guitar, and just about any other instrument do in order to excel. In the case of the diatonic, there's only one man who's done the same degree of exhaustive training, mastering scales (of every flavor) in all twelve positions/keys, transposing songs (ie, Duke Ellington) in all twelve positions/keys, playing any pattern/chord/arpeggio in all twelve positions/keys, jumping to any note from any note, playing at any speed/time/rhythm--in other words, learning every note of the instrument to such an extent that anything you hear, think, or read can be played. This is the stuff cats like Charlie Parker did, this is what conservatory students do, this is what virtuosos do. But in the case of the diatonic, only one man has done this technical accomplishment. Of course, technique doesn't guarantee great music. You can be a master of technique without musicality; or you can be musical without possessing much technique. Personally, I think the beauty in Howard's music is as stunning as his technical achievement, but I realize not everyone feels that way. Music, after all, is completely subjective. However, the role of the teacher is to give the student the tools; it's up to the student choose how to use them. In the case of Howard's school, he's in the unique position of being able to teach students of any level in any style with any technique to any degree. You can go as far as you want in mastery, because the teacher has mastered the instrument at the highest level.

I will agree with you on one point though: Howard is indeed a phenomenal pianist! If he never picked up a harp during a concert, the music would still be sublime. But I'm always glad he does.



Ansel


-----Original Message----- 
Date: Wed, 05 May 2010 16:25:28 -0700
From: Roger A Gonzales <gonz1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Is Howard Levy the most technically advanced
	harmonica	player?
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID: <fadec65991a.91afadec659@xxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Dear harp-l,

I will say that Mr. Levy is ONE of the most technically advanced players I have ever heard but even he is subject to bad intonation once in awhile. Especially using the OB technique he uses. On "Prairie Home Companion" once he struggled through "Stars and Stripes Forever". He got close but they weren't playing hand grenades.
There are so many technically advanced players that never grace the pages of harp-l its ridiculous. Go on U-Tube and listen to Antonio Serrano play Flamenco harmonica with Paco De Lucia. He was on tour throughout Europe a few years back. Then he turns around and plays straight ahead Jazz better than most in the world. When you start talking about technically advanced players, you better include chromatic players as well as everyone else. If you do not include chromatic players in a discussion like that, the discussion isn't even worth having.

This is because to understand theory is to become a better player technically. Howard is a better piano player than he is a harmonica player. That's because he understands music theory...and not in positions either. He understands it as it should be understood, the way technically advanced players have been understanding music theory for hundreds of years. 

Roger Gonzales MA/Mus.Ed.
Fresno,CA.

----- Original Message -----
From: michael rubin <michaelrubinharmonica@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wednesday, May 5, 2010 11:16 am
Subject: [Harp-L] Is Howard Levy the most technically advanced harmonica	player?
To: harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>

I cannot find the email but someone said something to the effect of
"No one would argue that Howard is the most technically advanced
harmonica player on the planet" and I felt the challenge.

What is technique?

To me it is being able to manipulate the harmonica into physically
producing a sound in a way that shows a high level of mastery.

What are Howard's technical strengths?

Puckering
Good pitch control
Clean overbows and bends
The fast runs he does by ascending while blowing three holes then
desceding while drawing back two holes then ascending while blowing up
three holes ad infinitum.
The bend vibrato
tongue blocking double stops for octaves, drone and counterpoint playing.Slight bending of overblows for inflections and half step movements.Vibrato during overblows
Wah wah hand muting
Use of a drinking cup for wah wah hand muting
Pleasing tone

Please feel free to add to the list.

As far as I am concerned, living diatonic players like James Cotton,
Rick Estrin, Kim Wilson, Joe Filisko, Charlie Musselwhite, Charlie
McCoy, Gruenling, Ricci, Del Junco, Michalek, Power, Gazell and many
others equal or surpass Levy's technical ability.  They may not use
the same techniques that Levy does, but the amount of techniques they
have mastered are equal or greater than Levy's amounts.  If, as i've
listed for Howard's strengths,  pleasing tone is technical ability,
many of these players are also equal or greater than Levy.

In my opinion, what Levy really seems to have done was be the
journeyman for overblows.  Although there were many people who played
overblows before Howard, he really brought it to the attention of the
greater harmonica community and made a whole generation rethink the
chromatic possibilities of the diatonic harmonica.

I also think Levy has an exceptionally high understanding of music
theory and how he can use it to play well in all 12 positions.

I also think Levy is a very musical person and that his ideas are
often very enjoyable and can fit in a variety of musical styles.  He
is also very good at unusual time signatures.

Clearly Levy is also a very giving teacher and person and I feel
blessed that he is in my world.  But is he the most technically
advanced harmonica player on the planet?  Technically, no.

Please forgive me.
Michael Rubin
Michaelrubinharmonica.com



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