Re: [Harp-L] SEMINARS: San Jose; Buddha & Brendan in Phoenix

[Grant Walters <grant@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Not my business to re announce this clinic on th June 2nd...

but I wanted to make a comment....

This weekend I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Brendan Power and Partner Laura
in Sunny Half Moon Bay....

I attended his Clinic in San Jose and found a attentive group of Harmonica Masters  and Techs in the house. 

I was surprised by how comprehensive the presentation was.....by Brendan.
He met the needs of the beginning players in the front row in a way I have not seen before...really breaking it down for them.
As he progressed...he moved to the back of the room and answered questions about complex tunings and his own Harmonica Style.

First of all, I have never heard anyone play in this style before....
I saw the great Andy Just there too ...soaking up the ease in which this man can man maneuver his way around on his custom tuned Harps.

Some 20 years in a Celtic based band did not prepare me for his deep understanding of  reels, jigs, hornpipes, polkas, slides, mazurka...you name it...
His command of the upper register is unmatched in my mind and to me, his pitch was spot on ....

Precision...does not come easy...this man studies the instrument in such detail as to give me a new found respect for the instrument....
I would love to spend some time learning articulation and phrasing from this him.
Like bowing, fingering and tonguing techniques taught on other instruments,
the Harmonica has a whole range of ways to move one closer to the music.

It is true...sometimes it is better to just play..
After attending the Clinic it dons on me that this can really be a copout for me to just play from the heart when I am trying to understand new types of music.
Problem is...you can't see what is happening in the mouth of the harp player.

For example...Brendan demonstrated a technique for getting the ornamentation found in irish music...( sort of a triplet snuck it between phrases at breakneck speed).
He slides his jaw to the side in a way I have never seen before...
So after two decades...someone shows me on "easy" way to do this.  ( we will see who easy it proves to be).


Most notably, Brendan is a great ambassador for this instrument.
He fully credits those who came before him and does not seek adulation ( like this post).
He did sit in with my band on Sunday and was so respectful of our little combo and did his level best not to steal the show.

Our keyboardist, from Utopia fame (Rudgren/Bowie..etc.), Roger Powell, who was sitting in as well, instantly recognized his versatility and they had a session I will never forget.
Obviously, not music he was familiar with, Brendan still sounded great and he sounded more like a great reed instrument player on many tunes than a harmonica player...( sounded like soprano sax on the War tunes)
Jon Ericksen sat in on the Chromatic harp and played with Brendan.  Latter,Gino added some interesting 4th position stuff on the Santana set later in the day ( I still prefer 3rd..sorry Gino...)

Brendan, quietly left at the end of the second set seeking no applause and obviously not wanting to take the spotlight at all.
How refreshing it is to meet someone with this much talent, knowledge and class.
Since he left without waiting for the ovation, I am forced to post it here for all your peers to see....

You Really elevated our Rag tag Band on this day and everybody loved ya!
Let us know when you will be in town again.

Grant Walters..and the Big Crawdaddy Band.



On May 25, 2010, at 10:07 PM, Brendan Power wrote:

> BUDDHA & BRENDAN CLINIC ($25 per head)
> Date: Wednesday 2 June 2010
> Time: 6-8pm. Gig follows, Brendan plus special guests.
> Location: The Compound Grill Phoenix, AZ 85054
> Open to all levels. Chris and I answer questions, demonstrate styles,
> positions etc
> Clinic Contact: Buddha: groovygypsy@xxxxxxxxx
> Gig Contact: John Largay
> Address: The Compound Grill
> Northeast Corner of Mayo Blvd. & 68th St.
> 7000 E. Mayo Blvd. Bldg. 21
> Phoenix, AZ 85054
> 602-329-4528 Mobile
> Website: http://www.thecompoundgrill.com/
> 
> I'm flying today and moving about in the next week so internet access will
> be intermittent. Please contact Chris if you're interested in coming, to
> gauge numbers.
> 
> Brendan Power
> WEBSITE: http://www.brendan-power.com
> YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/BrendanPowerMusic