RE: [Harp-L] Re: Wonderful Internet

[Michael Peloquin <peloquinharp@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Bonfiglio is amazing, respected and has no need to entertain other than musically (although he does and those that have seen him know it - LJ)
Mikael B. is so right on in his reply!
Bonfiglio's blues playing is very lacking in my opinion and he might agree. (as he would agree that the SF Giants are on fire right now!)
When Bonfiglio plays his blues harp at the end of every one of his classical concerts, the audience loves it and couldn't care less about his technique.
Robert is a supreme ambassador of our instrument as is Buddy Green. 
 

 
Michael Peloquin

http://www.usaharmonicas.com

http://harpsax.com

http://myspace.com/peloquinharpsax


 


> From: harp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

> Interesting topic!
> 
> Buddy Greene is without doubt a wonderful harmonica player, when 
> playing country / bluegrass stuff, he is simply great, one of my 
> favourites. But I can see Mr Bonfiglio's point here, if you judge 
> this by classical standards, it is not well played.
> 
> Many of us on this list have not listened to classical music enough to 
> hear the difference, but there is so much involved in playing a melody 
> really well, so much detail that needs attention. Something that takes 
> many years to perfect, which Bonfiglio has done.
> 
> If you have listened alot to blues-harp, then you can probably hear 
> and appreciate the nuances involved in, say, Little Walters playing. 
> It's not just the notes, it's how he approaches the notes. Lots of 
> tongue-slaps that are barely heard, but it wouldn't be the same 
> without them. If someone were to play Juke with all the right notes, 
> but no tongue-blocking techniques, it might sound great to someone who 
> can't hear them anyway, but to the rest of us, it would sound like 
> someone missing the point. Playing blues scale notes but lacking the 
> tone and sound which is so important in blues.
> 
> I have personally enjoyed listening to Buddy Greene playing Carnegie 
> Hall, just looking at how happy he is makes my day! (And he plays this 
> much better than I could have...)
> 
> However, I think Bonfiglio has earned the right to critizie the 
> performance for what it is; someone playing Bach in Carnegie Hall.
> 
> Just my 50 ore!
> 
> / Mikael Backman