Re: [Harp-L] gig (about solos)

["John Dekker" <jdekker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

JJ Cale is a master of the use of space around notes. He never plays five
notes when one will do. I like the harp played the same way. While I admire
Jason Ricci's skill, for example, he wears me out after a while. Same with
Stevie Ray Vaughan on guitar. I saw him live once, and he had to play a mad
solo on every song. Too much, IMO.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "steve@xxxxxxxxxxxx" <swebb@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, September 13, 2010 2:08 PM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] gig (about solos)


> I've gotten better at laying out as I get older, but my improvised solos 
> still suck bigtime.   I don't play much blues and if I stay away from 
> blues for awhile, I am just not good at it.   I always looked to Mickey 
> Raphael and his work with Willie Nelson as a great example of less is 
> more.
> He never plays a lot in any song and he's managed to stay employed for lo 
> these many years.
> Steve Webb in Minnesota
>
> ---- Doug H <dough.harpl@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > I'd be pretending if I claimed I could muster a good solo, original or 
> > otherwise, but that doesn't stop me from knowing what I like.
> >
> > Rainbow Jimmy said: <snip>
> >
> > >Also--I think harmonica sounds better in small doses, so I'm going to 
> > >get
> > >the courage to be on stage with just bass, drums and guitar, and play
> > >nothing for large section of the song. If they want to play for 15 
> > >minutes
> > >that's fine--I'll put in my 60 second solo and then sit out.
> > >-- 
> > >Rainbow Jimmy
> >
> > My all-time favourite example of the less is more school of soloing is 
> > the guitar solo on "After Midnight" off of J.J. Cale's album, 
> > "Naturally".
> >
> > If you listen to the specific cut off this album you will walk away 
> > remembering how amazing and tastefully right-on the guitar was.  But 
> > later when you listen again you realize that he only solo'd for a few 
> > bars on the whole cut.  He makes no attempt at flash, and even slips down 
> > in the mix at one point.  Super human restraint.
> >
> > "Quality gets remembered; quantity fades away."  -anonymous.
> >
> > Harp content:  Ed Colis does a good job playing down in the mix, weaving 
> > in and out of the horn section on "The Woman I Love" off the same album. 
> > (Use headphones.)
> >
> > Doug H