Re: [Harp-L] Gussow in Princeton Alumni Weekly

[Rick Davis <bluesharpamps@xxxxxxxxx>]

JP, I would agree with you about Adam, except that his Dirty South blues
harp forum is rife with many characters who show sneering disrespect for
players such as Little Walter.  Since LW never played over-blows they reason
that he was an inferior player.  Since they themselves are into the whole
over-blow thing (no matter how bad they sound) they dub themselves "modern"
players, evidently to distinguish themselves from Kim Wilson, Rick Estrin,
and Little Walter.  I've not seen Adam disclaim this odd notion, and his
quote in the Princeton Alum magazine seems to promote it.

I'm not sure that mere interest in over-blows qualifies a player to declare
himself "modern" or anything else.  It is a tough instrument to play well,
no matter what you do.  I admire the playing of Adam and Jason and Howard as
much as I do the playing of Kim and Rick and Gary Smith.  The music speaks
for itself.

-- 
-Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
http://www.bluesharpamps.blogspot.com/


On Wed, Oct 5, 2011 at 1:39 PM, Jp Pagán <jplpagan@xxxxxxx> wrote:

>
>
>  I don't think we should get too upset with Adam. He may not be the most
> soft-spoken, but guys like him have been around forever. The first guy who
> ever bent a note was an Adam. The first guy who ever amplified his harmonica
> was an Adam. The first guy to play blues on a chromatic was an Adam. We
> wouldn't be here if it weren't for guys who didn't want to exemplify the
> traditions of their forbears.
>