Re: [Harp-L] Re: Hispanic Harp Players

[michael rubin <michaelrubinharmonica@xxxxxxxxx>]

For the record, my student likes all styles of music.

On Thu, Aug 23, 2012 at 12:21 AM, Cara Cooke <cyberharp@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> That Texas player may have been Dale Spalding, who was based in Austin,
> Tx., for a period of time after Katrina forced him to move from New
> Orleans.  He is currently playing and singing with Canned Heat and has
> finally moved back to New Orleans.  We miss him, but he does occasionally
> come for visits -- especially to play with Jimi Lee.  The two of them
> together is a real show.  He has been a real asset at the harmonica
> workshop at the Old Settlers Music Festival.
>
> Cara
>
> On Wed, Aug 15, 2012 at 8:53 AM, Jp Pagán <jplpagan@xxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > Hola Rubben, everyone,
> >
> > Now that the conversation is opening up a little past just hispanic harp
> > players... I'm originally from Puerto Rico, and I listen to a lot of
> latin
> > music, especially Salsa and the many styles that went into and came out
> of
> > that. Practically no harmonica in any of that. I come to harmonica from
> the
> > Blues. I assume that Michael's student is looking for blues-style players
> > who happen to be hispanic, and not harmonica players playing in latin
> > styles but... Howard Levy plays some salsa. He was (is?) with a Chicago
> > salsa band. I've yet to hear it myself, but I bet it's interesting. As
> for
> > Charlie, I talked to him once about his playing on Ochoa's album and the
> > latin pieces he did on his own CDs. Charlie is a blues player, and that's
> > what he knows, so he plays the blues "over" the latin music that moves
> him.
> > I agree it's not a perfect mesh — but it's an interesting musical hybrid.
> > I'd love to hear some Cuban players be inspired by him and take it in a
> > different direction.
> >
> > One player I should mention who does both blues and latin VERY well is
> > Damien Masterson. I don't think he's hispanic by birth, but he gets an
> > honorary Latino Pass from me any day. He has a few albums out, including
> > one called ¡Cubacambio! which is just about all latin music iirc. There
> is
> > also a Texas player named Dave Spalding who is just a great all around
> > musician. He's very close to Poncho Sanchez, and has recorded with him,
> > though I have only heard him on a latinized cover of Ray Charles' "Mary
> > Ann," which was great. If he's at SPAH, I'll have to ask him if he's done
> > more recording with Poncho.
> >
> > Rubben mentions Jibaro Cuban music, well, Puerto Rico has its own Jibaro
> > music — Plena (among others). Back in the day, there *were* some plena
> > bands that used harmonicas, but practically none survive on record.
> > However, a 70s band from NYC — Grupo Folklorico y Experimental
> > Nuevayorquino — revived many of those old forms, and one of their
> founding
> > members was a harmonica player, Francisco "Tan" Martinez. He does some
> > EXCELLENT playing on their "Concepts in Unity" album, all on a tremolo
> > harmonica. It's great, latin playing that fits in perfectly. I've tried
> to
> > find out more about Martinez, but haven't gotten anywhere. Yet.
> >
> > Also, in Harmonica Happenings I ran an article about the harmonica in
> > Cuba. It's from a few years back, but I'll try to get off my duff and
> post
> > it spah.org for those who are interested.
> >
> > Rubben, drop me a line off-list at jplpagan AT mac DOT com. I'd love to
> > talk to you more about your playing...
> >
> >
> > JP
> >
> >
> > --- In harp-l-archives@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, Rubben Emmanuelli
> <comunadesantos@...>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > I am...  i play merengues, salsa, bachata with my corporate gigs band.
> It
> > > was not planned. I was just bored so i started diggin it and the music
> > > director likes it and clients too. The other day i play for the first
> > time
> > > a cumbia version of Pretemders Back on the Chaingang by Selena named as
> > > Fotos y Recuerdos (not sure was the name) It was fun..
> > >
> > > About Charlie Musselwhite..the first time i heard him playing Cuban
> music
> > > sound to me kind of strange but not bad playing. I love Charlie and
> he's
> > > one of my heroes. But to me as a latin player the flow was very strange
> > for
> > > my taste. Not Bad..Just strange..Great fills and bendings plus the
> sound
> > > man..No one sound like Charlie Musselwhite..and he's expanding his
> music
> > > makin it more global.  Still is a great effort and we can learn from
> what
> > > he does. I think it was the fact that Jibaro Cuban Music just depends
> on
> > > Triple,Guitar,bongos and guiro. Some add flute or trumpet for those who
> > > want to beautify it. No Sax..If you want to practice harmonica on some
> > > latin flavor stuff. Look For La Murga..from Hector Lavoe. Steady beat
> and
> > > plenty of space to fill it out. You'll find it on You Tube Karoeke
> > > versions..try it out. Have fun
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>