Re: [Harp-L] Subject: Jason Ricci 'Goin' to California' and Skype lessons

[Joseph Leone <3n037@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I am greatly appreciative to see Richard, one of the players that I admire and respect the most..a person whom can ALSO keep my attention for as long as he likes, throw an accolade Jason's way. 

I have had many occasions where I went to listen to a so called headliner and wound up disappointed, as they showed me everything they had in 4 minutes. So, players like that should limit their stuff to 3 min 49 seconds. But in Jason's case, I don't know if people really understand what we have/had here? A man whom IS all that harmonica IS. A veritable human harmonica, Jason can play 13 min solos, 44 min sets, and 2.5 hour gigs and never do the same riffs twice. 

Not only that but he changes: speeds, keys, chording, deliveries, attacks, genres, styles, and yada yada ad infinitum. I sure hope we get him back. He brightens up a dark room like Christmas lights. He exudes life. Yes, he is definitely one of a kind.

smo-joe  (he provided DaVinci with the 'paint by the numbers' canvas for the Mona Lisa. He holds Venus deMilo's arms in safekeeping. He keeps his sea shell collection on all the beaches of the world). Yes, he IS the most unforgettable character you will ever meet. 


  
> 
> 
> In a message dated 8/25/2012 2:14:30 P.M. GMT Daylight Time,  
> turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
> 
> <This  is for all of those who might be new to Harp-l and believe the hype  
> 
> <that Jason is simply a 'fast' player whose notes 'go nowhere'. They  
> actually 
> <go  somewhere, but faster than some folks' ears seem  capable of 
> following. 
> <He is SO  much more than simply a 'fast  player' as his playing here 
> proves.
> 
> The thing that impresses me most  about Jason is his ability to build 
> intensity over very long periods of time,  in a song and in a set.  I heard it 
> first in an 18-minute live version of  "Whammer Jammer," which held my 
> attention the whole time.  I heard it  again in his performance at SPAH in 
> Sacramento, where he played with a (very  good) pickup band, and brought the 
> intensity up song by song until he finished  in a beautiful roar.  
> 
> It's not all about fast with Jason.   That's just one of the things he does 
> to bring up the temperature.   Increasing his use of FX as the set 
> progresses is another. I could go on, but  you get the point. 
> 
> Regards, Richard Hunter
> 
> author, "Jazz Harp"  
> latest mp3s and harmonica blog at http://hunterharp.com
> Myspace  http://myspace.com/richardhunterharp
> Vids at  http://www.youtube.com/user/lightninrick
> more mp3s at  http://taxi.com/rhunter
> Twitter:  lightninrick
>