[Harp-L] re: a bluegrass experience

[burket@xxxxxxx]

Greetings.  I appreciate this bluegrass experience thread.

Aside from being able to nail & shred bluegrass or fiddle tune melodies note for note, 
some of my favorite bluegrass harp players know when to play and when "not" to play.
The "less is more" approach.  And then when the harp does come back in, its much more
effective (and appreciated).  

Ex. In backing up a vocalist (maybe harmonica silence, or simple chord chucks), 
or when another instrument is soloing, and then in typical bluegrass style, 
being able to step up and take an awesome solo when its your time to shine.

I've played in several bluegrass bands (5 string banjo), but always
kept a harp in a rack, locked, loaded, and ready.   

An early inspiration for this style of playing for me
was Jonathan Edwards.  

One of our bluegrass staples was a song he wrote, "Athens County", which has 
guitar, bass, banjo, lead vocal, and nice harp solo that Edwards
plays on a rack in the middle break. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3rJ6wBfBYc

"Don't Cry Blue" is another fun bluegrass /vocal/ harp tune.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPC708NYbCM

- Burke T.




Message: 6
Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2012 12:34:42 -0500
From: W B <wbharptime2@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] re: a bluegrass experience
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID:
	<CAFewmxx-fg=sSAW1axcOSeZGk5i63Uz=GtQ7X_5Tzm3N2vPMYA@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I think that one of the most wonderful things that I have seen happen
in my SPAH convention experience is what Cara & Lonnie Joe have done
to bring bluegrass/country harmonica front and center.  The bluegrass
jams have grown by leaps and bounds with their efforts.  In my opinion
these jams can be some of the most inviting and friendly jams for
newbies to jump into.  Making music is supposed to be fun.  Cara and
Lonnie Joe do an excellent job at keeping things smiley and loose.

Warren Bee