[Harp-L] RE: a bluegrass experience

["Hellerman, Steven" <shellerman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks for the trip back, hadn't listened to these tunes from Jonathan
Edwards in over thirty years. (Made me wanna go dig up "Lay Around the
Shanty".)

But: Do you really think he's playing on a rack, while also playing
guitar? Maybe in a live performance, but these are studio cuts (i.e.,
laying down tracks). If it is indeed harp on a rack while also playing
guitar..... wow. 

SLH


Message: 7
Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2012 01:48:42 -0500 (EST)
From: burket@xxxxxxx
Subject: [Harp-L] re: a bluegrass experience
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID: <8CEB50DFEBB36EA-15AC-49D3@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
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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.