RE: [Harp-L] Are all harp players blues players?

[JersiMuse <jersimuse@xxxxxxxxx>]

I have learnt the harmonica with the Blues.
I musically grew up in this environment.
I've played so much blues that I couldn't anymore. I know many of you may
not understand this, but I feel a bit sick about it.
Or more precisely about Blues with the harmonica, and all that same old
playing, which I used to love so much.

Anyway, I now play in a Jazz Trio (called Zanella Trio), and in a Funky-Rock
band, in which I have been hired... to be the Jazzy chorus guy !
That is really funny, I've been hired to take the place of the saxophone
soloist, and the band chose me because they wanted a Jazz soloist, whatever
the instrument is, not a harmonica player.

In parallel, I study Jazz many hours per day.
Rhythm, Harmony, Standards, Swing, Chorus development, etc.
I have much more things to discover now, and much more fun.
Here is my last exercise : a Dexter Gordon theme & first chorus :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6G5qTolfFB0
I'll post the whole chorus in few days I guess.

In conclusion, I think the harmonica can be played like any other
instrument.
One has to choose in which musical direction one want to go, knowing that
all directions are possible.
Choice is a wonderful luxury !

Regards,

Jerome Peyrelevade
www.youtube.com/JersiMuse


-----Message d'origine-----
De : harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] De la part
de Larry Marks
Envoyé : mardi 12 juin 2012 21:47
À : davymax
Cc : harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Objet : Re: [Harp-L] Are all harp players blues players?

I have a blues band and I sing and play standards with a piano player, but I
will play any music or lead sheet you put before me. I am a sideman. I have
played a variety of harmonicas, brass and keyboards, but now play only
valved diatonic harmonicas.

'Course, I only like certain kinds of music: classical, jazz, blues, rock,
old standards, show tunes and march music. I don't play disco. 
Some examples of stuff (other than blues) that I like to play:

  - Leads from march music I used to play as a trombone player in a marching
band; e.g., Semper Fi, Manhattan Beach, Hail to the Chief, etc.

  - Old standards, such as Buddy Can You Spare a Dime (timely!), Skylark,
etc.

  - Jazz standards such as Freedom Jazz Dance, The Wave, etc.

  - Leads and parts from Renaissance, Baroque and Classical compositions.

Some things I would love to do but haven't:

  - Play Donna Lee at > 200
  - Play an Ives quarter-tome composition.

Farz I'm concerned, there ain't anything I can't play if it fits into three
octaves.

   -LM