Re: [Harp-L] Michalek Blues

[Mike Fugazzi <mikefugazzi@xxxxxxxxx>]

Chris described his vibrato as bending the note up and down, and you can 
see his jaw moving all around while he would do it.  I guess that makes it 
sorta both?  

What makes it hard to master is his attack and how he applies it.  When I 
reflect on what he was doing compared to what I do, as it is my best point 
of reference, he was always able to lean into notes in a very fluid and 
somewhat soft way.  I tend to slam notes and play harder.  I can't capture 
the dynamics of his playing with the same touch, although I can play the 
same bent vibrato.  I've also heard Jason Ricci demonstrating this in a 
video on the 3 hole bends.

I use the bent note vibrato all the time, but unlike Chris, it is generally 
an aggressive sound unless I am playing something pretty, which I generally 
don't.  He was always able to play with a dynamic and vibrato that was very 
sweet even when he was playing aggressive pieces.  I play harmonica pretty 
much the same way that I sing.  If his playing would be compared to a 
singer, it would have to be someone like Mahalia Jackson.

He was very much a ninja in his playing.  

On Friday, October 19, 2012 9:04:26 AM UTC-5, Michael Rubin wrote:
>
> Iceman, 
> In my opinion, Levy's vibrato is bend based, Chris' jaw based.  They sound 
> very different to me. 
> Michael Rubin 
> Michaelrubinharmonica.com 
>
> On Fri, Oct 19, 2012 at 8:52 AM, The Iceman <icem...@xxxxxxx <javascript:>> 
> wrote: 
>
> > It sounded to me as if Chris was duplicating Howard Levy's type of 
> vibrato 
> > 
> > 
> > ..can anyone duplicate (even approximately)  Chris' vibrato? 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > -----Original Message----- 
> > From: Rick Dempster <rick.d...@xxxxxxxxxxx <javascript:>> 
> > To: Emile Damico <oatss_o...@xxxxxxxxx <javascript:>> 
> > Cc: harp-l <har...@xxxxxxxxxx <javascript:>> 
> > Sent: Fri, Oct 19, 2012 9:07 am 
> > Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Michalek Blues 
> > 
> > 
> > S0...can anyone duplicate (even approximately)  Chris' vibrato? I can't 
> get 
> > anywhere near it.I bought one of his custom harps,and while it 
> > overblowed/drawed etc., I hated playing it, even if I only played scaler 
> > stuff, no chording. 
> > It was like Chris 'processed' each note in a way that was beyond me. 
> > Dammitt!! 
> > RD 
> > ' 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
>