Re: [Harp-L] Alan "Blind Owl" Wilson's timed vibrato

[Mike Wilbur <mike@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

List me among the " Numb Lip Thieves ".... hey great name for a Blues Band !

Mike Wilbur


On Feb 11, 2013, at 8:28 AM, Eric Miller <miller.eric.t@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Every great musician is informed by influences along the way, regardless
> of their instrument.
> 
> Talent borrows, genius steals (Oscar Wilde)
> 
> Anyone who takes the word "steal" at face value in that quote doesn't get
> it creatively.
> 
> SRV spent hours trying to exactly duplicate the tone and technique of
> specific Albert King licks, until they were 2nd nature.  Stevie died the
> most original blues guitarist to ever pick up the instrument.
> 
> I don't think Jason Ricci is re****rded for locking himself in a room and
> playing Pat Ramsey licks over and over until his lips were numb.
> 
> Eric N....I hope you were just having a bad day when you wrote that, we all
> want better for you (sincerely)
> 
> 
> On Sun, Feb 10, 2013 at 8:08 PM, David Fairweather <dmf273@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> 
>> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>> From: David Fairweather <dmf273@xxxxxxxxx>
>> Date: Sun, Feb 10, 2013 at 4:39 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Alan "Blind Owl" Wilson's timed vibrato
>> To: Eric Neumann <special20@xxxxxxxxx>
>> 
>> 
>> Eric, I don't consider it stealing to try to emulate a technique.   Given
>> the countless discussions on harp-l about all sorts of other techniques,
>> ranging from tongue switching to overbending to circular breathing to
>> u-blocking etc. etc.  why would you pick on timed vibrato as being too
>> personal to steal?   And by the way "retarded" is an insensitive word to
>> rebuke someone who might not agree with you.
>> 
>> 
>> On Sun, Feb 10, 2013 at 4:18 PM, Eric Neumann <special20@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> 
>>> To me, it's more important to find your own voice rather than try to
>> steal
>>> another. Even when it's as a study - the effort spent seems to be
>> fruitless
>>> be aide you'll never be that person. Ever. It's great to do that stuff
>> for
>>> another purpose, such as tabbing or to teach, or to have insight - but
>> good
>>> lord - you're wasting you're time trying to sound like, or master some
>>> oxygen else's natural born style. Even if you think it's a journey, or
>>> however you rationalize it, it's retarded to spend a whole lot of time
>>> doing it. Oh, but have fun. Whatever
>>> 
>>> On Feb 10, 2013, at 5:11 PM, Joseph Leone <3n037@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> I think it'a a (clarinet) tongue vibrato. He may be pulsing his tongue
>>> forward and backward at the throat. As for perfect timing? Could be
>>> genetic. Like wiggling ones ears.
>>>> smo-joe
>>>> 
>>>> On Feb 10, 2013, at 4:53 PM, David Fairweather wrote:
>>>> 
>>>>> I'm about half way though reading Rebecca Winters' biography of Alan
>>>>> Wilson, "Blind Owl Blues".   I've just finished a chapter devoted to
>> his
>>>>> harmonica playing.  Although it contains some new, to me information -
>>> like
>>>>> his doing the bullfrog thing with his cheeks when he played a la Dizzy
>>>>> Gillespie, so far I'm disappointed to find no mention of his superb
>>> timed
>>>>> vibrato.   To me that vibrato is unique and I've been trying to
>> emulate
>>> it
>>>>> ever since I picked up a harp, with only limited success.
>>>>> 
>>>>> So I think its time once again to turn to the experts here on Harp-L.
>>> How
>>>>> do you think he did it?   Listen, for example, to Canned Heat's "Goin'
>>> Down
>>>>> Slow".   http://youtu.be/lRPcxbagJ-U
>>>>> 
>>>>> How do you think he's doing it?  I always thought it was a diaphragm
>> or
>>>>> throat vibrato or a combination of the two, but Jason Ricci told me
>>> that he
>>>>> thinks its tongue vibrato!  The tongue would certainly allow for the
>>>>> perfect timing, but I can't get that fullness of tone with just my
>>> tongue.
>>>>> Can you? On the other hand, even after years of practice I can't quite
>>> get
>>>>> that perfect timing with my diaphragm or throat..
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>> 
>>