[Harp-L] Subject: (was Toots called Howard a name), now Passing the torch: Yvonnick Prene

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

Oh Wow, Smokey--why didn't you ever tell me about this guy?
 
I LOVE what I'm hearing here:
 
 http://www.yvonnickprene.com/live/
 
and if I didn't know it was him, I'd have sworn it was Toots.
 
BTW, he's come to New York--and even taught a class this  past Spring!
 
Very cool indeed, and he's cute! ;)
 
Now I'm off to find some videos of his.....
 
Elizabeth
 
"Message: 9
Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2013 08:56:31 -0400
From: Joseph  Leone <3n037@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Toots called Howard a  name
To: Chuck Dean <cadean329@xxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Harp L Harp L  <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>

Yes, I realized that after I sent it. But I  didn't correct it at the time 
because I didn't think it was worth the band  width.
Toots was 18 when Belgium was invaded. A..He was undraftable because  he 
was asmatic. B.. It was all moot as Belguim surrendered in 28 hours. 
I  had 2 uncles fighting in Belgium in 44 (and a father in Italy). One was 
the same  age as Jean Batiste ( & wounded), and the other a year younger ( & 
 killed). So, yes you are correct. 
That would make Toots about 91. I just  lost the uncle that was his age. 

As for his best work, again, I think  you are correct. 'Best' is hard to 
quantify, but some of his stuff around the  late 50s was so out into orbit in 
terms of pushing the limits of 'rolling' the  chord structure(s), that I 
have a hard time imagining anyone who could even  dream to come close. His 
later stuff, while more mature and polished, is not in  the same league. BUT, 
having said that I have been watching one Yvonnic Prene  for several years, 
and in my (humility...and stomach churning illness, I must  add), in this era 
of talking about who or whom is going to inherit this one or  that ones 
crown, I see Prene as being deserving of a 'throne of his own', so to  speak. 

He is what I have I have been preaching for years. Namely  becomming ONE 
with your instrument, he has, just Like Wikus Van der Werwe  'melded' with a 
Prawn in the movie District 9, Prene has become an entirely new  breed of 
human/harmonica. 

Just my opinion....  smokey-joe"