[Harp-L] Subject: Pocketful of Soul, the Movie - in New York City. a Review

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

Agree with Michael: Thanks, Todd & Marc for your years of devotion to  and 
hard work on making Pocketful of Soul. Austin had a BIG audience. Here in NY 
 it was smaller, more intimate, and fun. Who knew the Loews here had so 
many  theaters inside? (Obviously we're not regular movie attendees). It took 
us a  while to find it...small and perfectly sized for 'our' movie.
 
 
We got there just in time--(quite a traffic-bucking trip in from our  
distant area of Long Island), nearly impossible to get a cab at that time of the  
evening so began the hike and lucked onto a taxi which whisked us to the  
door JUST in time. Cathy Mallett (whom I know as a member of the Garden State 
 Club) checked off names at a table and directed us. An auspicious 
beginning (she  did a great job all around). It was very cool to spot Robert 
Bonfiglio  attempting to be invisible but with SO much screen time during the Movie 
he  was pretty much outed--so ended up doing  an impromptu audience 
question-and-answer afterwards along with  Wade Schuman, also featured (of Hazmat 
Modine). My first time getting to see  Wade in person--he's a very personable 
speaker and all-round nice guy. Sure did  miss Rob Paparozzi though--who 
couldn't make it due to illness although  he too is featured in the Movie.
 
 
I was a wee bit disappointed not to see onscreen some of the trailer clips  
we've been privy to for so long. John Popper's infamous  tongue-in-cheek 
comment isn't in the film unless I somehow missed it. I  really do dig his 
witty and slightly sarcastic sense of humour. I noted how many  people had 
passed on since the beginning of the shoot: Charley Leighton, Gary  Primich, 
Chris Michalek, Roger Monroe (from his goofy appearance in the trailer  with 
his brother Marv): Chris was the one who brought real tears this time--was  
somehow unprepared to see and hear him so intensely up onscreen with his  
particularly wonderful diatonic jazz playing...but I thoroughly enjoyed seeing  
and hearing SO many wonderful harmonica players I know, many of whom are now 
my  friends: Robert, Rob, Sugar, Will, Jason in several of his different  
incarnations, Phil Caltabellotta onscreen with the YellowPine trio...it was 
all  a great treat. I'd go to see the Movie again in a heartbeat  because I 
simply couldn't take it all in with one showing. THEN I'd like it on  DVD 
afterwards to be able to pause it, especially during the SPAH  shots.
 
 
It took my husband to notice that I'd actually made it into the film too  
(at least the back of my head and white shirt did) :) during a pan of either 
the  SPAH 2006 lobby or teach-ins later in the film. He thought that was 
very  cool...my single claim to fame, hah.
 
 
My sole (and minor) disappointment was that we didn't have 'a jam'  
afterwards, or go somewhere to play and/or eat together, but a week night isn't  
particularly conducive for those who had to get up early the next morning  for 
work. Perhaps the next time we could arrange to do this on a  Friday 
instead? IF there's a bit more notice I'm sure we could get more people  out to 
see the Movie--hopefully in better weather as well. It was windy and  chilly 
last night in NYC.
 
 
Still: quite a bit of info was shared during the Q&A and  we likely 
garnered a few more SPAH (and harp-l) members. New Yorkers/New  Jersey-ites are 
really cool, friendly and giving people. Thoroughly  enjoyable experience all 
around, especially finally meeting Bill Lifford (I'd  previously had him 
confused with another Long Islander) and reconnecting with  Chris Mastakas (who 
once posted a down-hill skiing/harp playing video here--a  first).
 
 
Elizabeth
 
PS: To MY mind there are so many really great harmonica players NOT in the  
movie to easily fill a Sequel. Steve Baker, Jay Gaunt, Brandon Bailey, 
Brendan  Power, Michal Adler, Hendrik Meurkens Hermine Deurloo to name just a 
few,  ..all of the South American players--and how about including perhaps a 
focus on  the harmonica championships in Trossingen? Perhaps that's something 
Todd and  Marc already have in mind? But I'm positive it'll take REAL money 
and backing.  From what I remember they began this project on a wing and 
prayer, financed  out of their own pockets. When I hear complaints about why 
they didn't  approach it 'this' way or 'that' way it grates...since it's so 
easy to judge  unless one is spending one's own money and devoting one's own 
life to a  particular project.
 
PPS: I'd be remiss not to mention that Ken Korb who was also in attendance  
with his violin-playing partner Laura, and who's played at the Garden State 
 Festival, will be appearing tonight at Reece's 1900, 70 North Ocean  
Avenue in Patchogue for any Lon Guylanders <G> who might wish to  catch his show. 
Here's a link:
http://www.reeses1900pub.com/calendar-live-music.htm