Re: [Harp-L] Don Les on Youtube

[Rick Dempster <rick.dempster@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

One thing I noticed about this video, is that Don's solos are pretty much
identical to his recordings of the same tunes.
This leads me to think that Don carefully built these solos, rather than
just playing from the top of his head.
No discredit intended; I've often considered that a lot of improvisation
has been gradually constructed through many gigs and jam sessions. Some
players are a little more conservative than others in 'blowing' - or not.
Don's solos are beautifully constructed, whatever the case. I love those
wonderfully timed grace notes.
I notice that when diatonic players decide to get into 'jazz', it's usually
by way of the later Miles Davis type of thing, and the reason for that is,I
think, because it sound closer to a bluesy, modal thing, rather than
swing-era and New Orleans styles, where you have to know all your chord
arpeggios (which, of course, Miles and all his contemporaries did)
No disrespect here for Miles and the 'moderns', but speaking of the legions
of later followers of that style of playing, it can be a little like
'modern' (or 'post-modern', whatever the hell that's supposed to mean) art,
where for a long time now, nobody has bothered to learn to draw or paint
representationally. (sorry...spell check reckons that's not a word) even
though the old 'modernists' cut their first teeth on being able to draw
properly. Most of us (well, me) just end up being too bamboozled by
technique and obliqueness to be able to judge if it's any good, or just
'amazing'.
But I easily 'get' Don:
'Is Don; is Good'
(an Australian joke- sorry northern hemisphericals)

Regards,
Rick- I- hope- I- don't- regret- posting- this-Dempster
PS Glad you Dug Don, Tony.

On 1 May 2013 13:35, Tony Eyers <tony@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Like Rick Dempster, I have a great admiration for Don Les.
>
>  http://www.youtube.com/watch?**v=JFNVTnfdi2c<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFNVTnfdi2c>
>
> This video is the first time I've seen him live. I would love to have met
> him. Not to be, of course.
>
> What astounds me is what he achieved with 1st position. No tricks. Very
> accomplished bending up the top, not many low notes. Impeccable taste,
> timing and execution. I could easily take some years trying to figure out
> his style, it would be time well spent.
>
> Also, he plays a Huang Silvertone. I'm familiar with this instrument, and,
> for a sub $20 diatonic, it is possibly the best thing going. But, imagine
> if he'd been able to get his hands on one of the high end diatonics now
> available. Better still, after it had passed through the hands of Joe
> Filisko or one of the other great customisers. These terrific new
> instruments, SO much easier to drive than their predecessors, would
> doubtless have increased his palette even more.
>
> Again, not to be. We can only imagine. Still, this video is a treasure.
> Hopefully others will come to light.
>
> Tony Eyers
> Australia
> www.HarmonicaAcademy.com
> ...everyone plays
>



-- 
Rick Dempster
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