RE: [Harp-L] Grégoire Maret

[robert mcgraw <harpbob@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I've got his solo CD, and I must admit it just doesn't connect with me...at least not yet. I listen to it every now and then, and I can hear that he is a great player...but it just doesn't grab me. Perhaps it's what I hear as a certain...emotional detachment or coolness? Or something? The fact that people with way bigger ears than mine {Herbie Hancock, Marcus Miller, Pat Matheny] like what he plays enough to hire him is not lost on me, so I'm going to keep listening.
WVa Bob

> Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Grégoire Maret
> From: slim@xxxxxxxxxx
> Date: Tue, 1 Oct 2013 07:22:31 -0700
> To: martinoldsberg@xxxxxxxxx
> CC: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
> 
> Hi Martin -
> 
> I know you're not alone based on conversations I've had with some other folks. 
> 
> All I can say is that I've seen him play live many times and I'm blown away by his music, his sensitivity, his originality, and not least of all his incredible chops. 
> 
> So, big surprise, a guy comes along with a unique (and in my view sophisticated) approach to the instrument and doesn't connect with everyone ;-). But there's a reason he's been employed over the years by so many esteemed musicians and it obviously has nothing to do with his (lack of) popularity. I can only imagine that he's actually touched these people with his playing.
> 
> I was perhaps lucky that my introduction to his playing was seeing him in a small jazz club here in Santa Cruz a number of years ago when he was playing with Dapp Theory (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0GxXBBqAcE). I found their music infectious and in this context his playing really drew me in. Years later, subbing for an ailing Toots in San Francisco, playing with Toot's band, I got to see another side -- Maret paying a soulful tribute to the harmonica master. It was gorgeous and obviously full of love for Toot's legacy. 
> 
> As for what he's up to, if you haven't heard his solo album, or his album with Andy Milne ("Scenarios"), perhaps it would shed some light to give a listen. Or perhaps not. I have no idea why only some people connect with his playing, but we're talking about music after all, and that's the nature of the beast. 
> 
> - Slim.
> 
> www.SlideManSlim.com
> 
> 
> On Sep 30, 2013, at 2:38 PM, martin oldsberg wrote:
> 
> > Caught a snippet of a Jacky Terrason concert the other day (Swedish televison) where Grégoire Maret sat in on a jam on at least one song.
> >   I´ve heard him quite a few times over the years with Cassandra Wilson, Charlie Hunter et al, and he´s obviously a well-schooled player and tremendously successful -- but I just don´t "get" him.
> >   He´s forged an individual style (although at times he sounds a bit like a truncated Toots T), likes to play on the outside of chords, rather dry tone/sound, no vibrato (almost) and a sort of choppy phrasing -- certainly not ingratiating. 
> > 
> >   Strange, perhaps interesting but -- apart from recognizing his skills -- he does not move me at all. I´m not into slamming him (as if he´d care ...), and you could say the problem is mine, but am I alone in this? Or can someone give some pointers on what he´s up to.
> > Cheers,
> > Martin
> > PS I don´t give a rats ass what instrument he´s using (it´s chromatic harmonica!), lubrication oils, amplifiers, microphones etc: this is about the music.
> > 
> > 
> 
>