Re: [Harp-L] SPAH and me

[Joseph Leone <3n037@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Actually Gary, I wouldn't. As I just wrote attached to Roscoe's post, we do that all the time. BUT, here's some problems:
And this just refers to the jazz jams. But it could also gravitate into other jams. 

1... Jazz jams are for what they are. Basically jazz. It's not Americas got talent time. 
2... There are only 45 min, 15 min break, and another 45 min. (total 1.5 hrs) to do the jam.
3... Nothing against women, but once one sings, there are always more. OUR jam is 'jammed' with them. (pun intended).
4... Several players have come a long way to get there. They don't even get 15 minutes of fame. Maybe 12-16 bars at a time. 
5... Some singers have no business singing, and are better suited to operating an air hammer. 
6... If you are singing/playing with a group for the FIRST time, you need to have your sh*t together.

Now there IS a person whom I  L O V E  to listen to. Dave Fairweather (aka Jazzman). Right up there with Johnny Hartman.  

I tried to start a jazz jam over 20 years ago but it fell on deaf ears. It wasn't until Randy Singer convinced spah that it would be
a 'draw', that it all began.

j. Le one 

On Aug 20, 2015, at 1:37 PM, Gary Lehmann wrote:

> There was a lot of vocal stuff in the lobby, I spent most of half an hour singing three-part harmony with Brenda Freed and Tom Moore.
> And the jazz jam allowed singers, smokey Joe would have been horrified.
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Aug 20, 2015, at 10:05 AM, Jerry Deall <jdeall@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> 
>> Rosco, 
>> I tend to agree. However, I do really enjoy the instrumental expertise of many of the players in addition several genres harmonica trio and jazz tend to leave out vocals for the most part. In addition this year and last we had a couple of really great vocal seminars (thanks Brenda), which I hope continues. 
>> 
>> That said I would be very interested in some suggestions from you and other members on how we improve on this aspect which is lacking. Please give some suggestions on how this would look, how we would staff it and if there would be a cost/benefit aspect. 
>> 
>> Ideas: 
>> More seminars on voice. 
>> Seminars on working with a band, including vocals 
>> Jams which specifically include vocals for those that want it. This may also help reduce the large groups which some jams get and offer some variety. 
>> 
>> Suggestion: volunteer to work on this. 
>> 
>> Thanks Jerry 
>> 
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> 
>> From: "rosco" <roscoharp@xxxxxxxxx> 
>> To: "Winslow Yerxa" <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx> 
>> Cc: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx 
>> Sent: Thursday, August 20, 2015 9:30:11 AM 
>> Subject: Re: [Harp-L] SPAH and me 
>> 
>> I hope I made it clear that I am not really indicting SPAH - most of the 
>> attendees love it. And I probably could have summed up my thoughts more 
>> succinctly. What I was trying to explain is that what I do mostly these 
>> days, what I am most interested in, is using harmonica to accompany a band, 
>> with a singer or singers, in a way that serves the song and not the 
>> instrument. SPAH is amazing and it has a great variety of music (much of 
>> which I like!) with a huge amount of harp soloing and showing off (In a 
>> good way!)...There just is not much music like I'm playing these days and 
>> would love to hear. 
>> 
>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>> 
>