Re: [Harp-L] Totally bored? Listen to this=Harp Content

[The Iceman <icemanle@xxxxxxx>]

very original and unique



-----Original Message-----
From: John Shirley <john_shirley@xxxxxxx>
To: Noah <nhoehn@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: harp-l harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Mon, May 4, 2015 3:18 pm
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Totally bored? Listen to this=Harp Content


Hey all.

Just got back from the Harmonica Collective and am catching up -
reading this thread with great interest.

With Jason Ricci, PT Gazell, Mitch
Kashmar, Richard Sleigh and Winslow Yerxa teaching, the Collective was anything
but the same ol' blues licks and 12-bar progressions. There was a lot of stress
on creativity and getting out of our ruts (using things like various harmonica
types, positions, modes/scales, musical styles, effects and rhythmic variation
as well as listening to great players of other instruments).

Anyway, thanks
for the link to your album Noah; cool stuff with both formal and rhythmic
interest in a modern style! "My Escape" (track 3) also has some nice harp
parts.

To speak to the thread subject more generally: I like to avoid getting
too repetitive in my own listening and musical output and try to keep things
fresh. For me, this encourages playing, practice, learning and writing new
music... both within the blues realm and outside of it. That's one reason I
recorded my recent EP of 5 songs in 5 different genres using 4 different harp
types ("Not So Blue" - on YouTube for free listening). The EP includes an
energetic blues-infused rock tune on diatonic with overblows, as well as such
oddities as a heavy metal double bass harmonica piece, Jazz with pitch shifting
on XB40, and a sitar love ballad.

If you haven't already checked it out and
are interested in something
different:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ_L9X-hQDE&list=PLD-VQNdNliVQLCF5edj72u9XKT-y1LqSr


Do
what brings you joy!

If you get bored of the blues, you could try some of the
things I mentioned above from the Collective, or maybe just take a break from it
for a while and try something new. You may well come back to it later
reenergized and with a fresh perspective.

Thanks to all those who've
contributed to this thread in ways that have me thinking and gave me new ideas
and music to explore.

All the best,

- John

Dr. John F. Shirley
Music
Department Chairman
University of Massachusetts Lowell



On May 2, 2015,
at 3:33 PM, Noah wrote:

> I love the "Totally bored" thread. It really
highlights the diversity in our harp and blues and music communities. I am a
serious harp player--but a trained percussionist and songwriter as well.
> 
>
I have a new album out this week using quite a lot of harp. I would sincerely
appreciate it if this harp-L community took a few minutes to just play TRACK 1.
I promise you won't be disappointed. I can't promise you will like it... Harp
Riffs + Modern Production.
> 
> Free Streaming under "Music" tab:
>
http://noahhoehn.com/home/
> 
> Support a Harp Player!
>
http://noahhoehn.com/home/
> 
> Love you all!
> Noah
>