[Harp-L] Mick Jagger's harp playing on new Blue and Lonesome

[Lew Aldridge]

Personally I don't mind his playing - it ain't virtuoso but generally complements the songs.  Boy are we ungrateful.  As an  instrument the harmonica has little in your face exposure in mainstream pop music. That the Rolling Stones has released an album that will probably turn on prospective musicians to the harmonica is a wonderful bonus to us.  That it also may turn on people to the blues is even more of a bonus as far as I'm concerned - the more the better.

Somebody in an earlier post contacted his local radio station to get them to play the Little Walter version of one of the songs, which was refused  - I'll bet there's far more chance that it will be played now, on the lines of  people saying 'I liked that song by the Stones - it's written by Little Walter - never heard of him so I'll look it up - hey that's great let's hear some more and buy more harmonica blues and get a harmonica and give it a blow and lets get some lessons 'cos I want to be even better than Mick'.

As far as virtuoso playing is concerned my experience is that most audiences get switched off very quickly by virtuoso playing that they often perceive as 'shredding' on any instrument unless that's what floats their boat. I play guitar as well as harmonica and a couple of other instruments beside and I learnt a long time ago that most audiences want it as clean and simple as the genre will provide.

I say - Well done Mick and the Stones - thanks for promoting the instrument I love!!

Just my plastic fiver
Lew

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