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Post by whitefang on Jun 21, 2019 6:19:08 GMT -5
Talkin' elsewhere about playing harmonica in a holder as an accompaniment with playing guitar (and whatever level of singing one is capable of ) One catalyst for me was to be able to emulate THIS--- (1962) Whitefang
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Post by whitefang on Jun 24, 2019 5:47:13 GMT -5
Last night on Turner Classic Movies was a film called TWO GUYS FROM TEXAS with Dennis Morgan and Jack Carson. In the movie, as part of a "stage band" at a dude ranch, was a trio of three harmonica players billed in the movie's credits as THE PHILHARMONICA TRIO! Unfortunately, I couldn't find any YT footage of them, but will offer these: ----- and...... Whitefang
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Post by jbone on Jun 24, 2019 17:56:01 GMT -5
Re: WhammerJammer, J. Geils Band was my first real deal concert. At the time I was a total babe in the woods harp wise but I knew I wanted to do something as big and involved as that song. Not that I ever have, but I do respect Magic Dick for respecting all the masters whose stuff he portrayed on that number.
Kim Fields' book, Harmonicas, Harps, and Heavy Breathing, covered the Harmonica Rascals, Borrah Minevich, and a lot of the big harmonica bands from the 1900's through the 50's. They were all part of the heritage that we enjoy in this age.
RE: Gospel Plow, you have managed to surprise me Fang. Great stuff! I never bought into the whole chug thing much but he sure did it justice. Unless I miss my guess he was playing in a rack there as well which must have been a lot harder to pull off than cupping the harp.
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Post by whitefang on Jun 25, 2019 5:43:10 GMT -5
Sure, look at most early footage of Dylan( there's not a whole lot, but still more than expected) and you'll notice he always used a rack. Whitefang
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Post by whitefang on Jun 27, 2019 5:22:22 GMT -5
Well....... I found THIS guy...
While looking for THIS......
Whitefang
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Post by whitefang on Jul 2, 2019 5:29:03 GMT -5
And I remember reading (years back) that THIS guy gave Dylan the idea of using a rack! Looks like Jesse put more than a HARP on that rack, eh? Whitefang
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Post by jbone on Jul 3, 2019 6:37:30 GMT -5
Hohner has a very high end chromatic built for Mr. Maret if that's an indication of skill. In the $3 to $5k range. Of course many decades ago "Little Stevie Wonder" made his mark with a run of the mill chromatic harmonica at talent shows like the Apollo in Harlem. Of course the rest is history.
I just found something out- Mr. Fuller penned and performed "San Francisco Bay Blues"! We cover this song. Just last week I had an epiphany and it's about this song. At 3 years of age I was with family at a Knights of Columbus event in my hometown. A ragtime band was playing and my grandfather, Herb Kennett, was sitting in on harp, playing….SF Bay Blues! My first encounter with live music and truly where my love of music began. Some 61 years later I realized why I loved that song so, the Clapton version and others as well as Mr. Fuller's. He wrote John Henry! One of the first protest songs, a lament about man's war with machines and loss of livelihood. Mr. Fuller's use of a rack, for a kazoo and mic as well, was ground breaking I think.
This is why I hang around here. Old dogs can learn new stuff!
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Post by whitefang on Jul 4, 2019 6:22:01 GMT -5
ARF! Indeed. I realize you must be some sort of virtuosic "specialist", but indeed, My opinion is that most of the harp players of yore(if not all) and even today probably ply their trade on "run of the mill" harmonicas. There's an old story I heard when I was a wedding photographer through most of the '90's, that can be used for many livelihoods----------- A professional photographer was invited to a dinner party by a wealthy society matron he's known for years. She implored him to bring a portfolio of his work to show her other guests. Upon arriving with portfolio in hand, she quickly took it from him and she and many other guests went through it. She then said, "Gosh! what beautiful photographs you take. You must have a very wonderful camera!" The photographer grinned slightly and thanked her. Later, at dinner, the photographer turned to the matron and said, "My, what a delicious meal. You must have a fantastic set of pots and pans!" Whitefang
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Post by jbone on Jul 18, 2019 5:22:20 GMT -5
Great anecdote! Reminds me of a good response to being asked to do an exposure gig. "People DIE of exposure. See my frostbite?" Or on being asked why I turned down a deal like that, complete with hints of Someone Important maybe in attendance-replying that I would not ask a chef to come to my house and cook for a party for no pay, because Someone Important may be in attendance.
Speaking again of rack harp, I think it will be a while before I get the Regal Jo gave me out to restart my effort to learn lap slide. The broken wrist says to wait! My plan is to get decent on a few lap slide songs and use rack harp so Jo and I can play together on some stuff.
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Post by whitefang on Jul 18, 2019 5:36:39 GMT -5
For NO PAY? Don't blame you. But next time someone asks you to perform gratis, Agree to it, but then inform them that you'll do your best to give them their money's worth! Whitefang
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Post by whitefang on Aug 16, 2019 9:58:45 GMT -5
OK Boney-- Lemme know what you think of this guy's harp work..... I have no doubt you've heard of him before, but I just recently got turned on to him, and now turned on BY him! Whitefang
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Post by jbone on Aug 25, 2019 6:28:04 GMT -5
I first noticed him fronting the house band in a joint during the movie "Angel Heart", a fairly early Mickey Rourke flick. Back then I liked him. He is a technical wizard, I mean that sincerely. Much more so than I'll ever be. But notes per second do not equal good feel. The stuff on blues tv/radio of the last few years has pointed up his prodigious skill and putting out product at a fast and furious rate, but to me he lost the soul of the form.
Perhaps I need a new look at him. Note too, I'm no authority on who's "good" or "bad". Just a guy who plays and has opinions.
I have done the duo thing pretty much exclusively for over 4 years now, previous to that I worked with bands on and off for about 20 years. Fronting a full band demands a different emphasis with a harp. More everything can be a trap- volume, variety, notes, attitude. When I sat back and calmed down some my style changed a lot. Still reaching the peoples' ears, still drawing them in from "over there", and, I think, inspiring. Last two times out people walked up and overpaid us for CD's. Even when I offered change it was refused. My commitment to the form is that harp can add to a song, groove, whatever, but should not take it over. I get to shine on a lot of harp parts anyway so I don't have to play every damn note all the time.
Blue just seems to flood the airwaves all the time.
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Post by whitefang on Aug 25, 2019 9:59:03 GMT -5
Going by his particular "style",Sugar seems to have accomplished what it sounds like JOHN POPPER was trying to do. Sure, Popper's a wizard too, but just based on what I've heard( and could endure) he seems too stuck on the higher registers. But like you say.... Just another man's opinion. Whitefang
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Post by jbone on Aug 25, 2019 10:22:28 GMT -5
Popper did one thing very well. He took harmonica into psychedelic rock ballad territory. Clever turns of phrase for the time. Very good arrangement and a kind of hip smug style. He had a few cool tunes on the radio. He knew one more pointy shoed bowling shirted 4 piece blues rock band would not get him where he wanted to go and he made something kind of new happen.
I think I bought one CD and before long put it in the swap pile and headed for the used media place in town.
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Post by whitefang on Aug 26, 2019 9:31:25 GMT -5
I miss those places. The only place 'round here to find used CDs is the pawn shops, and their selection isn't always that great and anyway, they won't swap. I miss the video store too. I had no issue with any of that, but as people have allowed the market to control the consumer(instead of what should be the other way around) I have to find other avenues of acquiring what music or movies I'm looking for.
I'm not in the habit( and don't wish to be) of disposing some perfect working devices to replace them with others because too many gadget whore millennials chase sheep-like after the "next new thing". I don't fault too much anyone who wants to live like that, but it would be fair to have choices available. Whitefang
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