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From: Mike Curtis
Date: Wed, 11 Sep 1996 03:34:47 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: More on Why Harp Players Seem Inferior To The Band

On Tue, 10 Sep 1996, Michael Will wrote:

<"Key of E for the harp player", etc.>

I had a pleasant experience tonight - kind of the opposite. I went to two
jam sessions. The first was at Cozys. I brought in my full setup - bass
pedals, rhythm machine, big PA speaker and amp, etc., and did a couple of
tunes during the bands break. The band had an organist with bass pedals.
People later told me that he was "really diggin' on your pedals and how
you were so tight with the rhythm machine" on the first tune (an original
called "Smokin' Harmonica" which I wrote specifically for the rap-3 rhythm
in my Alesis SR-16. At first, he had his doubts about me going up solo,
but others in the club convinced him (they know me there). It went quite
well.

But my most pleasant surprise was at a jazz jam session I went to
afterward. The Earl Palmer trio (well known jazz greats) was hosting the
jam. He's never heard me (or of me), and I he had serious
reservations about allowing a rack harmonicist up. He told me afterward
that he was prepared to give me one tune, then come up and get me off with
a "Thank you Iron Man - next we have ....". But it didn't work like that.
I wanted to do a couple of tunes, but the band called Green Dolphin St in
Eb. I usually do it in D on my C harp, so I switched to my Db and used
third position. My solo was very well received.

Next tune, I asked if we could do Willow Weep For Me in G, and everyone
agreed. I took the lead and handed off the first solo to the trumpet
player. There was a lot of applause for my lead. I took a solo later on,
doing my trademark guitar/harmonica unisons and harmonies, and the crowd
REALLY warmed up to that.

The third song, I couldn't find the changes (on bebop jazz, the changes
can get very convoluted and almost random in nature; if you don't know the
tune, you just lay out). The fourth, I didn't know either, but it was an
Ab tune that started in F minor, C7, Fm7, Bb9, etc., so I took the "easy"
way out and used my Db in second/fifth positions, and took a VERY long
solo (for me - it was three verses). The audience applauded long and
loud. Afterward, Earl told me about his reservations (especially when I
insisted on playing harp AND guitar), and his relief when it worked out
well. I also had a lot of card and flyer requests, from musicians as well
as general audience. Jazz crowds are VERY appreciative!

All in all, a most satisfying evening. And one less musician that will be
paranoid about harmonica next time (hopefully :-)


-- IronMan Mike Curtis
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