From: Michael Will Date: Mon, 23 Sep 1996 22:30:57 -0700 Subject: More Harmonica MasterClass Stuff...
I got to play with Paul DeLay's band.
!!!
There was a harp "contest" (prizes were LO harps and Hohner cases) where 3 players got up on stage and blew 24 (36 the previous day) bars with the band, doing some random song in a random key.
So, even though it was short, I WISH I had a tape of my playing with a fabulous band. How bad could it be?!?! A guy I was sitting and BS'ing with actually won the day's contest. He's a regular gigger, playing about 4 times a week.
Our own Tomcat Colvin was there all the way from the Philippines! He also participated in the opportunity to play in this "contest". In fact, he met another player from the Philippines that he didn't know! I also hung out with Harp-L'er Alan Adamson who flew up from San Diego. He's a super guy and really serious about the harmonica. As the SPAH'ers know, it's really fun to spend time with dozens of harpers!
There were 2 maps posted--USA and world--showing where everyone came from. Besides the Philippines, there were players from New Zealand, England, and somewhere in the very northernmost part of Canada, right next to Greenland. Wherever that is! There were some 20 to 30 states represented.
I shared a table with a guy from Milwaukee who also met another player from there that he didn't know!
Met a guy from Houston Texas who plays jazz, complete with overblows and overdraws (OK Bobbie, overbends). He had a fancy custom wood case filled with Filisko MBs. There were (speaking of Bobbie) a very few females there, but one I spoke with was also from Texas. And one even joined the competition.
