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Date: Sat, 27 Apr 2002 10:32:53 -0400
From: Joe Ferguson
Subject: amplified harp

One of the messages about Rob Papparozzi's performance prompted me to
offer some opinions of my own about amplified harp tone. Many times it
seems like people associate "big sound" with "better sound". I know
the comment wasn't meant to be a criticism of Rob's abilities at all,
but it was just an opinion of his amplified tone. Rob is well known as
a great player with a wide range of tastes and ideas. I've always
enjoyed acoustic and electric harp of all styles, but sometimes I
think the classic Chicago sound with a bullet mic, and sometimes
echos, delays, or reverb, can mask some players' techniques (good and
bad). A tight cup on a bullet mic can distort some of the subtle
sounds, plus limit hand techniques. It's great to use where it fits,
but I think it's often limiting too. Kim Wilson's new CD with Big Jack
Johnson and Pinetop Perkins called "The Memphis Barbecue Sessions" is
my favorite of Kim's recordings. The pure acoustic harp tone really
lets you hear what he doing, and makes me appreciate Kim's talents
more than I did before. There is such a wide range of things harmonica
can add to music, I think it's great when people can stretch the
limits and really express what they're feeling without focusing on
copying things that have been done before. Papparozzi, Madcat, Norton,
Hunter, and many more are much more interesting to me than some of the
"harp heroes" everyone is trying to sound like, because of their
progressive ideas.
Joe Ferguson
Joe's Virtual Music Shop
http://www.joesvirtual.com

Loaded Dice Band
http://www.joesvirtual.com/dice.htm