Date: Sat, 25 May 2002 01:19:13 -0400 From: "Rick Beall" Subject: Bluesharp.org Online Jam Winding Down
Hey All!
The Online Jam at www.Bluesharp.org is winding down. Everyone has 6 days to vote again, if you haven't since Edi Baur uploaded his sax/harp conversation last week. (Voting ends May 31, jam tracks are removed on May 30) As I listen to everyones' improvisations, what strikes me is how different they are. They are like fingerprints, all different, with an occasional re-occurring whorl.
I remember when I created my improvisation for "He's Here", what I came up with seemed inevitable to me: I didn't know what everyone else was going to do! Well, now I know! And now mine just sounds plain s l o w .
That jamming to the same backing track can be so different provides some evidence that the harmonica is indeed a very individual, personal, instrument --which I guess is what drew me to it so long ago.
Below are some highlights, at least to me when I listened to all the improv's again.
Wild Willy --From the moment he entered the contest he took the lead, leaped far ahead and never gave it up! He is 50 votes ahead of everyone else. Listen to the technically excellent but oh so soulful "He's Here". Listen to the train song that was hidden inside "Ule Bule"! Oh yes, and Wild Willy can sing! And as the song fades you are in the station watching the train leave, because the harp whistles and steams from the left ear to the right, fading away.
Harmanica Cooper Number 2. Understated and soulful. Guess that's how he gets all those listens on mp3.com.
Will Vogtman Nbr 3: Soulful, skillful, everything a harp player should be. His "He's Here" is a more traditional style, his "Ule Bule" is unique tonally. Great taste. Tonally different harps hold a conversation. Very creative rhythm work. Both songs are very original melodically.
Edi Baur Ule Bule He added sax! The harmonica replys to the sax. The harp is played very fast but sounds very relaxed. Obviously another very talented player!
Javier 'Diabluz' Argomedo. DeepDish Chicago. Care for a slice of tone? If you were on the sidewalk and heard this, you would have to stick your head in the door.
Otto Becker. What would Jimi Hendrix sound like if he had played harp? Experimental, melodic, pleasing to the ear, and HEAVY. Be sure to use earphones to hear the nuances.
Fred S "He's Here". Makes harp chugging fresh and original. Tonally original and playful. Melodically creative. Cross between Scottish bagpipes and blues.
Mike Will "Ule Bule". Listen to this with earphones and Mike will fill your head from ear to ear. Creative melodically, creative techniques and approach. Rich tone.
Joe Ferguson. From listening to this, he's one of those guys I would love to jam with even though he could play soulful circles around me.
Every time I listen to these I think something different. Kind of like fingerprints on fingerprints. So stop by the jam, listen to a few, vote, and leave some comments in the forum.
