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Date: Tue, 05 Mar 2002 03:24:31 -0500
From: Glenn Weiser
Subject: Goodmouth, badmouth

> Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 14:24:14 EST
> From: Philhar~ol.com
> Subject: Don't badmouth the players
>
> Of course, the only thing wrong with your observations is that YOU know
> something about the harmonica.
>
> The average civilian, knowing nothing beyond that fact that the harmonica
is
> small and that you can hold it in your hand, sees ONLY the entertainer.
>
> In all likelihood, the next, greatest harmonica player of actual ability
--
> who can read and write music and play like ringing a bell -- is the one
> inspired by someone like this megahit female entertainer.
>
> Most people don't consider Bob Dylan the greatest harp player ever, but he
> sure inspired some (law of averages says so).
>
> The more times a harmonica appears on a national broadcast, the more
chances
> someone with the real talent will pick it because it looks "so easy to
play"
> and "it looks so cool to play."
>
> Phil Lloyd/ contributing editor
> American Harmonica Newsmagazine
>

I think you should be able voice pretty much any opinion onlist about a
player as long as it's relevant and you're not libeling them.
Call a spade a spade, I say. Alanis is a pretty bad harp player, and Dylan
is no great shakes either.
But they are both songwriters primarily-Dylan changed the course of rock n'
roll with amazing songs, whereas Alanis is the angry,
man-hating woman (I hear she complains about us all the way to the bank).
I've criticized John Popper's playing in the past, but I've also pointed out
that he's done a lot to popularize the harp.
So it all depends on how you do it. Balance your criticism, but still, speak
your mind.
Also, consider that if a bad but famous harp player get airplay or TV
exposure, people still aren't going to know what really
can be done with the harp. Did Dylan do anything to dispel the popular
misconception of the harp as a second class instrument? I doubt it.

Glenn Weiser
http://www.celticguitarmusic.com/harppage.htm