harper
Guest
Sep 28, 2008
5:22 AM
|
John Popper's speed seems to come more from a controlled kind of glissando as opposed to someone like Jason Ricci who seems to couple his speed with more complex breathing and bent note patterns. Does this assessment seem fair?
|
harmonicanick
7 posts
Sep 28, 2008
10:56 AM
|
I think that is fair comment. It does beg the question 'is less more?'
I have studied Jon's technique and his superfast solos owe a lot to an accurate glissando of mostly blow notes.
My personal opinion is that, despite his awesome speed and accuracy,the sound is thinner than Jasons' who has the ability to sound full and round even at lightning speed.
Jason's technique is made of improvisation around triplets (see his how to play harmonica fast on you tube)
Neverthless Blues Traveller 4 remains one of my faves, and Brother John the last track opened another world to me as a harp player some years ago. He is an inspiration.
By the way have you heard Jean-Jacques Milteau, check him out man
best wishes
|
harper
Guest
Sep 28, 2008
8:42 PM
|
Yeah man, I feel ya. It's become vogue to knock Popper but the fact of the matter is that, taken on his own merits, the guy plays some killer harp, and 4 is a great album. For what it's worth, if you go to npr.org and type Popper's name in the keyword search field you can find a good audio interview and a couple good videos of in-studio performaces.
Also, I looked up your buddy Jean-Jacques, and I've gotta say I really like the way he plays, especially those first and third position Irish tunes. They can be quite tricky. I have a hell of a time trying to play them myself, and if I don't learn some of them soon that leprechaun living in my closet is sure to kick my arse. Maybe I should try eating some corned beef and cabbage before I play...
Harp on!
|
harmonicanick
8 posts
Sep 29, 2008
1:21 AM
|
Harper,
Have you got Gary Primich's last cd before he joined the great jam session in the spirit world? 'Ride the Dark Horse'
Now, for me he gets the very best 'sound & tone'. Since I first heard 'Mr freeze' I thought he had the best amplified sound and quite different from other players. Then on his last cd with everything 'cut down & simple' then the adage that 'less is more' really is on the money.
I am also trying to get Irish jig stuff but actually prefer to improvise Russian 'sounding' folk tunes using Lee Oskar harmonic minor tunings in Am,Cm & Gm
What I do is go to open mic session and do a couple of numbers, before, I talk a little about the history of the harp before it came to USA, with the . Vast immigrant wave in late 19th Century. Due to its portability and affordability it spread down to all of America and allowed the slaves to express their pain!!
Its great fun with these tunings though and really gets the crowd going. If you play slow its sad, so sad..but if you play chords and single notes fast its like being at a Russian wedding. Have you got these tunings?
Nick
|
harper
1 post
Oct 01, 2008
3:55 PM
|
I had never heard of Gary Primich before so I checked him out on Youtube. It was kind of hard to judge his tonal characteristics due to the poor audio, but it sounds like he had a really good style. A lot of good blues with somewhat jazzier inflections here and there that sounded really quite unique. I'll definitely have to check out his cd's.
On another note, I recently bought a two cd set: Sam Hinton - Master of the Solo Diatonic Harmonica. The majority of the music on these discs is just this one guy playing European folk songs (mostly English and Irish) in nothing but first position, but he also includes a few Russian, Ukrainian, and Jewish songs on a harmonic minor. I don't have any minors myself but it really inspires me to get one and learn a couple of hopaks and dumkas. Maybe even a whole symphony by Tchaikovsky! Wait a minute; who do I think I am... Howard Levy?
Later Harmonicanick
Last Edited by on Oct 01, 2008 4:03 PM
|
Brad
1 post
Oct 01, 2008
5:43 PM
|
Hi Friends.......
Great topics here!! My first post.
I am also a fan of John Popper and his Band. There are so many things I like about this band & Johns playing too! I feel he plays harmonica like he sings, when singing fast that is, which he does so well and so, so passionate! He seems to slide around alot when he plays at mach speed, but it works, his band picks up the slack if he palys to long which keeps me interested. What a band, and I am totally on board with Brother John, great song!
Have you ever checked out Jeff Grossberg, aka Hyper harp, he is playing faster than John using overblows and draws, but his thing is playing to House and techno and live DJ's here in Chicago. We are neighbors and have been for about 11 years, I still can't get over how fast & he plays, it crazy to hear him play acoustic and live! He has a bunch of sound bites on his web site, check it out, beware- crazy stuff for all the traditional players out their! www.hyperharp.com
I really love, love, love Jason's playing, hands down my fav. player.
Brad
|
MD1032
13 posts
Oct 02, 2008
8:44 PM
|
(puts on flame-retardant suit)
I'm gonna be the weird one on this forum and go ahead and say I'm not a big fan of John Popper myself. Maybe it's because I haven't heard enough of his music, but then again everything I've ever heard has convinced me that it's just not my style and that I shouldn't pursue it. No doubt he's a great harmonica player, but despite calling themselves "Blues Traveler", I'd say they have a sound that is distinctly different from traditional blues, maybe not even blues at all. Most of their stuff sounds way too "poppy" to me. I'd love to have John Popper's speed and control (gosh does he hit those overblows and bends easily) in the high range, but he lives up there, and most harp players live down around the two draw and then move upwards for solos. Sugar Blue's another exception to this rule, but I think the music he makes sounds much better than John Popper's. Certainly, it's more blues-ey, but, of course, this is all IMO.
I'd say the overall impression I get from his playing in terms of technique is that he uses less air than most harp players and that certainly helps a lot with agility. Also, he's probably been playing for a long time!
Last Edited by on Oct 02, 2008 8:47 PM
|
guest
Guest
Oct 03, 2008
5:50 AM
|
Yeah, ironically Blues Traveler barely plays any blues. But if your in the mood for some light pop/rock it can be enjoyable.
|
Preston
56 posts
Oct 03, 2008
2:39 PM
|
You guys remember the old sitcom "Roseanne"? The opening theme song and harmonica in the background of all scene changes was John Popper. This was back before album V, but they did gain popularity during the shows run.
I have a copy of the theme song, and he plays traditional dirty amplified blues harp, then at the very end he goes into a short "Popper-esque" riff, ending the song on the six blow. It is alot different style than what we have all come to know him as.
In fact, they show re-runs of the show on cable late at night. I lay in bed and try to copy his riffs that he plays on the scene changes...drives my wife bannannas.
|
oldwailer
223 posts
Oct 03, 2008
6:37 PM
|
Yeah, MD1032, I'm with you--somebody said earlier in this thread that it has become vogue to bash Popper--but, at least in this regard, I guess I am a little ahead of the vogue--I have been bashing Popper for as long as I have known about him.
Not that he isn't a great player--that is undenyable--just not my thing. . .maybe the name of his band is a bit of a misnomer. . .
|
harmonicanick
15 posts
Oct 04, 2008
1:01 AM
|
Hey, this thread is flushing out the blues purists!
Maybe, surely, Popper is deeply into the blues and this has influenced him in his playing and songwriting.
The name on the tin should not prejudge the contents.
'Blues' is a broad church..are we always going to look back all the time,are all harp players going to sound the same??
Oh unbelievers, I say unto you, just put Blues Traveler 4 on your pod and listen to 'crash burn'
There rests the case for the blues of the future m'lud
|
geordiebluesman
84 posts
Oct 04, 2008
4:15 AM
|
Crash burn check it out http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=aO2OFEa6aHw
|
shaneboylan
51 posts
Oct 04, 2008
5:21 AM
|
I'm totally with MD1032 here. Popper's playing is good, but imo it's definitely not as bluesy as Sugar Blue and to me, it's just a bit thin and doesn;t sound that great to me.
A guy at a gig one time also told me that a lot of the time, he plays first position. Can anyone substantiate his assertion??
----------
"I play the harmonica. The only way I can play is if I get my car going really fast, and stick it out the window."
-Steven Wright
Last Edited by on Oct 04, 2008 5:22 AM
|
oldwailer
226 posts
Oct 04, 2008
1:56 PM
|
Yes, "crash and Burn" is an aerobic experience to listen to. Popper is at his best there.
I also liked the keyboard guy a lot. . .
For my money--I'd rather hear Cotton doing "Blues for the Hook."
I guess that just proves that my ears are older and slower. . .
|
guest
Guest
Oct 04, 2008
3:56 PM
|
I have young ears but I'm still with you oldwailer.
|
Philosofy
55 posts
Oct 04, 2008
4:31 PM
|
Personally, I think John Popper needs more soul, but he is talented, and I have heard him play some great blues riffs.
As for the name of the band, I heard him say once that they were big fans of the movies Blues Brothers and Ghost Busters. From Blues Brothers they took the word Blues, and from Ghost Busters they used Traveler from Ghozar the Traveler.
|
superchucker77
80 posts
Oct 04, 2008
8:56 PM
|
Personally, I think that Popper is Great.
So what he is not a blues musician. We are all harmonica players here, and should not be prejudice of the style of music that is played. Rather it be blues,rock,jazz,funk, soul, or even (dare I say) hip-hop; as long as it is harmonica music, we should be thankfull that someone is palying differently and taking our humble instrument to new places.
Popper has an incredible skill, and I think that he is one of the best, most original players ever.
His style is rooted in the blues, and if you study his music, one can get some very good riffs out of him.
He in fact seems to play in second position most of the time, but he does also play in first position.
He may not be as good of a blues player as Ricci but he is super in his own right.
|
Anonymous
Guest
Oct 05, 2008
8:44 PM
|
I can't stand all of these purists! Fact of the matter is that Popps is a harmonica wizard and just because he doesn't play 12 bar blues all of the time doesn't mean that he can't cut it as a blues player. But no! he certainly shouldn't be thought of as mereley a blues player. He has a very eclectic style that includes blues, country, and appalachian folk. It's almost as though people dislike him for being an original. And most of the criticism comes from hackneyed imitators of other peoples styles. Rather ironic.
|
Blind Melon
11 posts
Oct 07, 2008
6:39 AM
|
There is no question that John Popper is a harmonica virtuoso. I am always amazed at how he can play notes so fast and so clean.
Years ago I saw Yngwie Malsteem (guitar virtuoso) open for Rush. It took about a minute and a half before I became bored with his frenzied arpeggios and went out and got another beer.
On the other hand, I keep going to see B.B. King everytime he comes around. Is he the the fastest guitarist? Not even close. But he plays with feeling and soul.
Jerry Portnoy once said something along the lines of it is not a race. It is not about how many notes you can squeeze into a song.
I acknowledge the "speed" players. I repsect other peoples tastes in all styles of harp. We all need to agree that it does comes down to a matter of person preference.
Speaking of harmonica virtuosos, there is this guy named Toots Thielemans...
|
harmonicanick
20 posts
Oct 07, 2008
7:19 AM
|
Yes, Toots is amazing, have you heard him whistle, absolutely beautiful.
So are we all agreed on this thread that:
1. Popper is a virtuoso
2. His playing is not everyones taste
3. Blues Traveler are kicking band (especially BT 4)
4. He makes a lot of harp players envious! (except JRicci)
5. He will be voting for the hockey mum???
6. He is the only harp player who can wear cross belt harp holders and get away with it...
7. He is a great song writer
8. He is the only harp soloist who can change gear so effectively in terms of speed of delivery of clear single notes.
Remember:
Information is not knowledge
Knowledge is not truth
Truth is not wisdom (Frank Zappa)
|
Tuckster
27 posts
Oct 07, 2008
11:09 AM
|
Bottom line is his style is instantly recognizable. And that's what we're all after. I can usually name the harp player(if he;s well known) in about 5 notes. All the greats have something unique to them. Some of Popper's stuff I love, some of it, I'm not real thrilled with. He's surely influenced the younger generation and turned a slew of people into harp junkies. How many of you younger harpsters got into it because of Popper?
|
harpnwillys
2 posts
Oct 08, 2008
3:47 PM
|
You people are crazy POPPER ALAWYS SUCKED!!! ADAM GUSSOW and JASON RICCI and DENNIS GRUENLING they play from the heart. With real style and soul.
|
superchucker77
85 posts
Oct 08, 2008
4:29 PM
|
-1 :(
Last Edited by on Oct 08, 2008 4:30 PM
|
Miles Dewar
25 posts
Oct 08, 2008
5:09 PM
|
Ha Ha! "Popper always sucked" lol.
Thats some funny stuff.
You are crazy though.
---Be Positive---
|
