kudzurunner
343 posts
Apr 07, 2009
10:42 AM
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I was just surfing the AllMusic Guide and happened to find a listing for "Mouth Harp Maestro," Big Walter's first album as a leader (1951). AMG has a place where each artist is characterized by a series of words. The long list of words characterizing this album, and Big Walter, struck me as a kind of found poetry. Blues harmonica players are:
* Swaggering
* Gutsy
* Greasy
* Bravado
* Energetic
* Street-Smart
* Rollicking
* Confident
* Earthy
* Amiable/ Good-Natured
* Party/ Celebratory
* Rowdy
* Intense
* Passionate
* Gritty
* Earnest
* Boisterous
Last Edited by on Apr 07, 2009 10:43 AM
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snakes
166 posts
Apr 07, 2009
11:24 AM
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With Sonny Boy II and Big Walter (and I'm sure others as well) there is one word missing from the list that may apply. Inebriated... No disrepect intended. Actually I've tried to play drunk before and it is nigh unto impossible for me. How did those guys do it?
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oldwailer
669 posts
Apr 07, 2009
11:26 AM
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It's just as I suspected--I ought to sell my harps and take up the pennywhistle! ;-) Well, I might qualify for at least a couple of those qualities--like "greasy" and "earthy."
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CarolynViolin
35 posts
Apr 07, 2009
2:06 PM
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Some other words that came to my mind are:
Wailing
Seductive
Funky
Driven
Smokin' Hot
Carolyn
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jonsparrow
63 posts
Apr 07, 2009
3:08 PM
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snakes its not like they get fucked up once an awhile. they were pros at that too.
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kudzurunner
344 posts
Apr 07, 2009
3:47 PM
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In my experience, if your heart is burning hot enough with blues-feeling, that's enough to counteract quite a bit of booze. When I first began jamming in Harlem blues clubs--and anxious with anticipation, to put it mildly--I sometimes got up there after I'd had four bottles of Heineken in an hour or so. I wasn't a heavy drinker, so that was a buzz. But I was very sharp and precise.
There was always a dangerous point for me at which the buzz, and its virtues, began to tip over into spluttering loss of force and, at worst, an inability to hold my embouchure. When THAT moment arrives, booze has ceased to help. But up to that point, there are several ways in which it can help.
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Buzadero
58 posts
Apr 07, 2009
3:49 PM
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You are correct, sir. There is a fine (and, ever moving) line 'twixt a couple of snorts to act as the original, poor man's beta-blockers, and impairment.
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~Buzadero
Underwater Janitor, Patriot
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snakes
170 posts
Apr 07, 2009
3:51 PM
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Adam hit on what was kinda' the nature of my comment (although more than a bit veiled). Sonny Boy especially has stories (legends?) related to his drunkeness and ability to still knock 'em dead. Personally (I guess you could ask Oldwailer or Blackbird) I consider myself a pretty experienced amateur at the drinking game, but still have trouble playing with even what I consider (all relative ya' know...)a small amount of alcohol in my system. Oh well, you know what they say => practice, practice, practice.
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Miles Dewar
293 posts
Apr 07, 2009
4:12 PM
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Theres Nothing wrong with a little "Jump Start" to get your body feeling the groove. 2nd to a Charles Tillman puntblock and Skydiving, there's nothing better than that to get you "feeling it".
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---Go Bears!!! (Jay Cutler in Chicago baby!) Where's the Pack at now?---
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3firstnames
7 posts
Apr 07, 2009
4:46 PM
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I seem to be able to get fairly drunk before It affects my harp playing negatively, there's definately a line though.
On the topic of Sunny boy not being affected by the booze... am I the only one that thinks he sounds a little too drunk on the UK blues album?
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oda
65 posts
Apr 07, 2009
6:06 PM
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So basically the advice here is usable in any other situation; moderation! y'can do anything as long as it's moderated.
speaking of sonny boy, what's that cut where in the beginning he's really giving a mouthful to someone (one of the chess brothers?) screaming like "call it whatever you wanna call it you sumbitch!"
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Tuckster
161 posts
Apr 07, 2009
6:35 PM
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Just enough to loosen the inhibitions. I know pool players who don't make a shot until they've had 3 beers.I usually limit myself to 3 bourbons through the nite. Anymore than that and my playing suffers. I've heard Carey Bell was another player who liked his liquor to play well.
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The Happy Harper
33 posts
Apr 07, 2009
8:53 PM
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I love that list!
I am one (maybe the only one by the sounds of it) that doesn't like to play even after one drink. I want to have all my faculities agile and focused especially when I am nervous and I just feel for me I do that better without drink.
I also love every bit of playing so much that I want to experience it fully and booze may dull the nervousness for me but I find that it can also dull some of the good stuff too.
No judgement here just how my body is built I guess. But that first drink after playing can be real sweet!
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jonsparrow
69 posts
Apr 07, 2009
8:59 PM
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oda that tune is "little village". im proud of my self for knowing that. lol an surprised.
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mickil
141 posts
Apr 08, 2009
3:53 PM
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Booze in moderation seems to work for me. But, it is a very fine line.
Though, to go back to the original question: what is a blues harmonica player? That's a tuffy.
I think that a lot of people adopt the characteristics that they think others share who are in their chosen profession - probably without realizing that they're doing it; or, maybe they're like that in the first place: that's why they end up in that profession. But, it's hard to work out which, if either, is the case; it's a chicken and egg thing.
I know that some of you have moved in circles with lots of of so-called 'classically trained' musicians - CarolynViolin springs to mind. Have you noticed how they quite consciously use a different language; they would never say, 'riff', instead preferring 'motif'. It means the same thing.
I think a much easier question to answer would be: what is a good blues harmonica player?
Good tone
Competent technique
Musical imagination
And, most importantly
Ability to listen
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'If it sounds GOOD to you, it's bitchen; if it sounds BAD to YOU, it's shitty' - Frank Zappa
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Oisin
182 posts
Apr 09, 2009
12:32 AM
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Mentally unstable
Generous
Prone to flights of fancy
Grumpy
Sticks up for his friends
A great lover but poor chooser of women
An Idiot
A toker
And I'm not even a good player
Oisin
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mickil
143 posts
Apr 09, 2009
3:09 AM
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Oisin, I'm most of those things. Maybe that's why I'm just an OK player.
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'If it sounds GOOD to you, it's bitchen; if it sounds BAD to YOU, it's shitty' - Frank Zappa
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