Buddha
1058 posts
Oct 13, 2009
6:42 PM
|
I'm telling you all right now, Jay Gaunt is easily the best of the young players and at 15 he's better than most folk who have been playing for 40 years.
Jay just sent me some roughs from his new album it's amazing and clearly an album all harmonica players should own.
So what does Jay sound like? Well, if Jason Ricci and I ever produced a harmonica love child his name would be Jay Gaunt.
Watch out for this kid....he's absolutely off the wall ridiculous!!
----------
~Ryan
Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
Last Edited by on Oct 14, 2009 6:06 AM
|
RyanMortos
366 posts
Oct 13, 2009
7:03 PM
|
Yeah, he's damned good and in such a short amount of time! What has me scratching my head is what did his practice schedule & plan look like (what, how often, etc).
By the way Buddha, your signature looks like it needs inspection to me. What do you think?
----------
~Ryan
Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
|
jonsparrow
1184 posts
Oct 14, 2009
2:05 AM
|
jay is great. one of my favorite players.
|
Kingley
422 posts
Oct 14, 2009
2:55 AM
|
I agree Jay is a great player and has a bright future ahead of him I hope.
Jay, RJ Harman, Brandon and Zack are all good young players with Jay and RJ being the best of the bunch in my opinion.
All these young guys can play fast and furious and have the overblows / overdraws already entrenched in their individual styles.
But I suspect that somewhere out there is a youngster, that will say more with a few notes than any of them can. Yet still be able to play in a throughly modern style.
A kind of modern day Sonny Boy Williamson II.
That's the one I'm waiting to see. The one who is gonna change the harmonica landscape the way that Jason Ricci has done and continues to do.
Last Edited by on Oct 14, 2009 2:57 AM
|
phogi
85 posts
Oct 14, 2009
3:39 AM
|
I seem to remember an interview with Jason and Jay. Jay said he practices about four hours a day. Sounds just right to me! I think that if you want to play at a virtuoso level four hours a day is a good standard. I remember my piano teacher telling me, tryingto get me to practice more than my standard four a day (summer was coming up). She said "I remember when I started practicing 8 hours a day, I could not believe how much I progressed."
I also seem to remember Jay said he played trumpet in a school band.
Kingly- In my humble opinion, no one will pay attention to a 'modern day sonny boy.' That ship has already sailed.
But hey, I could be wrong. Its happened before.
|
toddlgreene
35 posts
Oct 14, 2009
4:54 AM
|
I saw Jason play in New Orleans last Saturday and got a chance to talk with him for quite a while, and he was telling me he had to drive back to TN after the show because he was producing an album for Jay...I can't wait to hear it.
----------
I started out with nothing, and I still have most of it.
|
jonsparrow
1185 posts
Oct 14, 2009
8:42 AM
|
i have a feeling jay's little brother is gonna be big. he is YOUNG. like real young. i donno maybe like 5 or something. an at the jason ricci show he was walkin around blowin harp. so if he sticks at it imagine how good he would be when hes older.
|
Buddha
1059 posts
Oct 14, 2009
9:24 AM
|
"so if he sticks at it imagine how good he would be when hes older. "
That's what they said about Brody Buster, LD Miller etc...
----------
~Buddha
Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
|
Preston
525 posts
Oct 14, 2009
10:40 AM
|
Off topic of Jay Gaunt, but LD Miller kinda fell off of the face of the map, didn't he? I know he was at SPAH, but I haven't seen or heard anything else out of him or the Clayton Miller Band. They only have 4 shows logged for 2010 on their myspace.
|
ZackPomerleau
382 posts
Oct 14, 2009
11:32 AM
|
Yeah, I think this is the same thing. But, I see it more subjectively. Jay's got that sound but what about Brandon? Sure, he doesn't play stuff Jay does, but it is because he doesn't want to. This is all too subjective to be pulling anyone's name from a hat. And, no, I am not posting this because of stupid reasons, its because comparing Jay to Brandon and L.D. for the sole purpose of calling one the best is stupid. Listen to the stuff Brandon's been doing, INCREDIBLE. It's not jazz, but it's good stuff. I personally am the most laid back of the three or four, I do believe. I want to do acoustic pop rock with harmonica and then hopefully get lots of skills. I don't try to do the other stuff, props to the others for doing so. Jay is the man and so isn't Brandon. Oh yeah, R.J. Harman, he's good and his sound is coming.
|
RyanMortos
371 posts
Oct 14, 2009
11:42 AM
|
Let's note that what we're talking about is "child" prodigies. There's no reason someone older couldnt bust their ass and become the next best thing to Jason or Buddha or Adam.
There was a number of things I was good-to-great at pre-18. Then a lot a bridge under the water... Go ahead, ask me if I do any of those things anymore at that level. Yes, I won trophies at competitions, etc but people change.
----------
~Ryan
Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
|
ZackPomerleau
384 posts
Oct 14, 2009
11:55 AM
|
If you practice that's a good thing. Jay does and Brandon does, too. I just think Brandon gets a hard time for some reason. His style is cool and he matches Jay if Jay did his style, y'know?
|
Buddha
1060 posts
Oct 14, 2009
12:18 PM
|
Brandon gets a hard time because he's punky about how good he is... he's much too young for that.
Jay, is always learning instead of fishing for compliments on how good his playing is.
----------
~Buddha
Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
|
MichaelAndrewLo
25 posts
Oct 14, 2009
12:59 PM
|
That is interesting what RyanMortos was saying about someone older becoming a monster player. This seems to happen in the harmonica world much more than any other instrument. I wonder is this is due to that fact that the muscles utilized in harmonica playing are constantly regenerated and so they can be developed much longer and later in life than say certain tendons in the arm for playing the violin. I am just speculating, but there might be a scientific reason, or basis, for what RyanMortos said cause the case studies appear to support it. Also, repetitive strain injury does not seem to be a major threat to harmonica player so the requisite practice hours can be put in later in life. For instance, violin or clarinet can only be practiced 3-4 hours at most before the muscles break down or are injured so there is a cap, and thus a larger amount of years it will take before mastery is achieved. Or another possible reason is that there have been fewer really young harmonica players that are pushed from a young age, or given access to resources, to help them develop so those wanting to become masters are only allowed to develop once they have access to the bar scene, other master players, or a variety of other resources. Maybe the internet is changing this so that there will be a bigger dichotomy pushing that age, and speed with which players develop, down. Just some thoughts.
|
Buddha
1062 posts
Oct 14, 2009
1:10 PM
|
Michael,
I think it's due to the fact that harmonica players in general are such shitty musicians that it's easy to become a monster player with some effort.
I think Jay has what it takes to be special, one of the greats...
Until I heard him this year at SPAH, I more or less scoffed at the "child prodigies" When I was 10-12 I was playing stuff that would blow minds. Until Jay Gaunt, I hadn't heard a kid be a better player than I was at the same age. Jay is above and beyond where I was at 15.
Of all the youngsters, I think the Jay is the only one that will make a mark.
Brandon is a good player but he's gonna be a doctor... no time for harp practice. His heart is in medicine more than being a badass harp player.
Zack, lacks the drive to be one of the greats on harps. He's too scattered with his interests. Maybe that will change but I haven't heard much improvement in him playing lately. Didn't he quit for awhile?
JR Harman is a good player too but lacks an original voice and ideas. Can't be a great unless you're original. He's a very good player though, so we'll see if the light bulb goes on in his head.
Nick "Cottonseed" Davis - has that special thing that Jay does. He'll be great if he keeps at it.
----------
~Buddha
Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
|
nacoran
240 posts
Oct 14, 2009
1:26 PM
|
MichaelAndrewLo- That's exactly why I took up the harp. I have chronic problems with tendinitis. I tried piano; I tried guitar; Now I play harp. Of course, there can be repetitive stress injuries related to the mouth. That little Japanese guy who eats everyone under the table at the Nathan's Hotdog contest every year apparently had developed arthritis in his jaw.
|
MichaelAndrewLo
26 posts
Oct 14, 2009
1:32 PM
|
Yes Buddha that is a factor as well. But, if you go deeper, why are harmonica players generally seen as "shitty" musicians? It could be the lack of resources that was seen in previous generations and the general structure with which harmonica has been taught. For example, instructors, when teaching harmonica, refer to the hole number (1,2,3) blow or draw, as opposed to the note name. This right off the bat gets harmonica players thinking from a very narrow perspective instead of learning how to think musically. They think in terms of which hole to draw as opposed to which NOTE to play. I know when I start playing clarinet everything was taught in terms of musical theory, chords, scales, note name, keys. All the technique was learnt to fit in with this knowledge. I think if a harmonica player learns in this way, then things will change. I don't agree with your assessment as far as predicting the future of young players because talent takes time to develop. Charlie Parker was seen as a shitty player until he practiced 14 hours a day for years. Someone just might do that. To each his own.
|
RyanMortos
373 posts
Oct 14, 2009
2:01 PM
|
I dont see any reason why the average someone passed the child prodigy stage couldnt, with the right motivation, desire, & discipline, become a very good to great musician on any chosen instrument.
In a way everyone on this forum is changing the history of harmonica. We are striving to learn to be better musicians. We are trying to learn the notes, scales, theory as to the why. If this proceeds I dont see any reason why in the future there wont be a time that the majority of harmonica players could be considered good, serious musicians.
Sure there'll always be hacks. Anyone can pick up a guitar & play poorly for an audience too. As we change the future of harmonica and how it's seen people will know the difference of good and bad harp just as they know the difference of good and bad guitar.
----------
~Ryan
Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
|
ZackPomerleau
385 posts
Oct 14, 2009
3:05 PM
|
Hey Buddha, before you start using my 'quitting for awhile' line why don't you figure out why that happened. You don't know my health issues and you never will because that is none of your business. My drive is in music and I do not believe I must put all of the drive in harmonica. That's stupid. I may not be Howard Levy but I enjoy what I play even if it is mediocre to most. Music is about enjoying yourself not about telling people that they must be masters. I feel insulted by your comments. To Jay: no hard feelings, I just don't like being jumped on. Jay is REAL great. Me him and Brandon talk all of the time, and we even said we're all different. We'll see who makes the mark. It may be one, some, or none of us. Don't go off saying my hiatus was me losing interest. Stuff was up and it needed to be taken care of. My LIFE is not harmonica unlike some, my life is my health and well being THEN harmonica and music.
|
phogi
87 posts
Oct 14, 2009
3:12 PM
|
I think one possible explanation for Chris' comment is this: Harmonica Players lack cheap, quality instruction. But there is lots of cheap, quality instruction for Guitar, and all Band and Orchestra instruments. Every little town has several Piano teachers. I have yet to find a harmonica teacher locally. I've asked around, no one seems to know.
Also, it does not seem to me that many harp players are interested in creating a 'school' of harp. This is a market ripe. Who will be (or already is) the Suzuki of harp teaching? Adam, Jason, and Chris have done a great contribution to harp instruction that will have a lasting impact for years to come.
|
Buddha
1064 posts
Oct 14, 2009
4:03 PM
|
"Hey Buddha, before you start using my 'quitting for awhile' line why don't you figure out why that happened."
I don't care. The fact is, you did. I didn't say it as a derogatory comment, it was a statement of fact. So you quit playing for awhile, it only matter to you. The reason doesn't matter but you still quit. Sometimes it makes you a better player sometimes it doesn't.
"You don't know my health issues and you never will because that is none of your business."
Again, I don't give a shit. I'm not a doctor nor is this a medical forum.
"My drive is in music and I do not believe I must put all of the drive in harmonica. "
My point exactly, you lack focus for the harmonica.
What I said is true and you confirmed it. I don't care if you want to be great or not. As long as you do your things your way and you're happy then that's great.
----------
~Buddha
Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
|
MichaelAndrewLo
27 posts
Oct 14, 2009
4:20 PM
|
Phogi, you know, it just struck me why there is possibly no cheap comprehensive education or "schooling" for the harp, and why this is going to change in the future and is changing now beginning with Adams lessons. Only in the past 30 years have all the harmonica techniques come together to fully realize its musical potential. Now that these have been mostly discovered (overblows, overdraws, etc.) the harmonica will be shifting into a much more comprehensive musical role. Younger players will come up knowing all the techniques and after having that as a background, will venture into learning music. Kinda like what Howard Levy has done, except not by total accident of being a musician first and learning harmonica, but more learning music through harmonica. Hopefully this is what will happen..
|
jonsparrow
1186 posts
Oct 14, 2009
4:28 PM
|
for the record i think LD millers performance on that SPAH video was realy good.
|
Elwood
165 posts
Oct 14, 2009
4:33 PM
|
jonsparrow, I agree with you completely. (Even though his beatboxing speed up during the solos -- under the boundary-bending circumstances we can forgive that, right?)
It struck me as a spectacularly original and inventive performance. It's true that LD Miller's not as prolific as he might be, but to write him off as stagnated? Naaah...
|
phogi
88 posts
Oct 14, 2009
5:24 PM
|
Damn Budda, that's cold.
|
Buddha
1066 posts
Oct 14, 2009
5:26 PM
|
Phogi,
not cold but fact. As I've said before I like to deal in reality. I wasn't dogging Zack but he chose to feel insulted and call me out. I've been nothing but nice and very generous with him off list.
----------
~Buddha
Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
|
simonwoo
3 posts
Oct 14, 2009
11:26 PM
|
Jay is one of my favorite players. he's so young!! unbelievable...
|
kudzurunner
744 posts
Oct 15, 2009
4:44 AM
|
I've deleted Sandy88s comment, which clearly violates stated board policy against name-calling (i.e., straight up insults) and one reply. Please refrain, Sandy.
Buddha, you're a player and teacher and critic, and I understand your commitment to speaking your mind. But you're also an elder, for better or worse, and I can't help but wish you could find gentler ways of telling the ambitious young men on this board that most of them, in your eyes, just don't have it.
For the record: ALL of them are much better than I was at that age, and I've turned out OK. I didn't come into my own on the harp until my mid-20s, after taking some time off. I came into my own because I had to deal with some real heartbreak--a good woman gone bad--and because I got lucky enough to run into, in turn, a remarkable harp teacher and a remarkable guitar man. I took both opportunities and ran like hell with them.
Blues lives are unpredictable. Some people come into their own later than others. Jason and I both did, in fact. Naturally, knowing that, I'm inclined to say that the verdict is still out on the teenaged (and early 20-something) members of this board. And I'm inclined to chuckle, like the wizened old wise man I am, at anybody who says otherwise. I'll just take my walking stick and hobble off into the shadows, chuckling........
Last Edited by on Oct 15, 2009 4:51 AM
|
BillBailey
23 posts
Oct 15, 2009
5:45 AM
|
Amen, Brother Adam.
|
Elwood
167 posts
Oct 15, 2009
5:46 AM
|
Ah! You deleted my response to Sandy88. Fair enough, better than leaving it out there like a dingeberry in the salad bowl... but I can't help but feel it's the only worthwhile comment I've made on this forum.
|
Buzadero
180 posts
Oct 15, 2009
6:45 AM
|
Indulge me my observations from SPAH'08:
Jay needs to lose more weight if he's going to live up to a name like "Gaunt".
Brandon needs some smelly street clothes to up his cred.
Just minor observations from hosting the Young Turks in OldWailer's hotel room. Of course, I was drinking bourbon and could be tainted in my assessment.
Now, back to your regular programming.
PS -- Sandy88, take it from a boorish and insensitive prick, you need to work on your delivery and bedside manner. My flapping lips have talked me both in and out of some righteous ass-whuppings over the years. This brave new world of online anonymity gives a fortified sense of bravado. But, this is a tiny community. Thus, it's a more false sense of invulnerability than you'd think. One of these days, you might want to attend a SPAH convention yourself. Labeling yourself "Sandy88" and spewing smack online won't be much of a mask when you finally meet everybody and have to own your words. The youngsters I met at SPAH were a good bunch and I'm watching their collective six. (that is my not-so-subtle way of suggesting that you watch your ass)
----------
~Buzadero
Underwater Janitor, Patriot
|
sopwithcamels266
214 posts
Oct 15, 2009
11:36 AM
|
Ha ha just caught up with this thread to read it.
That's show bus folks very funny and quite entertaining.
Hey take some advice from an old jazz pro (Sax not harp )however still applies.
People talk about you because you exsist. To me that is fine.In the music business no matter how good you think you are or ARE, there will always be people that don't rate you for doing this and that.
That is life.
The sooner one can accept these things the better.
I have to say I enjoy Buddhas should I say direct approach I like it.
If your someone that spends the majority of your life around young people ( undergrad down basically to kindergar) then I can see why perhaps one would have more philosophical views.
Again in a way its the limitations of the internet and forums.
All types of emotions are hidden which convey many many things. Interpretations of the posts can be endless ha depending on the individuals age, experience and intellect.
May be it is different cultures as iv'e said before.
As a muso my advice is never got hung up on anything anyone ever says about you.
I have been attacked a few times on this forum my self in one case a certain a young individual believing that his hard ships could not ever have been experienced by anyone else.
He makes that assunption on others.
So it is not rocket science it is easy to work out.
The point is everyone has an opinion,deal with it like music. Take out what you like and leave the rest.
Buddha is right when he says he doesn't care.
Right, because its a harmonica forum words on a screen.Folks personal matters are of no concern to anyone but themselves.
Remember this and you will go far
1.Believe in yourself
2.Believe in the work you do
3 Have a strong faith
4 Above all else keep an open mind..
That way everything is cool and those that don't like what I do how and where i do it can go and F....
themselves
Here endth the Lesson. Ha ha ( A touch of humour)
|
walterharp
83 posts
Oct 15, 2009
12:13 PM
|
Re child prodigies. Seems like lots of these guys fall off the screen, not because they did not grow and improve, but because once you hit about 18, you are lumped in with all of the others at all ages and compared to the greats on what you do, not just potential. Some just have the drive and get out there and keep doing it and growing, and the luck to remain in the spotlight, and others don't. Some start with a gift and just run with it (e.g. Stevie Wonder).
Seems like this thing happens on harp, but more often on guitar; how many next great guitar gods have we seen that dropped off the screen? Why did it happen?
I am not in the field of professional music, but in my field I have met many people who are much more gifted than me over the years, but so many of them simply never took advantage of that gift... Maybe it was too easy for them? Maybe they were lazy? Maybe they had a spurt early, but did not develop further after that no matter how hard they worked? I think it is probably impossible to predict future things for very young harp players as well, other than they are starting with leg up.
With respect to harmonica, I am just glad there is so much out there and we can find others that play a relatively specialized instrument well, and learn and be inspired from them. We don't need to compare so much as enjoy the good parts and take what we can from them to enrich our own music.
|
eharp
328 posts
Oct 15, 2009
2:42 PM
|
"and I've turned out OK"
lol
(not that i am disagreeing.)
|
jawbone
121 posts
Oct 15, 2009
3:06 PM
|
what the heck is a muso?
----------
If it ain't got harp - it ain't really blues!!!!
|
