Howard doesn't play minor tuned harps, as far as I know. Yes, it's probably a Filisko, but he's playing in some odd position (5,6?) and mode (Phyrigian?) with full over blows and over draws.
Whilst I can appreciate Howards total mastery of the diatonic harmonica. As a musical composition this just leaves me cold. It just doesn't float my boat. I wouldn't want to play like that in a million years.
Zack, I agree, fine playing indeed. Howard is brilliant. You are right now in the perfect position to achive this too.
You know, Carlos got a grant from the Canada Council to study under Howard and develop his technique. Perhaps you may benefit from something similar in the US. You've got time on your side my friend, don't let it slip by.
clip from Carlos website... 1995:
~ Big Road Blues CD, acoustic blues from the delta with guitar player and singer Thom Roberts ~ Receiving a Canada Council grant, del Junco studied privately in Chicago for two months with Howard Levy
---------- "Keep it in your mouth" - XHarp
Last Edited by on Nov 04, 2009 10:50 AM
I think I'm more on the side of want to be able to play like that as opposed to actually doing lots of it. But dang, when his playing gets worked up when he wants he succeeds in being exciting.
That drummer, lol. I need a guy like that in the band I don't have.
---------- ~Ryan Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
I have the album that HL did with RAK, I love it. Middle Eastern music may not be for most Westerner's ears. Maybe the sick duck comment was speaking to some of Howard's expressiveness and articulation on his first octave bends... necessary to play in this style. Sounds like cross harp to me.
In answer to the title of this thread. "Everyone should want to play like this"
Ha Ha Not me man.As improvisers the harp player HL is way ahead of the rest here that is obvious, but again to my ear some of HL's lines don't work with their symplistic approach. Nothing wrong with their approach but in the jazz world that is really Kindergarden stuff. HL is too advanced for them and I kind of know what their aiming for but there is nothing happening.
At times when he uses his overblows at least I guess he's doing that quite frankly am not drawn to the sound. In fact it distincly sounds off to me. Nothing to do with tention and release that is just the instrument and what he is doing. HL may be one of the few guys in the world to do what he's doing but just like a blues thing that was posted a while back of HL to me it dosen't work and
the expression is reduced to the level of a free jazz player, which is then highly debateable.
I guess it is down to what you like. Well I for one would not Like to play like that.
Last Edited by on Nov 05, 2009 12:05 AM
went to see Howard Levy with Bela Fleck & the Flecktones playing a gig last night. I wouldn't say that I was a big fan but, wow!
played everthing from celtic to latin, blues to jazz. Played Harp. Played piano. played Harp into a cup. played piano strings. played Harp and piano. played Harp and piano strings. played cup. played piano and drank from cup.
all the guys on the stage looked like they were having a blast and were joking around with each other, at one point the other members of the band turn to Levy to take a solo and he was like a rabbit in the headlights for a second and then laughed it off and blew out a fantastic solo. brilliant gig! although a few of the tunes were a little bit too much for me...I realised that these were carefully worked into the setlist to allow me time to resupply from the bar and use the bathroom.
they're playing a few shows around Europe and the US over the next few weeks, worth checking out ... http://www.flecktones.com/
cheers Bdr ---------- My granddad gave me some sound advice on his deathbed. "It's worth spending money on good speakers," he told me.
I'm in complete agreement with Sirsucksalot and sopwith.
I love ethnic music, but this is a bit of an abortion. And as for free jazz, they've been playing the same musical diarrhoea since the 70s because they've got nowhere to go. I should know - I was a member of the London Musicians' Collective for a year in 1978, playing alongside Max Eastley and David Toop. I still adore Lol Coxhill, but not when he forgets he has a sense of humour. ---------- Kinda hot in these rhinos!
Last Edited by on Nov 05, 2009 5:31 AM
Zack, or anyone else for that matter, here's the Link to grants in the US. http://www.nea.gov/grants/APPLY/Music.html
Of course you need to be accepted as a student of Howard's but perhaps you may have some contacts here that can help you with a reference or thinking now as I ramble, even Buddha may be willing to offer lessons to you under such study.
Good Luck. ---------- "Keep it in your mouth" - XHarp
I agree with Zack. Being that accurate and playing note for note with other musicians, in that style, using those difficult rhythms....why on earth wouldn't anyone want to be able to do that? That is complete mastery of the instrument whether you like the musical genre or not. Go for it Zack!
Complete mastery of the instrument lets you get out what's inside you musically without having to worry about how to do it on the instrument. That's what makes Buddha sound so good, to use a familiar board member as an example. Playing without having to think about playing.
I would love to be able to play like that and am going to keep striving toward that. It's another way to stay motivated, since it will take considerable time ...or maybe forever. You won't know until you try.
Kindergarten? Abou-Kahlil is an amazing musician, so isn't Howard. Listen to the dynamics of the band. If that is kindergarten I'd love to know what is "college" level.
Well it is world class musicianship. BUT, I find it extremely lacking of anything my ears like to listen to in regards to what I call an appealing melody. I like the tune to sound nice whether it is a rockin version done by SRV or something slow and heart wrenching. Music like this serves the limited purpose of showcasing the musicians at the expense of being audibly pleasing. And yes, that is just my opinion.
I agree with Kingley, I would sure like to play as well as Levy, but I don't care for the music, I kept expecting Indiana Jones to come busting through!
Where I have no true desire to play Middle Eastern-influenced Jazz Fusion myself, it was very cool to listen to Howard's playing. Yeah, not the cleanest I've see him play by far, but I enjoyed it because the musicians were obviously having fun...especially the drummer, who had a look on his face like he was about to nut all over the place. ---------- GO SAINTS! crescentcityharmonicaclub@gmail.com
