|
Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Hill Country Harmonica
Hill Country Harmonica
Page:
1
hooktool
197 posts
May 19, 2019
8:44 PM
|
I'm surprised no one has reported in, so I'll do a quick report. I don't think there were quite as many people as last year, but don't know that for sure-just seemed like it. The Hollowells were awesome as always, the food was great as was the hospitatlity. They go out of their way to make everyone feel welcome.
All the learning sessions I went to were very good, and were complimentary to the other sessions. Won a nice Hohner Rocket Amp (harp, not an amp). Lots of prizes, I think everyone got something. In the end they just opened up the table for the non-winners to pick out a harp.
Malcolm and Trina were the band for the first couple of days. He's. a great guitar player and they backed up Bobby Rush Friday night. Bobby is one amazing man and put on a heck of a show. He's 85 years old, but his voice is strong and his guitar and harp skills impressive. He JUMPED off the friggin stage at one point.
Last night the band was the Anthony “Big A” Sherrod Band. Incredibly tight and right. You would think they practiced with the harp guys for a couple of days. Phil Wiggins was on fire-I've never heard him play with an amplified band. They were his songs, but a very different feel. He's always been one of my favorite harp players/writer singer, and now I like him even more. And a really interesting and nice man.
Aki Kumar was great, and what I was hoping for-what a performer and presence on stage. Masterful.
Aki and Phil were hard to follow, but Jason was Jason. Put on a house rocking show like we would expect-so high energy and so damn good. Used a LOT of effects, some interesting sounds.
I don't know what they will do to top it, but just last night was worth the price of admission.
The Blues Doctors did a set Friday afternoon, and Todd Parrott, Anthony “Big A” Sherrod Band, Michaela Harrison & Joy Clark did Sunday Morning Church. Todd is sooooo good.
Quite a few MBH members there.
That's all I got, my ass is dragging, got home a couple of hours ago.
Thanks Hollowells and Adam!
John
Last Edited by hooktool on May 19, 2019 8:47 PM
|
The Iceman
3849 posts
May 20, 2019
9:38 AM
|
Sounds like a lot of concert/performances that were pretty good....what about workshops/clinics/lessons/stuff you learned??
----------
The Iceman
|
groyster1
3362 posts
May 20, 2019
1:53 PM
|
Im echoing johns sentiments 100%......bobby rush played Friday night and Saturday phil,aki and Jason played......by the time Jason was playing I had a hill country dram...….it was like a Jekyll/hyde transformation.....that drink was just too much for this nearly 69 year old......that being said......it was an event for the ages!!!!!!!!!!
|
groyster1
3364 posts
May 20, 2019
7:50 PM
|
@iceman..….it was my 4th HCH......todd parrott is always great teacher......but a young new kid on the block Damien pearson was great instructor......its what he does for a living
|
The Iceman
3850 posts
May 21, 2019
6:58 AM
|
I can see that maybe events like this are all about watching great sets, but are there any out there that focus on the teaching aspect?.... aside from saying that Todd is a great teacher (he teaches patterns) and Damien was great, what did you guys learn? What techniques were taught? What new concepts were offered?
----------
The Iceman
Last Edited by The Iceman on May 21, 2019 8:46 AM
|
ridge
761 posts
May 21, 2019
1:52 PM
|
Without giving too much away with respect for those who paid to attend, there were some very well laid out classes.
Hooktool was referencing a few classes by Todd Parrott where he covered "Connecting Licks", "Playing in 5th Position/4th Position", "Playing 3rd Position Major". The material handouts were well written and Todd, being able to play keyboard and harmonica, was able to demonstrate and teach all of those topics to a large group with great efficacy, in my humble opinion.
I didn't ask Todd, but I will assume that some of these same topics were covered at the North Carolina Harmonica event from a few months prior.
There was a strong concerted effort to record and document sessions so that participants could get the benefit of the whole event. This is a nice improvement as it is impossible to attend each class depending on the frequency with which they were presented.
This iteration of HCH was exceptionally well organized outside of a few curve balls. The schedule was moderately aggressive, but Annette Hallowell kept things flowing pretty much as described. Definitely no small feat, and did not go unnoticed.
I will come back and re-edit my post with more detail as I see fit. Limited time to post at the moment!
----------
Ridge's YouTube
|
groyster1
3365 posts
May 21, 2019
4:05 PM
|
@iceman..….here are examples.....melodies beyond 12 bar blues-phil wiggins…..one chord rhythmic play-adam gussow….3rd position scales-Jason ricci…...it was much like todds clinic in north Carolina where you came.....Ive always profited from this event......and will come back for HCH2020......you should consider coming to HCH2020......I heard you play in durham…..you could bring much to the table
|
kudzurunner
6568 posts
May 21, 2019
6:06 PM
|
Speaking as somebody who has helped bring in talent for all five HCH events: yes, there were fewer attendees than in the past--publicity started late, and the actual topics taught by the instructors were posted much too late--but man: the collective firepower on the teaching end and performing end this year was at the very top end. I caught bits of every teacher's classes except Damion Pearson's, and I learned something from everybody. Bobby Rush's set--which began with solo singing/guitar and finished with him backed by a big sounding duo--was just spectacular. A once-in-a-lifetime show from a blues master. Just that good. And that was Friday night. Saturday night was Phil Wiggins followed by Aki Kumar followed by Jason Ricci. I, too, had never heard Phil with a band. He blasted out of the starting gate. His staccato rhythm stuff through the vocal mic was extremely powerful. When he finished, I actually felt sorry for Aki! How can he equal that, I thought? Then he came on, brought the volume all the way down, and slowly brought it up. When he jumped down off the stage on to the concrete and moved into the audience with Big A--just harp and guitar--is was clearly THE moment of the event.
What could Jason possibly do to equal that? But he killed. His sound through that amp was huge, harmonics-heavy, with a deep, clear reverb.
Sunday midday was Todd Parrott's gospel show. He kills it every time. (One of his classes was playing third position with a major sound, not minor sound.)
I've almost never heard three top-of-the-line players each come out and kill like that, in a row, each completely different from the other.
Annette is a gifted MC. The event lives. We will do this next year.
Edited to add: I interviewed Bobby Rush for 45 minutes. I hope somebody posts that. He talked about his friendship with Little Walter. He lived almost next door to Walter, he said. "Little Walter stole my licks," he said. "If I played something new, it would show up on his recording two weeks later."
----------
Beyond the Crossroads: The Devil and the Blues Tradition
Last Edited by kudzurunner on May 21, 2019 6:09 PM
|
hooktool
198 posts
May 21, 2019
10:45 PM
|
I would sign up tomorrow. Two years in a row it has been a highlight of my year, and I have a pretty interesting life.
John
|
The Iceman
3851 posts
May 22, 2019
7:56 AM
|
Having been a teacher/clinician/workshop presenter for years, I'm always more interested in the clinic aspect of harmonica gatherings.
Seems that most revues are about the performances of the recording artists - great show/how was he going to top that guy, but he did/amazing performance etc etc etc, while not much is talked about in depth regarding what the attendees actually learn from the classes, which, to me at least, is the real reason why most folks attend.
I understand that the initial draw (in the minds of most promoters) is believed to be "who and how many famous harmonica players can we book to attract attendees". I also understand that most famous harmonica players are players and not teachers, as teaching itself is a skill that is different from the ability to perform, play fast licks and wow an audience.
So, aside from being impressed watching these folk play, I'm more interested in what the attendees took home with them to make them a better player - what did they LEARN while there...
Personally, not being a fan of lick based learning, but also understanding that offering classes in which new licks are given out on worksheets is a quick and easy way for folk to "take something home with them", I'm interested in finding out who is innovating with new teaching techniques and approaches other than the same ol' same ol'.
For instance, one of the many seminars I've brought to this arena is teaching how to develop ideas on your own rather than memorizing other's ideas. Now, that's something the student can really use for the rest of his life rather than something they memorize, replay until they are tired of and then come back for another helping of other folks' ideas...
"melodies beyond 12 bar blues-phil wiggins" sounds like something more innovative here....that's the kind of stuff that gets me excited, so naturally I would like to hear more about this.
Groyster - Thanks for the compliment in regards to "what I could bring to the table"....since I've been on "hiatus" for about 17 years, there is a new crop of players that probably don't know what my potential is in these type of events..
My favorite recent experience was at Todd's NC Fest - during check in, I sat with another attendee at a 2 top in the bar that first afternoon when we got our name tags and work books. He was chatting about other amazing harmonica events he had attended over the years and says "Yeah. There was this one fantastic SPAH in the late 90's in which Kim Wilson was the featured performer. There was also this guy named Larry Iceman who was showcasing his amazing young girl student, too."
You should have seen the look on his face when I flashed him my name tag. Priceless.
Anyways, this is all giving me reason to come out of "semi retirement", Groyster, so we'll see where it leads....
----------
The Iceman
Last Edited by The Iceman on May 22, 2019 7:58 AM
|
snowman
455 posts
May 22, 2019
10:48 AM
|
Another meaningless,
endless diatribe of a knucklehead
[yr next step, the “Twilight Zone]
Hate to sound redundant but same here; Great place—GREAT PEOPLE—enough days- meaning 1 to 2 days is always too rushed.
I love where I live and for me to say “I could easily live here as well” ,isn’t said lightly
The humidity gets narly I guess—But the country, the people, the players etc are my kind of people.
The “HEART” is more important than the “head” in playing music, especially “blues” .
Phil Wiggins- he played from the gut-he played great –He’s lived it and it shows-
He’s living proof that playing great and being a great person, can go together
--what a cool dude—a highlight for me
Great to meet groyster-ridge -hooktool-numnuts etc as well
no wait no one was named numnuts sorry-
-dale from Alaska
--Forgot the guys name from England, need that and some emails
i dug talking to my Venezuela friends and 1 from mexico
would love their info, if any one has it
Im very self centered takes mr forever with names
Iceman
For me I recorded the ones I went to, knowing I would dissect later and put in folders- the recording is a bunch of long wav files, that i have to put in audacity or mixcraft to shorten and edit and make mp3
I have to get the paperwork on todd 3rd pos and another he did
Todd on 1 deal-- went in depth on 2nd pos 3 hole first bend b3 m3 whichever name u feel is politically correct. My old guitar teacher use to flip out on b3
Todd played 3draw 1st bend 2nd pos--- over all kinds backing tracks songs [How it fits over many chord changes
with maj7 chords 145 ish---
over standard dominant 7 9 chords
most importantly minor and or minor 7 chords
He did it over all the chord changes on each track
he also showed how bad 3 draw and 7 draw in [2nd pos] sounds in minor] etc
i have partial recording [started raining, tent and bag were open]---gonna try n get from foxfire
Its pretty hard to learn stuff “right Now” hence record it for later and handouts”
In other words he emphasized how important it is to know where your major third and minor third are on the harp so u don’t sound terrible in minor etc
But I didn’t know that the “minor third” as a lead note-- was so safe over so many chords
what I came away with;
1] work on third pos-------I play rack a ton, got use to "nat minor" harps for that
BUT for playing with "harp in hands" lots sweet sounds in third ,I've been missing.
2] that Im still drounding in a pool of mediocrity" when it comes to harp.
I took a little break 6-9 monthes, just enjoyed life __hiking more etc. was still playing every weekend, practicing at the "listeners expense" Im ready to find more time for basic practice
"inspired"
3] I know where the root of each chord 145 is. I know how to octave split those for rhythm
but I need to memorize what that note is over the IV and IV etc
Especially in relation to minor major Etc
4] Harp players generally are good people, Proud to be part of that
Great fun
|
The Iceman
3852 posts
May 22, 2019
1:18 PM
|
Snowman - Todd's workshop where he demonstrates the sound of maj/minor 3rds over different chords is an example of great teaching, as it impacted you immediately - did you leave that class with the ability to "listen" (and decide note choices) with a deeper understanding?
That other stuff you recorded and handouts you will study later are like a take home bonus of extra credit.
Thanks for sharing.
----------
The Iceman
|
groyster1
3366 posts
May 22, 2019
2:10 PM
|
certainly hope everybody returns next year plus the ones who were not there...….the harp community is pretty special..…..all of us learning from each other
|
KingoBad
1735 posts
May 22, 2019
9:14 PM
|
I hope some of you stayed up late to play. We had some great playing last year (for those who stayed up). The young guns were up, and Terry harmonica Bean hung with us for a while.
Please tell me you did...
----------
Danny
|
SuperBee
5974 posts
May 23, 2019
5:38 AM
|
That’s one of my favourite memories, Danny. I remember your rendition of Juke was a highlight, and chatting with Terry Bean. Also a big circle jam on Got my Mojo Working where everyone took a chorus.
|
groyster1
3367 posts
May 23, 2019
7:07 AM
|
was so great to see terry bean again......great player and great person who is very passionate about keeping the blues alive......hes been around it all his life
|
snowman
457 posts
May 24, 2019
9:17 AM
|
Just started dissecting Phil wiggins lesson and song
Another thing I realized --I need to work on is ---cleaner 3 draw bends
I can go up n down 3d----3d1b----3d2b----3d3b
but I realize now that it wasn't that clean wiggins lesson and song --- gussows drills---should help a lot
when I get this edited which may take sometime I'll e mail to anyone who went, that wants--but won't post out of respect for the Hollowells and the event
I have a folder of Boogie patterns over 12 bar.
I have some Piazza boogies-K wilson -J Ricci- jerry portnoire etc
Wiggins song and boogie has -way different phrasing --its goin in the folder
I was so tired at the event --car rentals- flights-planning etc ---not to mention 4-5 hrs sleep a night- I forgot how many drills- songs etc practice deals we were given until I got to my zoom recordings
Gonna start workin on wiggins boogie song first
It really was cool meeting u guys
Lifes tough-- now I have to make last payment on our 14th blues cruise-problems of abundance- they are not a problem
peace out
Last Edited by snowman on May 24, 2019 9:18 AM
|
hooktool
199 posts
May 24, 2019
6:46 PM
|
Danny, there was not a lot of playing outside the scheduled events, though there may have been some after the performances. They had it packed pretty full, I was not up to more after 14 hours-but I'm old. I don't think I saw anyone with a guitar, and there was not much in the way of open jam kind of stuff like last time. They did invite fols to come up, but there was never really much time. We need you back there to make it happen. I'm with Dave, that was a lot of fun sitting and playing last year the night Terry Bean was there.
I enjoyed Terry's Sunday performance when he just played harp-no rack or guitar.
John
|
groyster1
3372 posts
May 27, 2019
5:26 AM
|
@iceman.....you are spot on about todd`s teaching skills......hes awesome!!!!you will not meet a better person
|
Post a Message
|
