I was sorry to see the “Misdirection Blues” thread locked out…so I’m taking my chances here on posting my thoughts as a lurker/sometime contributor to this forum, who has only posted samples of his playing once or twice. BUT I assume if one keeps posting their music they must be asking for some thoughtful criticism, right? I believe my contribution here is within the forum rules and is, I hope, helpful. I have no stake in the Iceman vs. Ted Burke “don’t play fast” issue, as I actually enjoy fast playing, and respect the previous posts of both dudes in the past as I read them. So not trying to start some nonesense here. But the Director/Producer of this production may feel the need to yell cut and delete this all....I understand.
First, I really respect Iceman’s contributions and posts, coming from the perspective of a road-tested musician/teacher/curmudgeon. I can learn from him. And, also, I enjoy Ted Burke’s critical posts about his musical heroes and his recent discoveries. Mr. Burke has a good ear for listening to music and an understanding of different styles of music, and writes so thoughtfully and well, in my opinion! So whenever I’m browsing on these posts I’ll open a thread with his name on it…but, I’m afraid to say, I find his examples of his own endless playing over jam tracks a mixed bag.
Ted, you clearly have the fluidity and dexterity to play fast runs on the harp, way better than I can even hope to achieve. It’s obviously your own “style”, and there’s nothing intrinsically wrong with that, but at times I find your playing simply exhausting and fairly empty–endless riffs over these jam tracks with little to no emphasis on what I would call, I guess, “establishing a theme” or “landing points” in your soloing.
On your “Misdirection Blues” jam, on more than a few occasions, you anticipate the chord changes way to early in your soloing—this to me is particularly annoying on a standard blues shuffle like this track. It pushes the beat, and not in a good way. You do this often on your other jams that you post. Your lack of intonation on the 3 draw half step and whole step gets really irksome when playing so fast as you seem to sort of lean on this note at times without regard for where you are landing with it on the chord changes….this can actually sound cool here or there, once or twice, in a song—as I have offered in the past on other threads…one recent Paul Oscher thing comes to mind. But over and over again on a high F hap…that sticks out to me as kinda lame. When playing that fast you can actually just pass right over the 3 draw natural quickly as a passing note and it’ll sound OK, in my opinion. John Popper does this often. More about him in a minute.
Jazz guys like Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker played flurries of notes but always in a very musical context, playing with the melody, establishing a theme or repetitive idea that they would come back to to ‘land on” or “ground” the listener. I would say: you need to work on that. One of your heroes, Paul Butterfield, always had sublime note choices, even when playing those descending triplets. I strive for that concept in my own playing. Maybe I’ll get there one day. Playing with a live band helps to enforce these things as you get feedback from others…I don’t know if that’s in your past or no longer on your radar, or not possible these days (understandable), but it helps to encourage these concepts. Also, sit down and just listen to North Mississippi blues guys like Junior Kimbrough and RL Burnside…you will understand the power of understatement and groove. The blues is “soul" music and you should never sound like a teenager under the covers with his partner for the first time, wailing away, flailing, breathless, undisciplined. It’s cool music. Be cool!
The posts by others that constantly diss Jason Ricci I find flaccid and superficial criticisms. To my ears, he is rhythmically very solid and inspirational…he actually plays just a few notes—a few, but very fast—all in a musical context. The technique is breathtaking, but the musicality more so than the technique. And John Popper also takes a lot of heat on these forums…I find his singing and songwriting ultimately more interesting than his playing, which is a bit of a one trick pony, BUT that one trick is pretty amazing—always focusing on melodic ideas…he doesn’t always play properly through the chord changes but his dexterity and speed make it work because—BECAUSE—he has an end game, a goal—to build open the musical idea of his melody, not just endless noodling upon noodling. He cleverly navigates this stuff, it’s very clever and dextrous.His solo on the well-known hit “Runaround” is really amazing, inspirational to someone who wants to play that fast style harp. He understands that he is basically reinforcing the melody of the song. He works the song/melody, through his fast technique. Or, at least, that’s the sleight of hand he has somehow managed to pull off.
So there’s some thoughts off my chest as I have been reading posts of late. I’m not the most articulate chap…feel free to flame me but I feel that the recent spate of just “I hate fast playing” or just “sounds great man!” doesn’t really help anyone. I hope my comments are at least helpful/thought provoking.
Peace!
P.S.: Does anyone know if they actually "retuned' songs in postproduction for The Last Waltz movie? See Butterfield Mystery Train post....thanks...
I appreciate your thoughtful consideration of my playing ,tomaxe. It is intelligent expression of your preferences in rapid playing. I would agree on various points, especially in matters where I come in on chord too soon or lag behind. Two things to note: I usually post first takes on these backing tracks , and the placement of notes to corresponding chords sometimes is shaky. It might be worth saying that I am hard of hearing, a forty percent loss since childhood, and I've had to learn harmonica more or less anticipating chord progressions rather than actually hearing the changes the band is putting. I've done okay in live situations, but much music is rather muddy in my inner ear when I go to play along with it. The reason I started doing videos back yonder was so I could actually listen to myself play and work on my deficiencies. As it goes, there is always room for improvement, but I am of the opinion that my standing among other quality harmonica players is solid; I have no reason to feel unworthy to be in another player's company. It should be note as well that my most recent videos are acoustic, playing informally with my friend Tommy Hoyt. I like those videos in that it shows me reacting effectively with another musician, un-amped, leading off with nothing but groove, tone and short bits. Hardly perfect--Norton Buffalo and Roy Rogers will not have their reputations challenged by the likes of us--and I am the first to admit a stop and go tentativeness in moments, some aimless noodling, but over all I think it shows growth in an new area. It is progress, not perfection. ----------As for three draw, that is part my style, that's the way I want the note to sound. Sorry that it aggravates you, but it's not something that is likely to change, although I am finding ways to not return to it so often. Again, thanks for a refreshing critique.
In the meantime, listen to this Buttefield/Bloomfield reunion from 1971. Both of them are on fire. www.ted-burke.com
Last Edited by ted burke on Mar 10, 2020 10:59 PM
So I read the locked thread, I'm one of those people I see a locked thread.... i'm reading it. OK it's a personal weakness, but whatever.
I've had run in's with both Ted and Larry on this forum. The most amusing thing to me was as I read each's criticism of the other I started laughing to myself and saying yup that's true.
Look, at the risk of uttering a cliche everybody's heard a million times : music = art = subjectivity. I mean is that even arguable? Is less more? Sometimes. Is less less? Sometimes.
Hey, I hate rap and hip hop. I mean HATE it. I'm not a fan of classical either but at least when I hear that, I don't feel like taking a sledgehammer to whatever is producing that sound. Yet, when I find myself criticizing it, I hear the same words like "awful" and "noise" that my parents were saying when I was listening to the Stones, Beatles, The Who, Zeppelin etc. Their stuff was Glen Miller, big band like In The Mood, and ironically I actually like that stuff now too. It's ALL subjective right?
Now, when you post a video on here, to me, the criticism (and praise) just comes with the scenery, apologies to Chrissie Hynde for knifing part of a lyric there. Some of it constructive some of it acerbic and everything in between, including the personal (forum rules not withstanding). Welcome to the internet. It's why despite being on stage with bands from time to time I've never posted any of my own playing. So it begs the question, why put something up here, if your not willing to hear everything: the good, the bad and yes the ugly?
Some will say, it's because they find the urge to express themselves, or to get better from the "constructive" critique. OK fair enough. But by definition putting it on here means you have the desire to express yourself to someone. Expecting nothing but platitudes or well thought out assessments just isn't realistic, here (online) or in the real world. Though the asshole factor in the real world is decidedly lower. There's always the risk of a punch in the face there.
Just my proverbial two cents, opinions are like assholes.... blah blah blah...you can fill in the punchline.. Nates got a tough job, sometimes I wonder why he does it.
EDITED TO ADD: And for the record, misdirection blues, I liked it and I'm one of the not a fan of Popper types. It worked for me nonetheless.
Last Edited by Honkin On Bobo on Mar 11, 2020 7:56 AM
Ive been subject to reproach from both guys....that being said I value what both bring to the table.....there have been many posts that Ive read that Ive stayed out of....if I cannot refute what they have to say then will leave it to food for thought
Most likely will get banned, but it has to be said. I find Larry’s contribution to this forum to be negative, unhelpful, and often off topic. His presence on this forum has made me less enthusiastic about the forum and less likely to want to be a part of it. I think the moderators of the forum need to give careful consideration of what the tone of our community is going to be and who adds or detracts from that tone. I’ve been playing blues harmonica for 17 years and would love to have a discourse with other players who want to be great blues players. But when the forum devolves into comments like “tab is lazy” or “Using the term suck or blow is wrong ” (Butterfield used these very terms by the way) it’s no longer the community I’m looking for. PS: Ted you should be able to play however the fuck you want to play regardless of what I or anyone else thinks.
Honest opinions and thoughtful criticism should never get anyone banned from a forum...It's certainly not necessary to be as long winded or blowhardy as my original post here, lol, but I'm always flabbergasted that someone would go through the process of setting up a password and going through those security captcha somersaults to eventually post something as barren and superficial as "I don't like fast playing" or "That was great". Weird. I appreciate Ted Burke's acknowledgement that my opinions on his playing were thoughtful, even if he does not necessarily agree with everything I said! I think that's how these things should go.... I have no issue with Iceman's posts personally, as he always seems to have some critical point to make, even if his style is a bit "I've been around the block here, so let me cut to the chase".Ditto Barbecue Bob, who will always explain IN ALL CAPS that harp players have LOUSY TIME and play TOO HARD. They are still providing substantive criticism, in my opinion, from the pro/veteran's perspective...even if their style is off-putting to some. If and when things get personal, and maybe they have in the past...then of course they need to be warned, but I really don't see that much....my .02
"Sharing honest opinions without getting upset about another's should be what this forum is all about."
+1
I should say that it was me who first mentioned Jason Ricci in the locked thread and I feel the need to point out that I meant no disrespect to anyone.
Opinions are indeed like a***holes and I would be mistaken if I thought anyone wanted to see, let alone hear, mine.
