Re: [Harp-L] Re: Dave Fertig response to EGS1217/What else do you do?- New here



Well, if Butterfield didn't tongue-block, it certainly ain't necessary, nor is overblowing, nor is vindication. Nor is playing different positions, or chromatic, or . . . . What is necessary, for blues harp anyway, is soul. And at least one good ear, I suppose.

As for Sonny Terry: Tom Ball is absolutely one of my favorite players, and he's also a scholar on the subject, so I would not second guess him on anything harpmonica-related, however I will note when I saw Sonny Terry play live (loong ago at Hermosa Beach), I could have sworn I saw him throwin' a few octaves and chords, a la tongue-blocking, altho he didn't do much o dat stuff, I thought he did do some. And Froggy says Sonny did it, too, so I am at a loss, perhaps Sonny did it just a little bit? Maybe not. But Sonny's chief thing for me was his beautiful sound-wave shaping with his hand, acute mic control and his amazing rhythmic work involving his voice and breathe. Sonny Terry is royalty, I treasure his work.

Anyway, I still say the late William Clark was a monster blocker. Also, Dennis Gruenling, wisely recommended by Froggy, is indeed an amazing player too!

So pucker on, or tongue block, or do 5th position overblows with oddly tuned semi-valved 12-hole whatsisdealiebobs, whatever, just blow with soul!

-Dave



At 02:35 PM 12/5/2004, Pierre wrote:

Yesssss, we puckerers are vindicated !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yesssss, we puckerers are vindicated !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yesssss, we puckerers are vindicated !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yesssss, we puckerers are vindicated !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here that sound in the distance, that's me gloating!

LOL!

Pierre.



----- Original Message ----- From: "tom ball" <havaball@xxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: <EGS1217@xxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2004 4:29 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] Re: Dave Fertig response to EGS1217/What else do you do?- New here



With regard to steering Elizabeth towards tongue blocking, it was posted:

Sonny Terry: The Folkways Years (all issues)
You'll know the meaning of Tongue Blocking. <snip>
_________
All due respect, but Sonny Terry did not tongue block - he was a pucker player. The CD mentioned here IS brilliant, of course -- one of the greatest of all blues harp recordings! -- but it is not demonstrative (nor indicative) of tongue blocking. I would instead recommend instead either Big Walter or Little Walter.


cheers,

Tom Ball
Santa Barbara
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