Re: [Harp-L] Re: Shakin Smith



Those are all very good points.  Personally, I generally don't like
players that play a millions notes a minutes unless it's necessary. 
I don't like players that play outside the style of a given form of
music.  I absolutely hate it when people play things just to play
them ie: overblows.  Everything needs to be done within a musical
context.

I put a lot of stock into emotion and doing things right but in the
case of Shakin Smith the first tune I listened to was AM blues

http://www.shakinsmith.com/Shakin%20Smith%20-%20A.M.%20Blues.mp3

All I heard was a guy doing HIS own thing to the point he didn't
listen to the band. That's detriemental to the band and the music. 
Clearly, Shakin changed keys but the band didn't follow.  However,
it's painful obvious that it's shakin that didn't follow because the
entire band stayed on the I when shakin went to the IV.  This sounds
terrible and shows a general lack of musicianship.  This is
inexcusible especially when a tune is written by the player and
further released to the public on a CD.

Sure, he's got great tone and plays with feeling but he certainly is
not breaking any new ground unless he's trying to re-write
traditional blues forms which is counter to your point anyway. 

As we both agree, everything needs to be done within a musical
context and to play "outside" is generally ok in Jazz, it's is NOT ok
in traditional harmonica blues is largely out of musical context.







>
>
>
>---- Original Message ----
>From: kingley@xxxxxxxxxx
>To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Re: Shakin Smith
>Date: Sun, 24 Apr 2005 18:49:15 +0100
>
>>
>>Surely the point of listening to people play is to enjoy their
>ability 
>>to play within the style of music they are performing.
>>Sometimes a simple line played with feeling is more impressive than
>a 
>>flurry of notes at a million miles an hour.
>>
>>I mean if someone is playing overblows and chromatic runs time and
>time 
>>again this becomes mighty tedious to listen to. Used in the right 
>>context though it can be awe inspiring.
>>But if you are trying to recreate that '50s blues style you wouldn't
>
>>play those techniques if you remained authentic to the music.
>>If however you were playing Rock Blues or Jazz they could be used a
>lot.
>>The single most important thing is that whatever you play fits into
>the 
>>song you are playing.
>>
>>Lazy Lester once said "Man, that fits like a saddle fits a pig"
>>
>>Paul
>>
>>On 24 Apr 2005, at 18:24, Planet Harmonica wrote:
>>
>>> << As far as blues is concerned the only fresh and groundbreaking
>blues
>>> chaps are cats like:
>>>
>>> Jason Ricci
>>> Dennis Gruenling
>>> Michael Peloquin
>>>
>>> Those are the only guys that can hold my attention for an entire
>>> night. Shakin Smith couldn't hold my attention for more that a few
>>> bars.>>
>>>
>>> Well, two of these three can hardly be defined as blues, and the
>third 
>>> (Gruenling) isn't all that different from the masters that inspire
>him 
>>> (and I say this as someone who enjoys this stuff).
>>>
>>> I think defining freshness in blues as 'people who don't do blues'
>is 
>>> a bit silly. There are some players who manage to remain well
>within 
>>> the blues idiom and still sound fresh. Yes, they are rare as
>rocking 
>>> horsehit, but they exist. Steve Guyger is one of the them, Steven
>de 
>>> Bruyn was one of them (he doesn't do blues anymore), Paul deLay,
>when 
>>> he does blues, is one of them, and there are probably a rare few 
>>> others around. That doesn't mean it's not possible, just that it
>takes 
>>> someone special to do it.
>>>
>>> So, to sum it up, I agree with you that there is precious little 
>>> interesting released in blues today, but what there is isn't
>people 
>>> taking a bit of blues and moving outside of its realm (interesting
>
>>> though Jason may be, he's more a rock act than a blues act, IMO,
>and 
>>> Michael is a lot more into soul and jazz to my ears than 
>>> straight-ahead blues)
>>>
>>> Ben
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ---- Original Message ----
>>>> From: AV1901@xxxxxxx
>>>> To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
>>>> Subject: RE: [Harp-L] Re:Improv in Blues : Re: Shakin Smith
>>>> Date: Sun, 24 Apr 2005 10:58:51 EDT
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Mike:
>>>>>
>>>>> I said I listened to all the MP3's on the web site you
>referenced.
>>>> My
>>>>> comments clearly stated this, and did not generalize to the
>artist's
>>>> work as a
>>>>> whole. I stick with my statement based on what I heard there. If
>you
>>>> only listen
>>>>> to those MP3s on his site, and you know and use the licks of
>SBWII,
>>>> you gotta
>>>>> say Shakin' was influenced by SBWII. His own posted bio tends to
>>>> support my
>>>>> position. And being influenced by SBWII is not a bad thing.
>>>>>
>>>>> I'll say this, as a general statement, many harp players sound
>>>> better live
>>>>> than on CD/MP3. I'll take your word for it on Shakin Smith, as
>I've
>>>> never
>>>>> seen/heard him live. You clearly know more about this player
>than I
>>>> do. Does he
>>>>> ever get outside Buffalo? I'm near Philly.
>>>>>
>>>>> Just my opinion - on the MP3s *you* suggested Harp-Lers listen
>to -
>>>> I  didn't
>>>>> hear much new ground, except the last cut. And I like 'old
>ground'
>>>> stuff
>>>>> done well, which is what Shakin' seemed to be doing there. New
>>>> ground for  new
>>>>> ground's sake sometimes leaves me cold.
>>>>>
>>>>> Its all good.
>>>>>
>>>>> Andy Vincent
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
>>>>> Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
>>>>> http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l
>>>>>
>>>
>>> Chris Michalek
>>>
>>> www.michalekstrone.com
>>> CD Available
>>> http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/michalekstrone
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
>>> Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
>>> http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
>>> Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
>>> http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l
>>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
>>Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
>>http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l
>>

Chris Michalek

www.michalekstrone.com
CD Available
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/michalekstrone






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