Re: [Harp-L] The best

[Bobbie Giordano <bogio@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On 9/5/2006 2:28:11 AM, Robert Gaustad (robertgaustad@xxxxxxxxxxx) wrote:
> Too many people read what they want into a sentence instead
> of what is actually written.

Absolutely; which brought to mind...  "There is no surer way to misread 
any document than to read it literally." - Learned Hand

> I know a few people who do think Jason is the best harp player
> in the world.  So Brad got it exactly right in his article.

As Steve Webb wrote:
>> Nowhere did Brad say that Jason Ricci is the best blues harp
>> player in the world.   He stated that many consider him to be
>> that.   And that is patently true, as is evidenced by the
>> responses on this list.

Quite a few, even, from what I've read and heard.  Brad merely stated a 
fact, even if it was a common journalistic mechanism.  To carp on how 
idiotic the editorial device was seems only aimed to shoot the messenger, 
which is purely uncalled-for here, to my mind, considering how often Brad 
has generally extolled the harmonica and its players in his writings, 
which receive significant public circulation.

So much more was put forth in the article that revealed the honesty, 
angst, dedication, struggle, joy and pain of Jason's ragged lifestyle, 
[which, in fact, drew pertinent parallels with other harmonica musicians' 
efforts to also make it in today's treacherous music scene,] that I found 
the totality of the article enlightening and, concomitantly, sad and 
uplifting.  If anything, Jason was the perfect foil for a reporter's 
attempt to educate the general public about how hard committed musicians 
have to work in order to achieve happiness and success in their lives; 
hopefully, some folk will learn to better appreciate what they sacrifice 
for their art and in trying to entertain their listeners.

So, kudos, Brad!  Don't dare put down that pen, and hopefully, we can 
give your thoughts even wider exposure in harp publications from time to 
time!
[hint, hint! ;)]  So glad you made it to SPAH in Denver!!

To share just one more quote... from Aristotle:  "The high minded man 
must care more for the truth than for what people think."

A reporter's credo?
Works for me.

Bobbie