Re: [Harp-L] Larry Adler Question For The Group

[Slim Heilpern <slim@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Probably worth mentioning that I've heard some great chromatic players 
say that they dislike Larry Adler's playing, so he's not everyone's cup 
of tea. The bad rap is I believe related to his interpretation of 
classical music as well as his over-the-top performance style.

For me, Adler's playing was not about classical music or his ability to 
come across to non-musicians. It was all about tone, vibrato, style, 
expression, and beauty. He played with great feeling and intensity and 
would milk the last drop out of every note. Through his recordings, I 
learned an awful lot about what the chromatic was capable of (most of 
the rest I learned by listening to Stevie and Toots ;-)).

If anyone is not already familiar with Larry's playing, there is a great 
CD with just harmonica and piano which really let's you hear his playing 
up close: Live At the Ballroom.  If I could only hold on to one Adler 
recording, this would be my choice.

- Slim.

www.SlideManSlim.com


Ken Deifik wrote:
> I'm a diatonic player.  When I hear a diatonic player I listen to 
> her/him in a very collegial way - every good diatonic player has alot 
> to tell me, and I them, both musically and technically.  I feel like 
> the member of an imaginary Diatonic Players Guild, and when I hear a 
> good player I feel like I hear music, but I also hear ideas that would 
> be hard to explain to a non-specialist.
>
> I love chromatic harmonica in every style I've heard, and I play it 
> when I am asked to, but I do not feel like I am in that club.  I 
> listen to chromatic harmonica players in all innocence, all I hear is 
> the music, none of the technical details outside of beautiful tone and 
> articulation.
>
> So I'd be interested in the thoughts of any chromatic player on the 
> list who is interested in writing about the subject to discuss the 
> technical details that make Larry Adler a supreme chromatic player FOR 
> THEM.  I think this would be a chromatic discussion that would be of 
> great value for diatonic players, and I suspect for the whole group.
>
> Ken