Re: [Harp-L] Harmonica cutting contest at SPAH



Oh George, George, you are SUCH a treasure. So, in an effort to have everyone see where I'm coming from, I'll extrapolate a bit.......oh no, here he goes again........

On Jul 27, 2007, at 10:29 PM, Philharpn@xxxxxxx wrote:

* Me thinks everybody is overracting. The ragtime piano street fair "cutting
contest" I described was just a mild collection of mostly ragtime
performances.

The way 'I' read it, Phil was suggesting a contest of sorts and just using the cutting contest phraseology
as a 'reference' point, knowing that everyone would understand that. Phil, correct me if I'm wrong

* I was talking about a friendly little competition at SPAH.

That's what I thought. We HAD such a friendly contest at the Suncoast Dixieland Jazz Fest a few years ago. I don't think it was all that intimidating. I mean, not to the point of fear and dread. Although I must admit that when a certain Ed (the coogster) Coogan showed up, my heart sank.


Although a cutting contest would be like they used to hold in Kansas City back in the late 40s early 50s, and some of them got really crazy, (and even Charlie Parker & Miles Davis fell victim), I wouldn't want it to be THAT extreme.

* Ranging somewhere above the open mikes where everybody gets up to play
(sorry) and the international competitions where everybody is judged on the
ability to perform a competition piece note-for-note.

Here's where I agree. There are some players who don't quite seem to be in the range of being asked/booked to play SPAH, and while one may occasionally get up there once in a great while for a short stint, they usually are at a disadvantage because they either don't have the back-up OR are put in a position of playing in a format that they are unfamiliar with.


Unfortunately, because of various factors, they wind up roaming the halls and becoming lobby players BECAUSE they shouldn't always be relegated to open mike, and feel out of place (and sometimes dejected). Not putting down open mike players at all, but some players shouldn't be 'welded' in open mike ALL the time.

* Not a traumatic battle where the "losers" would slink of and destroy their
harps out of shame.

Right, I remember back in the late 40s early 50s theaters had contests of all sorts. When I was 9, I would accompany my 13 year old sister to the Roxy theater in N.Y.C. She was a champion Yo-Yo artist and sometimes she won, sometimes she lost. Other days there would be talent contests, juggling contests. America has always been a country where they pushed competition. You compete for jobs, compete in sports, compete for a mate.

* Not a duel to the death like the original piano, jazz cutting contests.

As long as it was done in a 'festival sojourn' atmosphere, I don't see the harm. We might be surprised. Maybe it wouldn't be popular. I know I (personally) don't like competition, so I probably wouldn't compete.

* This would accomplish the "storied sharing" that always goes on at SPAH
conventions.


* What better way to "share" than to demonstrate what works in a performance?

* Plus, it would allow people who are not a part of the "regularly scheduled
performers" (those top-notch players who just happened to attend SPAH) a
chance to get up and perform in front of an audience instead of being relegated to
the hallway next to the sandwich stand.

Here I agree again. Now if a 'known' named player shows up, space is usually worked into the schedule for them. But sometimes it isn't. Also, there are not too many cases where a 'known' player will share stage time. Sooo, if you wind up with a GOOD convention with a GOOD attendence of GOOD players, you are really squeezed. I can understand that, BUT I also don't like to see the same players constantly being re-cycled. Fresh talent is always welcomed.

* We had the same thing several years ago when Thursday was Blues Night at
SPAH and several players got up and played. It was not billed as a cutting
contest, but it was clear that some players were better than others and some were
making their first public performances.

I remember that well.

* And whatever happened to Blues Night?

It appears to have moved to Tues night because the host hotel just isn't the right atmosphere. (too sterile)

I'm getting too old to stay up all night -- when I'm not getting paid -- just
to listen to blues jam and then try to get up the next day.









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