Re: [Harp-L] Re: The Internet



I concur with Richard except for where he said "probably." I think I would have preferred "arguably" since there have been so many great harmonica talents over the years. Bonfiglio is definitely at the top of his class. I'm sure he would have mastered the blues had he wanted to.

There are quite a few harp players who play 'from the bottom of their soul' in more than one genre. I personally draw on the same soul whether I'm playing blues, rock, country, fiddle tunes, Christmas songs, faux classical, etc.

And I'm surprised that Little Walter was left out that list of 'real talents.' IMO he's at the top of that class and we've been trying to imitate and emulate him without success for more than half a century. Especially his creativeness.

Taco in Baja

On Oct 12, 2010, at 7:21 AM, Richard Hunter wrote:

Harri Haka wrote:
<*Buddy Greene and Robert Bonfiglio might be talented novelty harp
<players. And it was not nice to put the other one down, especially if
<you are inferior to his playing. But one should not forget the real
<talents. James Cotton, Charlie Musselwhite, Steve Guyger, R.J. Mischo,
<James Harman, Willie Smith, Billy Boy Arnold, Rod Piazza, Mitch Kashmar
<and others who are real harmonica players from the bottom of their soul.
<They are the ones that deserve respect. They will not get it at Carnegie
<Hall but rather at the places where people really come to listen to good
<harmonica playing.


Harri, here are a few facts for you to consider going forward:

1) The blues is not the only music in the world, and far from the only music that matters.
2) People who play music other than blues are "real talents" and "real harmonica players" who play from "the bottom of their soul". That list includes people like Stevie Wonder and Toots Thielemans, by the way, who your comments above denigrate as surely as they denigrate Buddy Greene and Robert Bonfiglio.
3) People who play music besides blues "deserve respect". If you want respect, give respect. Your comments above are not designed to earn respect.
4) Robert Bonfiglio is probably the single most skilled harmonica player who has ever lived, and he doesn't need or deserve backhanded putdowns from anyone.


Regards, Richard Hunter



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