I was reminded just now of why many people, including me, got pretty damned excited by Jason Ricci when he burst onto the scene with his own band in the mid-2000s after paying a lot of dues with the Nucklebusters and Big Al and the Heavyweights.
If you aren't familiar with his work from that period, I'll urge you to hit the following link and put on track #15, "I-55." If you do nothing else, listen to the first 15 seconds. Then ask yourself two questions:
1) Isn't the sound that you hear, in those 15 seconds, instantly identifiable as Jason's sound?
2) Could any other player, living or dead, including Howard Levy, play what Jason is playing here, much less INVENT what he's inventing here?
We're ten years down the line from this stuff. It still strikes me as revolutionary--easily framable as the next step past Little Walter and Sugar Blue (or maybe a unique synthesis of those two approaches), and still unequaled. I listen to it, I'm able to hear and decode some of what he's playing (such as the downward-descent-via-repeated-upward-runs-using-overblows-as-passing-tones) but the speed, fludity, precision, and flash remain incredible.
Yes, I'm sure that with practice, Howard could copy most of this stuff. Who else?
Last Edited by kudzurunner on Apr 11, 2015 5:55 AM
I gave a listen to the entire track and was again pleasantly flummoxed by Jason's super human combination of blended technique, speed, melodic imagination and , importantly, soul. It is one thing to be floored with the ease he executes some intricate improvisations and it is another to feel the passion, ache and fury behind those blinding cascades. I would agree that only Levy could properly decode the scalar movements of JR's musical output, but not without putting the work in. I also appreciate the fact that Jason is a big fan of other harmonica player's work. His lessons, on video and through skype , have meant a lot to the harmonica community. He is a genuinely good man with an amazing story ---------- Ted Burke __________________ ted-burke.com tburke4@san.rr.com
I am really glad he is in a good place now personally, and look forward to his star continuing to rise. Hey, he just won a Grammy for his work with Johnny Winter, that looks good on a resume! It would have been a shame if his personal issues had prevented him from continuing to shine. There is no best player of any instrument, but Jason loves the harmonica, and it shows.
plus he is well versed in the basics. he can play little walter, he can play sonny terry..he can play jazz and classical...
but the price he paid to get there is very high.. if you read the things he has written on the struggles he has had personally, one of the things he did was obsessively practice... and in ways most people could not..
Yes, I'm sure that with practice, Howard could copy most of this stuff. Who else? -kudzu runner.
todd parrot? mike fugazzi?
there is a french professor at penn named samuel martin.he is from fargo ND,but has been in philly for a few years(although he might be in paris right now)that i would put up against any harp player in the world.he wouldn't though,he is very humble.
anyway,what he plays is simply amazing.
some great harp playing going on in this world!! ---------- www.shakeylee.com
Totally agree with the OP. Just listen to what he does with Scratch my Back on the same link. Instantly recognisable, both as the original song and as JR's unique and innovative style. ---------- Lucky Lester
I went to see Jason last night. It was also the first time I had the pleasure of meeting him. I will post some video and some additional thoughts when I have time tomorrow but I will say this.
Jason's life has been fairly well chronicled over the past several years. Either people are asking for news about his status or Jason himself, in his unabashed, unapologetic and “put it all out there for everyone to see” style has kept us up to date on his goings-on.
Some observations: Sarge – you are 100% correct. He is a hell of a nice guy. Humble. Happy. Jovial. And genuinely appreciative of all the people who came out to hear him and The Bad Kind play last night. It was obvious that many people had travelled from long distances to re-connect with him. Many had not seen him in a while.
The music was magical. I’ve seen some guys who can play fast –including overblows and overdraws - play “too many notes” if you will. Sometimes it just doesn’t fit. Lots of notes but no groove. (as pointed out by Shakeylee) Not so with Jason. Amazing runs up and down the harp but always staying in the groove. It never got stale.
Furthermore, in my opinion, age, experience and the lessons learned from the trials and tribulations of life have given Jason’s music more depth. He was in complete control. Even though clearly he was the headliner he did not drown out his bandmates. They blended perfectly.
@ Iceman – I’ve met and seen RJ perform a few times. He is an amazing talent there too but there is a big difference between RJ and Jason.
I’m looking forward to spend a few days with Jason, Winslow, Richard Sleigh, PT Gazell and Mitch Kashmar at the Harmonica Collective at the end of the month. Anybody who can see their way clear to attend is in for a treat.
I've watched quite a bit of RJ Harman's performance videos since I became aware of him a couple of years ago. Ironically, I came upon this fine musician in series of interviews conducted by our good friend Jason Ricci, This is the first part of a five part interview Jason did with RJ a while ago, and it seems clear that considers the younger harp player a major talent with his own voice. As the interview progresses, it seems to me that Jason was not just being nice; he genuine admires RJ's skills. ----------
Good point there, Diggs. Butterfield (and Musselwhite) introduced the modern era of blues harmonica playing in exploiting and extending what the instrument can do. Jason (and, in his own distinct way Sugar Blue) extends that tradition, that of the quick and technically advanced harmonica playing where long improvisations against tricky changes is key. ---------- Ted Burke __________________ ted-burke.com tburke4@san.rr.com
I was at the Delray Beach show last week. Jason could not have been more warm and friendly with me and all of the people at the show. Engaging, humble, and very appreciative of the support. His playing was superb, in total control of the instrument, and I agree with florida-trader, his staying in the groove and his timing and space is really sharp. And I think that there is a certain maturity to his performance now. On the downside, I have never been a fan of the tone from his mic (just being honest), but his acoustic playing into a standing mic on the bandstand was a fuller sound, at least that night. I'm glad he is coming to Chicago more often.
Having taught RJ weekly for three years from when he was a rank beginner, I have a different outlook as to what he does and how he presents himself.
After giving him a full training in proper techniques, I then tried to steer him towards an understanding of how to find his own voice, but he wasn't interested. He was into learning other's solos note for note, even copying some of these artists' body movements on stage.
Last time I saw RJ was a few years ago at that Florida Blues Harmonica Championship. I asked him if he had developed an interest in finding his own voice yet. He answered in the negative. He was happy enough with his carbon copy approach. Understandable, as the audience he plays to really doesn't have any way of knowing that what they are witnessing is a transcription of others - nor do they really care, I guess.
It's still entertaining, but this type of faux artistry doesn't interest me personally. In fact, anyone can do it if they woodshed and spend the hours learning other's solos like RJ does.
Perhaps RJ has matured a bit since then, but I really don't know.
The original question was about who else could copy JR's stuff with practice.
Iceman - I agree with everything you have said - to a point. I have seen RJ at the same Florida Harmonica Championships (I think he is a two time champion) and at BB King's Blues Club in Orlando.
I agree about copying the notes. But you can't copy the man, his unique personal expereinces and what it has made him into which makes "his stuff" his stuff. ---------- Tom Halchak www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
I'm sure many people can copy the notes and phrasing Jason does..but....The nuances, even on very short notes are distinctly Jason. I don't even think Howard has the control of pitch and tone on overbend notes the way Jason does.
Jason's improvisation, soulfulness, and feel for the music is unmatched. He stands alone.
A lot of people do not prefer what he does but that shouldn't close your eyes to his greatness.
Little Walter was da man back in the day. I understand and respect that, but I prefer Cotton from that era.
Many of you don't like the idea of "cuttin headz" because you say music is not about competition. I love the idea myself. Sounds fun. Jason might not participate in such a contest, but I challenge you to post something that he couldn't respond to with something as good or better.
Gretzky, Jordan, Nicklaus, Louis Armstrong, Hendrix, Aretha, The Beatles, and yes...Jason Ricci!
You are reading/projecting a bit much into your interpretation of my postings.
I don't always see eye to eye w/Jason and with you. Just because you feel Jason has a position (as do you) on a subject does not make it the final word on the issue.
Psychoanalyzing someone should be left to the professionals and certainly not done on a public forum.
Why not just agree that we disagree rather than attack me personally (which is against the forum rules that you like to quote)?
I agree with Victor Wooten's comments (as posted by Komuso) in how to practice. I don't feel that one should let this carry over into performance to a huge degree, though. ---------- The Iceman
Last Edited by The Iceman on Apr 13, 2015 4:18 AM
Diggs: Excellent point about JR's debt to Butterfield--or rather, the degree to which his approach shares some key elements with Butter's.
Iceman and Ted, I realize that the title of a thread doesn't necessarily need to govern every single post, but it really is too bad that you've both ended up yanking this thread into an argument about RJ Harman. Iceman began that yanking process; Ted has actively joined the fray. How about doing something radical and just....letting it go?
I take full responsibility, BTW, for having, in my enthusiasm, suggested that few if any other harp players have the technique to match what JR was doing 10 years ago. That was a mistake. That provided just the opening required for negativity to thrive here. My apologies. I was simply trying to see clearly and celebrate the talents of an exceptional player.
My apologies for the the flat notes. This would the perfect spot for a video of Jason doing 'Drifting and Drifting' as a comment on what happens to many threads here and other boards. ---------- Ted Burke __________________ ted-burke.com tburke4@san.rr.com
Ted: Jason did do Drifting on Friday night and he owned it. Sorry I did not record it for all to hear. BTW - I did post a clip about 20 minutes long on a separate thread. A lot of acoustic playing and some good solos by his band mates. ---------- Tom Halchak www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
I've seen him in San Diego twice and he did "Mellow Down Easy" and 'Driftin' and Driftin'"both times and, as already discussed , Jason channels the untouchable genius of Butterfield and combines it with his own personality and flair. Jason himself becomes untouchable.
Last Edited by ted burke on Apr 13, 2015 12:14 PM
