wolfkristiansen
81 posts
Sep 03, 2011
5:09 AM
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In the Zone
This is about being "In the Zone". You who have been there know what I'm talking about. Those who don't, strive for it, hope you catch it or it catches you.
Walter Horton is in the zone in this song, "Evening Sun", by Johnny Shines; recorded with Walter Horton over half a century ago but still vital:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9632368/Evening%20Sun.mp3
I listened to it again today, for the the 100th time and was moved to write. Listen to it before you read further.
Whether Johnny and Walter intended it or not, the song is a vehicle for Walter's inspired harmonica. Nine verses-- the 5th and 6th are Johnny singing, the rest is Walter wailing on the harp. "He be in the zone!" There's no denying it.
What is being "in the zone"? It can strike every musician, harp player or otherwise, when they forget themselves; forget the audience or recording studio, and just play.
It comes after you've done your homework-- learned how to play your instrument, learned how to play the blues, learned how to play with others. When you've done all that, you can give musical voice to the feelings bursting out of you.
On to more mundane matters. About this particular recording-- it's acoustic, all the way, but doesn't suffer for it. It sounds like they are playing in a room, with the sound bouncing off the walls back into the microphone(s). Both musicians play rhythmically. They are tight-- like glove on hand, or in Sonny Boy's words, white on rice. It sounds like Walter is playing with a drinking glass cupped in his hand.
I especially like the second harp verse after the vocal (second to last in the whole song)-- beautiful, lilting, melodic harp.
Everybody (Johnny and the recording engineers) must have heard that Walter was "on" for this cut, 'cause they let him play-- even during Johnny's vocals. Walter played all over the vocals, but didn't in any way detract from them. Lesson for all blues harp players-- you can play during the vocals, but you gotta play right. If you can't, don't.
I talked about being "In the Zone" in an earlier post:
http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/board/board_topic/5560960/841240.htm
Cheers,
wolf kristiansen
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