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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
HOw WOuld Little Walter Do it ?
HOw WOuld Little Walter Do it ?
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12gagedan
142 posts
Nov 30, 2011
6:54 AM
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Joe_L,
From my recollection of LW's biography, I got the impression that the Chess brothers were of the "if it's making money, don't change it" mindset. There was a lot of discussion about how they insisted that Walter play acoustic on many recordings despite Walter's desire to play with an amp. Made me think they were pretty stubborn. This is pure speculation, but I can imagine them compartmentalizing blues guys as blues guys, and jazz guys as jazz guys. Later, when they desperately tried to cross-pollinate ("Super Blues") or cross genres ("Electric Mud") a lot of that was driven more by Marshall Chess.
We should probably start a new thread, though. . .
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walterharp
770 posts
Nov 30, 2011
7:24 AM
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Leonard Chess was superstitious and would allow little to change if it was working and making money. He would make a musician wear the same color shirt if they had a hit recorded before in that shirt. He also was a controlling tightwad, so it is hard to know what he would have allowed Little Walter to record or what equipment he would have given him to do that.
Probably the most important thing is Little Walters ability to play a song differently every time. He probably would not even play his song the same way. That is something that struck me listening to the Beatles bootleg recording sessions. The ability to go back again and again playing the same material and bring a new angle to it every time. Few people can do that
As to what he was listening to at the time, my guess would be everything. Remember the options were far narrower then and he probably heard the same songs on the radio that everyone else did. Maybe focused on one thing or another.. but Perry Cumo, Rosemary Clooney, Nat King Cole were top of the charts then, and you can be darn sure he was listening, and even trying to crack the code of getting up there
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walterharp
771 posts
Nov 30, 2011
7:44 AM
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Another story, you figure out how it relates..it might even be true.
There was an artist in Italy who read that Leonardo da Vinci was so productive because he slept about 3 hours a day.. by taking many small catnaps. So this artist trained himself to do sleep only 3 hours a day. Then he realized he was bored because he was not a genius and could not think up enough stuff to do with the time, so went back to the normal daily routine.
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STME58
34 posts
Nov 30, 2011
8:49 AM
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This discussion reminds me of what my music theory instructor would tell us when a student complainds that "xyz musician does not follow the rules of harmony, why should I learn them".
He would say "Study the rules and learn to write according to the rules, practice until you truly understand where the rules come from and why they were developed, only then will you be able to break them to great positive effect"
This is true in life as well as music.
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MP
1891 posts
Nov 30, 2011
10:50 AM
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yeah, and fred below was certainly a jazz drummer. good question Joe L.
i have one havana left if anyone wants it.
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MP
doctor of semiotics and reed replacement.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
Last Edited by on Nov 30, 2011 10:52 AM
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garry
151 posts
Nov 30, 2011
3:07 PM
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regarding "Besides, we all know that Jason can blow me sideways off the stage":
i was lucky enough to see adam and jason play together once, long ago. don't recall anyone being blown off stage, sideways or otherwise. just two fine musicians and a very happy crowd. you can hear it here.
use the player at the top to listen to "Adam and Jason Boogie", or download the file directly using this link
Last Edited by on Nov 30, 2011 3:07 PM
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LSC
113 posts
Nov 30, 2011
3:49 PM
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Well looky here. If you believe Big Walter he taught Little Walter everything he knows.
As far as the Bharath clip, I don't give a damn how much or from whom he's getting his stuff, it's pretty damn good music. Sounds like he's taking from a couple or three folks and making his own out it, exactly as one should and really most of all of us do...or should. Besides as John Hiatt once said, in regard to songwriting, "If it ain't nailed down, steal it."
One thing that hasn't been mentioned is the backing band's contribution to the party. They are all playing in a quite authentic style which sets the foundation for what the dude is doing on the harp. Great grove and tempo from the rhythm section and really nice fills from the guitar and piano. What they are doing is not easy. They have obviously studied the records, just like Kim, Rick, Jerry and the rest of the great contemporary blues players. Now go on, tell me how any harp player worth his beans can say they have no interest in what those guys do.
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LSC
Last Edited by on Nov 30, 2011 3:56 PM
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