Recently I was accused of playing horn lines on harp, rather than jamming all the time. IMO, playing a horn line and comping is not a terrible thing. I've been to many open mikes where a harp player is trying to play all the time and is stepping all over the other players.
Is there some kind of balance we're supposed to strike? I would be happy comping all the time if that's what makes our listeners happy.
One more point of information: I grew up playing horns in jazz band in school; just to clarify what I mean by horn lines.
Well, I grew up playing trombone and have played in a few 5-4-4 configuration big bands. I have drawn on some of the licks from the forties big bands as well as classic rock and even some classical stuff to play on harp so that I have something "original" (meaning not stolen from the usual places) stuff to offer. I believe in drawing on ALL your experience. Hell, I've lifted an entire muted trumpet solo from Tuxedo Junction that rolls just fine in a 12-bar blues context. In fact, since I have been trying to pick up bone again, I've started playing harp lines on the bone, and a lot of it translates pretty well. Rock on, young fella.
I don't understand. By "jamming all the time" does your accuser mean improvising and playing over others while they're soloing? That ain't good for sure. I am both a horn and a harp player. I am frequently complimented for playing horn lines while I am accompanying others. When it is my turn to solo, I solo. When it isn't, I lay out, or accompany as appropriate. That might mean horns lines. When I'm playing harp and there are other horn players, we play lines together in harmony. Not only is it totally appropriate, it sounds great.
I just can't understand where your accuser is coming from.
Last couple of jams, a pro horn player is inthe group I'm up with. Good guy, very good trumpet player. During the first song, I tell him to tke the fills and he says "let's do them together". I listen to him and harmonize the fairly simple lick (I'm sure he had pity on me). It was very cool, and like Greg says, sounded great. Horn player smiles and in the next song, tells me to start and then adds to my fills. What a great learning experience and the feedback from the crowd was very reassuring. Total fun!
Harps are often thought of as a "Mississippi Sax" and sometimes used to sub for an organ or accordian as well
playing horn lines on a harp is more than acceptable,, it is often highly respected and desired
Little Walter his elf emulated the sax,, possibly his biggest influence
there are a lot of harp guys who would envy your ability to do that BanjoTuba... and a LOT more who should
depends upon the Blues genre tho.. completely inappropriate in Piedmont blues.. very appropriate in most urban blues--and if your band does BB KIng... I consider a simple horn hook to be essential on the harp if no horns are present, or if they lack one man..
Last Edited by on Dec 12, 2011 10:08 AM
