I know my interactions w/ the blues harmonica world as a whole have been very limited as of late, so I just wanted to provide an example of what I've been up to--perhaps to dispel any ideas that I had given up the instrument!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKbDcjfG-i0
This song was performed as part of an NYU-wide talent competition, and written by the singer/piano player (the very talented Clare Moses).
Jay, when I met you with the other young players in St. Louis in 2008 at SPAH I thought you were "scary good." Your skills have continued to mature and this video just reinforces my initial opinion.
Very cool stuff that your band is performing. ----------
A couple of thoughts--and thanks for sharing. (You're up to 18 posts in....three years? More like this!)
--I'm impressed by how much restraint you show as an accompanist here. In the first sixty seconds of this piece, you never step on the vocalist; in fact, you don't really ever step on her. I know very few harp players, maybe none, who have the technique you've got here and who know how NOT to use it so as to leave space for the vocalist and for the performance as a whole to breathe
--About that technique: whew! That's what overblows in third position, with a hell of a lot of practice and talent, will get you. I hear quite a bit of Jason Ricci in your approach, no question, but I hear other things as well, especially when you work through those double stops. Mostly, I hear a bravura professional performance in an especially challenging context. I'm not surprised the audience was whooping it up. There are only a handful of players in the world who could deliver playing like this on that sort of song. The amped-up element is part of that. What sort of harp, mic, and amp were you using? You've got a lot of overdrive--more than many players would use in accompanying a female piano player/vocalist!--but everything is under control.
Last Edited by kudzurunner on Jun 15, 2013 4:46 AM
Absolutely fabulous, Jay - congratulations. I hear not only amazingly technical harp playing but musicality and a wonderful range of tonality on top of it. Great stuff. ---------- *************************************************** /Greg
Wow......that's bloody awesome! I'd been meaning to check out Jay's stuff ..(what spoilt with the array of fine players on the net)....Adam has excitedly summed it up, and hell yeh that Clare Moses rips it uo (as does the whole band)! Stick with these guys mate! ---------- One of Rubes's bands, DadsinSpace-MySpace Old Man Rubes at Reverbnation
Horrible band!! big turn off. Man!...what kind of shit are you playing through? terrible!!terrible! terrible! Your phrasing, notes, and everything is just BAD! Now...the truth...AMAZING progress in your playing!!! Boy! I am considering quiting...now! And don't try singing, it sucks!
...oh, did you win the competition?
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Why is it that we all just can't get along?<
Last Edited by Mojokane on Jun 16, 2013 5:27 PM
I've heard several fine young players influenced by Jason but this is the first prime example of his 3rd position influence. The OBs and the perfect 3 hole bends change the mode of natural 3rd position which makes it perfect for this song. I dig the double stops as well. The confidence in your playing is what makes it. Way to come with it Jay! Another justification for Jason's move into Adam's top 10. Jason's influence on the next generation of young players has changed everything!
