In Mr. Nashville, at about the 2:40 Toots comes in on harp. I assumed he was all Chromatic, but a few of the bends are very smooth, more like a diatonic, rather than a chromo. Also, at 3:38, it sounds like he has a quasi OB.
What do you guys think?
---------- -- "The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles but to irrigate deserts" -- C.S. Lewis
I'm sure Toots CAN play a diatonic if he needed to, but everything I've ever seen him do has been on a chro. Matter of fact, I caught a documentary once where he was interviewed, and when the subject of bends and overblows came up (Howard Levy in particular) he semi-jokingly said that players who use overblows tend to make him wanna smack them. --------
That video isn't available in Canada, but Toots did play diatonic on a few sessions in the '60s and "often played the hole 6 overblow," according to Pat Missin: http://www.patmissin.com/ffaq/q40.html
Last Edited by timeistight on May 27, 2013 3:35 PM
Toots knows his way around 2nd position better than one might think. When you think about how sophisticated a chromatic player he is, his diantonic playing is entertainingly crude.
Yup. Diatonic. Toots did play some diatonic in the 1960s and '70s, and played 6 overblows on records as early as 1968. (Possibly earlier; I remember once hearing a multi-LP version of the Quincy Jones soundtrack to the 1967 film In the Heat of the Night, which featured some diatonic with overblows. At the time I wasn't aware of the Quincy-Toots connection and wondered who it was. Tommy Morgan also played diatonic with Quincy, but never used overblows. It was probably Toots, but I've never verified that.) ---------- Winslow
Overblow was flat and very weak. He popped it instead of playing it. To be honest I'm suprised one of the all time greats would use a technique he was not more proficient in.
Why did he even play it Iceman? He either practiced it enough to decide to intentionally play it or he burped and it just happened. He had to know it was the flat 3rd. Just does not make since to incorporate something so lacking in an otherwise great piece of music.
Also, he was probably using a stock Marine Band. During that time, they were not as airtight or as well set up as now, and overblows were not easy to produce, let alone push up to pitch.
Considering how little diatonic he played, I'm impressed at the level of bending control and sound he developed. ---------- Winslow
I agree Winslow. He does great on diatonic. Just surprising that someone from his generation was even aware of OBs, especially considering it was not his main instrument. Most all the great diatonic players around his age never popped one while performing. A few exceptions. I understand about the old harp set-ups. I should say hats off to the man for having the guts to try it. Why should I ask anyone anything Ice when I can ask you?
