SuperBee
1643 posts
Jan 26, 2014
3:46 PM
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I like this quote from Robert Gordon's biography of Muddy Waters (can't be satisfied).
Speaking of the death of Little Walter, Gordon writes:
"Only slightly more complex than blowing a blade of grass, the harmonica cupped in his hands soared, dove, and emoted longing and pain like teenagers in congress."
I reckon the author probably hasnt played much harp.
Last Edited by SuperBee on Jan 26, 2014 3:47 PM
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Fuzzball
48 posts
Jan 26, 2014
4:01 PM
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Don't know whether that is a compliment or an insult to the harmonica!! I reckon the author hasn't discovered the lawnmower. You don't blow grass.... you mow it! ;) Briggs and Stratton engines saw to that!!
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didjcripey
685 posts
Jan 26, 2014
5:21 PM
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There's a lot to be said for grass blowing, I was quite fond of it as a kid.
Even better is the gum (or citrus) leaf. I have a friend who jams with us from time to time, in perfect pitch, who can make one sound like a little saxophone.
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Lucky Lester
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Barley Nectar
255 posts
Jan 26, 2014
7:10 PM
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You can fix a blade of grass between the thumb and plam of both hands. The blade will pass thru a hole that is created between the thumbs. Now blow thru the hole between the base of the thumbs. The blade of grass will vibrate and sound as a reed. You can vary the pitch by changing the tension applied by your hands. We used to do this as kids. I think this is what Mr. Gordon is referring to. ..BN
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SuperBee
1645 posts
Jan 27, 2014
4:36 AM
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yeah my daughter does it without the grass..drove me a little crazy with her practicing...but i dunno about his assertion that the harmonica is "only slightly more complex"...but i suppose i havent aspired to attempting 'roller coaster' with a blade of grass, so maybe he's right...
its an interesting book anyway, if you like that kind of thing.
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kudzurunner
4522 posts
Jan 27, 2014
4:59 AM
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Gordon is a strong researcher and fine writer, but that sentence sucks.
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DukeBerryman
90 posts
Jan 27, 2014
6:31 AM
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Little Walter may have sounded like alley cat in heat. Or the screeching brakes on a train. Or the honks of Chicago traffic. But no one wants to sound like teenagers in congress.
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The Iceman
1424 posts
Jan 27, 2014
7:07 AM
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The only teenagers in Congress I know of are interns.
However, look how Monica Lowinski moved up the ranks of famous interns. She "overblew".
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The Iceman
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