kudzurunner
4862 posts
Aug 13, 2014
10:08 AM
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I've heard Piazza several times recently on Bluesville with the track "Neighbor, Neighbor," and I think it's just fantastic--a virtuoso performance, a desert island cut.
It's from his most recent CD:
http://www.amazon.com/Emergency-Situation-Piazza-Mighty-Flyers/dp/B00K0NAOTO
Here's the iTunes version with a preview:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/emergency-situation/id885299177
Although he's often thought of as a traditionalist, on this particular track he really pushes the boundaries of form. He's right on the edge.
This recent live version gets some of that, but I'll recommend that you purchase the mp3 or CD
Last Edited by kudzurunner on Aug 13, 2014 10:11 AM
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Slimharp
370 posts
Aug 13, 2014
10:34 AM
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Rod kicks. A modern master. I love it. Thanks.
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6SN7
451 posts
Aug 13, 2014
12:23 PM
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I enjoyed listening to this video, a typically classic live track by Rod. My impression after it was finished was that is was a bit pedestrian with a number of "stock" phrases and hooks that Rod has employed thru the years in his live outings. None the less, a solid outing.
Then I listen to the song from his newest CD. Holy, moly, it seemed like a completely different performance complete with horns and sounded huge.
It reminded me of my fav William Clarke, those big fat TB octave chords, but it is unmistakably Mr Rod Piazza.
And yes, I promptly bought it.
Any idea what key the song and chromatic is in? My guess is the song is in C and Rod is playing a Bb chro.
Briliant post Kudz.
Last Edited by 6SN7 on Aug 13, 2014 12:25 PM
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The Iceman
1922 posts
Aug 13, 2014
12:36 PM
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Rod seems to choreograph his live shows...very rehearsed, right down to the "oh baby's".
However, when you look past this aspect, he sure delivers the goods.
Remember seeing him in the early 90's in a small blues club - perhaps Moby Dick's in Dearborn, MI. Alex Schultz was with him.
Very small crowd, but he sure put on a BIG SHOW. Honey used to swing her hair more while playing piano back then.
Out of all the harmonica players I've seen perform live, Rod definitely has the best tan.
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The Iceman
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mr_so&so
853 posts
Aug 13, 2014
1:02 PM
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I caught his show this past weekend in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. I agree that it is a polished show they put on. The crowd loved it. I appreciated his big fat tone.
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Goldbrick
605 posts
Aug 13, 2014
1:52 PM
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I dig Piazza's playing. I just always felt his show is kinda blues " corny " if that term exists.
Rick Estrin , to me . comes off as the real deal- Piazza kinda " faux hipster" or Peter Wolf with a harp
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wolfkristiansen
311 posts
Aug 13, 2014
10:20 PM
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I listened to the video, and to the CD version of the song.
In both Video and CD, and as 6SN7 said, the song is in C. Rod is playing a Bb chromatic; probably a 3 octave Hohner Super Chromonica 270. He's not using the button, as far as I can tell from the video. I was able to get all the notes with my key of A Chromatic by keeping the button pushed in. (A# = Bb)
I liked it, don't know if it pushed any boundaries. Nice swing to it.
Aside-- I think more of us should be playing, and talking about, the chromatic. I love the big fat chords I can get on my chromatics. I've got six of them. Think I'll look for a Bb!
Cheers,
wolf kristiansen
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6SN7
455 posts
Aug 14, 2014
5:14 AM
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@ Wolf. Thanks, for varifying that for me. I was picking up some of the notes playing them as single notes as I had to stick the harp way into my mouth in order to cover 3 holes to get those octaves. You are right, we should be talking more about playing chromatics and achieving those big fat chords, it is such an essential tone for playing Chicago blues/West Coast swing music.
As far as boundaries, I the most important boundary being pushed is the fact it is a chromatic harp. When Kudz says Rod is pushing boundaries, I really don't hear it, at least in the terms of the syle of Kudz and Ricci.
I am not an academic or a lawyer, so I am not great at articulating with words what I mean, But sometines I believe many think that overblows and speedy/fast playing are hallmarks of modern blues harmonica. I think those are signs of advanced technique and they should not be the critera for being deemed a modern blues harp player.
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JonV
21 posts
Aug 14, 2014
10:54 AM
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Can Piazza really be thought of as a traditionalist?
In his time he was surely an innovator of a certain approach and (harmonica) voice, and one that's now seen as being part of the tradition perhaps. He has strong influences from the earlier tradition of course, but then all innovators do.
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tmf714
2680 posts
Aug 14, 2014
10:58 AM
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Bb Hering Chromatic-Rod has been using Hering harps for a few yesrs now.
Last Edited by tmf714 on Aug 14, 2014 12:41 PM
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barbequebob
2680 posts
Aug 14, 2014
11:31 AM
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Rod's playing is straight out of the Little Walter and George Harmonica Smith school, especially when it comes to playing chromatics. The tune just swings like hell. Just like his mentor, George Harmonica Smith, he uses chromatics in keys other than C, and on George's old ABC/Bluesway LP ..Of The Blues, he was listed as Lightnin' Rod and together with George, he actually was using a key of A chromatic in the key of B on one of the tunes.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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walterharp
1481 posts
Aug 14, 2014
12:00 PM
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I enjoyed the piano solo in addition to the harp playing, her timing is great
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6SN7
456 posts
Aug 14, 2014
3:17 PM
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@Jon V- I think Rod is deeply rooted traditionalist as is Dennis Greunling. Rod and Dennis, as BBQ Bob notes, both swing like heck and their sound is reminiscence of a sax or a trombone, These guys remind me of jazz players, but Rod would be like Lester Young and Dennis like Dexter Gordon. I could listen to these guys all night long. As for the overblowers and speed players, I get exhausted listening to them after 20 minutes. It's not that I dislike them, but it is all notes to me. You who else is like that to me? Art Tatum. I love him, but his music completely overwhelms the senses.
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Slimharp
378 posts
Aug 15, 2014
3:56 PM
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Of course Rod is polished, he's been doing it 50 years. I hope he is polished by now. The Cat is a showman. I dont think he ever put on the " I am the Chicago rough and tumble hard core blues man ".
Last Edited by Slimharp on Aug 15, 2014 3:56 PM
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arnenym
296 posts
Aug 16, 2014
1:51 AM
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He is a true master of the harp.
It's well performed. I love this song in many other versions and think he destroyed it with his jump-fanatic swing version.
It's too polished and boring.
And i just hate the distorted chromatic and think it sound as a accordeon on steroids.
but thats just me...
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The Iceman
1934 posts
Aug 16, 2014
3:31 AM
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I think that distorted sound may be from playing octaves that are a bit out of tune. However, if they were perfectly in tune, the sound would be thinner.
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The Iceman
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kudzurunner
4873 posts
Aug 16, 2014
3:35 AM
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All my comments in the opening post are directed towards the recorded version that I provide a link for, not the video. The video doesn't really do what the recorded track does.
I like the recorded track precisely because it isn't polished. It doesn't smooth off all the rough edges. It pushes hard--when you listen to the entire track, Rod actually swings out a tiny bit too far in front of the band, as though he's rushing it, which I like: it says "urgency!" And the melodies he comes up with are edgy and modern; angular; somewhat dissonant at points.
The recording, once it gets smoking, isn't what I'd call smooth. The video is quite a bit more smooth.
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6SN7
462 posts
Aug 16, 2014
6:03 AM
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@arnenym. I love the sound like I love the squeaks and bottom notes from the Illinois Jacquest "Bottoms Up." Dexter Gordon, Johnny Griffin, Red Prysock also employed a similar technique.
What, you like the sound of the accordian on the Lawrence Wek show?!!
I keed, I keed!
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arnenym
297 posts
Aug 16, 2014
6:54 AM
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The accordeon on The Lawrence Wek show sound as a swedish traditional song as my mother like it. Nothing wrong with that. I like chromatic when they play it like Toots Thielemann. in jazz and other type of music styles. I just don't like the sound of a amplified chromatic in a blues song. As i said before. It make me thinking of a distorted accordeon. like a old well educated middle class man talking like a "kid from tha hood". ;) ;)
Good music come from the crotch..
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6SN7
464 posts
Aug 16, 2014
7:03 AM
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You are right, nothing wrong with that, whether its Lawrence Welk or Rod Piazza. I am a huge fan of Alvinio Ray.
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arnenym
299 posts
Aug 16, 2014
10:29 AM
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Accordeon in blues?
Last Edited by arnenym on Aug 16, 2014 10:30 AM
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Goldbrick
619 posts
Aug 16, 2014
10:51 AM
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Dont dis the squeezebox for blues.
This be blues too. 3 chords -12 bars- bluesy theme and it swings ( catch the Mungo Jerry reference too)
Last Edited by Goldbrick on Aug 16, 2014 10:52 AM
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