You got that 100% right Adam. Mr. Bell's family band Tough Luck- and the album by that name- was something of a turning point for me as a harp player some 15 years ago. Not "just" Carey's playing although that was central, but the way his players so fully supported his lyrics, vocals, and harp work. One unit.
The way I have described it is, you can actually FEEL the LOVE coming out of those songs.
btw, Kenny Werner's book "EFFORTLESS MASTERY" is a must have for study if you are a serious student of music (or almost anything else) ---------- The Iceman
You got me guessing ….bout a few things I need to know….. Yes …You got me guessing ….bout a few things I need to know You got me doing something right now That I never did before…..
Isn't this just a book that makes it all so easy, and with a lot of ZEN talk, like "let your fingers/mouth play it for you, and it will sound beautiful..." and all of that? While the writer is into music from his childhood and over 50 yrs...?
Or you could do what I did which is read the reviews on amazon (both good and bad). I'd say your take on it, johan, sums up nicely what was said in the bad reviews, and no, I did not get the book. By the way, it's interesting what a turn the thread has taken. In kudzu's original post, I think he was referring to effortlessness as it appears in one's playing. One who has already mastered an instrument that is. Not effortlessness in the acquisition of the mastery itself. I'm firmly convinced the latter doesn't exist, though I can't prove it.
Last Edited by Honkin On Bobo on Oct 27, 2017 11:58 AM
I’d say that is not really an accurate summary of the book. I can see how a person could form that impression though, especially if they only read the first chapter or 2.
The book will be read (or reviewed) by two types of reader - some will get it, others will not.
If you feel that Meditation is an excuse to be lazy and just sit, you will give this book a bad review.
If you understand Tai Chi, Yoga, Meditation, etc, as something very valuable that opens up your mind, then you will give this book a 5 star revue. ---------- The Iceman
The book has been previously discussed here and is well known in some music circles. I suspect that Adam knowingly appropriated the title for this excellent video he posted to serve as an example.
So I would not characterize it a hijacking for The Iceman to discuss the book in this thread.
I have not read the book. After all, "the tao that can be spoken is not the eternal tao..."
I got the quote from a book I read. ;>)
I would rather play music in the moment. ----------
Doug S.
Last Edited by dougharps on Oct 28, 2017 8:25 AM
No, actually Andrew is correct. I'm familiar with the Kenny Werner book, but this thread wasn't about that. It was about how good Carey and Lurrie Bell are in this particular video. Iceman hijacked the thread. Ho hum. Perhaps we can get back to discussing Carey and Lurrie Bell.
I thought the title of thread was effortless mastery - of course, since I found the book to be of great interest as a musician, I put in a plug...to avoid confusion and the horrible ho hum of "hijacking", perhaps thread titles shouldn't be the same as a book title to eliminate any potential conflicts of interest?
(My take was exactly the same as dougharp's - I figured Adam knew of the book and appropriated its title here) ---------- The Iceman
Last Edited by The Iceman on Oct 28, 2017 4:46 PM
I know a drummer who worked with Carey several times and told some tales. Which need not be enumerated here. He also said kind of what I said above. Carey had a unique ability to kind of radiate a sort of very nice vibe. This drummer always jumped at a chance to fly out someplace and sit in behind Carey. As far as book and thread titles, you say poTAYto, I say poTAHto. At the end of the day is that a big deal? How many different songs- or books for that matter- have identical titles? I get what Adam was saying there.
Sometimes we may want to take a statement- title included- for what it is. ----------
Thread title "effortless mastery" may refer to a video or a book written...
I enjoy the fact that people can see the exact same information and interpret it in their own way - and everyone is correct even though they analyze it differently.
No one's opinion is "more correct" or "better" than anyone else's. ---------- The Iceman
I loved this video; I mean the entire ‘gettin’ up’ video from which the clip in the OP is drawn. It’s great to have such a relic from late in his life. I don’t have a lot of his records, just the Harpslinger and Dynasty albums, and the Alligator record he made with Horton, plus some sideman features like the final Jimmy Rogers album. Would like to hear more.
I was watching this the other day and thinking the same thing stunning blues. His sound is awesome. Hes got such a great tone and sound and appears to be playing with louse hands not the conventional way we are taught to play with a tight cup. Can anyone work out his rig do I hear a delay pedal there.
Looks like one of those nice custom mics, but I wouldn't know which one. I believe he may be using a touch of reverb on that fender amp.
This is how fantastic the harmonica sounds when you breath it - not suck and blow. No need for tight cup at this volume level. Let the reeds in the harmonica speak for themselves without forcing them. Pity that more live performances don't move toward this end of the volume spectrum. ---------- The Iceman
