The first video just sort of seemed like a regular flashy crowd-pleaser.make a note on a harmonica sound like trains seems a good way to get Applause and tips.I realize it's not easy to do this well,that it's difficult,just seems too gimmicky.this video, though,demonstrates how ungodly good as man is.here he leaves us mere mortals behind. ---------- www.ted-burke.com
One reason I'm really getting into Steve Marriner is his high level of competency, technique, ability, talent, and, most importantly, his ideas always reflect a total understanding and support of the underlying music.
The album from which the original post came from is full of other examples of how he adds diatonic/chromatic ideas to different styles of music.
Folks interested in high level musicianship and how to relate harmonica to these other styles would enjoy checking out the full recording. (There are also a few mind blowing tabla/Indian vocalese tunes). ---------- The Iceman
Super playing. For anyone who thinks its easy to throw kids jingles, or jingles in general, into the middle of a solo, try it. Your brain has to hear the jingle coming up in yr head first. It also has to play the jingle in line with the song. Now for your second jingle, same thing, hear it in your head, while yr still playing the first jingle etc
What happens to me is; I can't remember the jingle while playing something else. I think audiences somehow pick up that this is difficult, hence applause.
Room to move lead is a good one to practice on. It starts with that chordal chugging on the lead. Try "mary had a little lamb"----"three blind mice" etc. Bear in mind the transitions have to be smooth. I feel, once u have a played a couple songs and u have established that u can play, Its fun to now use gimmicks or whatever u choose to call them. If u haven't established that " u can play" and do this too soon, the audience is not as likely to dig it. He can obviously play very well and the audience dug it, as well as his partner. makes agood vibe on stage.
I have to constanly practice my "Room to move" lead or its not smooth. I start off chugging then go into "whammer jammer" I don;t do high bend lead at the beginning, start right in on first 12 bar and go throug first 4-5 deals. I rturn to chugging and do Rod Piazza's version "rockin robin" and back to chugging. I have to practice this before gig, or I space on the melodies. Again the hard part is remembering the 2 melodies and coming back to song.
Ps the reason I didn't care for the Italian world champion?????????? He never established any real playing, before switching to theatrics and gimmicks----I still don't if he can really play or not- he does this on all videos I've seen. Shut up Bob!! ok
Last Edited by snowman on Feb 27, 2020 9:04 AM
About 10 years ago,I saw him in the IBC finals in the band Monkey Junk. He impressed me enough to learn his name and check out his stuff. He's the real deal. Don't know if that band exists anymore,but he also played baritone guitar in it.