Thanks for posting these! The stuff that excites ME when I go back through is the first position solo in video #4, starting around 3:30 or so. We're doing The Crusaders's "Put It Where You Want It," a song I've loved for decades, although not one I get the chance to play that often. It occasionally came up back in the Dan Lynch days. In this case, I was playing cross harp for the first few minutes, but halfway into my second solo I switched harps. It is a song perfectly set up for straight harp, and I stumbled on a simple, neat lick that I just kept repeating because it felt so good. Simple can be good.
I should note that this was my first time playing with the band and we had no rehearsal. Most of this material was seat-of-the-pants. So there's a learning curve. My approach is always "First, do no harm," so I tend to underplay a little the first time through.
Video #5 may be the first time I've ever played "Walkin' By Myself," although I've heard the cut for years. Check out the overblows in the first chorus of my solo.
Above all, Robert Ross is one of the greatest guitarists a harp player could ever play with. He's an amazing singer, too. But he's played with so many harp players over the years, and he's got a zillion ways of making his way through the changes. Love the guy.
We're playing the Turning Point in Piermont, NY (where these videos were shot) on December 22. I hope we see a few of you there.
Last Edited by on Oct 17, 2010 5:06 AM
nice vids. I remember seeing Robert years ago at Dan Lynch's downtown. It was a good scene there, Jon Paris use to play their a lot. Manny's Car Wash was cool, too.
@Adam... cool! I'm glad you dig them! I had a lot of footage which would take forever to post, so I had to choose my favorite stuff.
Most of the 1 man band stuff I had was either songs you've already posted, or cuts from your new record that I didn't want to just "give" away. I think the best song you sang was Sweet Home Chicago, plus I like the Blue Monk lead.
I like the 2nd duo video and the 1st full band cut because it is a nice change to hear you playing right into the PA clean.
"The stuff that excites ME when I go back through is the first position solo in video #4"
Right after your solo in #4 you can hear me clapping, because I knew you just killed it.
I saw Robert Ross playing with Big Nancy at a small local club in NJ a few months before this gig. He really is a great performer, and his band is killer. I love the blurb you have about him in your book... if you ask to sit in with his band he will say yes if you are a better harp player than he is... hilarious, and something to aspire to. I hope to be there on 12/22... it's on my calendar.
FYI for everyone else... sorry the camera was so shaky! I was literally on the front row which was 2 feet away from Adam and Robert. So my best camera shot was right up their noses. :)
bob ross is a total legend. i believe he has a great tune called '69 Chevy. ---------- MP hibachi cook for the yakuza doctor of semiotics superhero emeritus
earlounge! great vids. I've linked them into the MBH webbrain under forum threads/great videos so we don't lose track of them. Indexed by harp key and song title. (except vid 1 and 4, don't know the song titles :)
Hey Adam, Fantastic stuff as always. You mean the solo around 1:30 in vid 5 with the cool walk down? this is interesting because is makes me sit up and take notice, but also, if a guitar player did it, would be nothing too interesting. Sort of speaks to the harp-tech vs overall idea of what people are hearing that know not much about how much technique it takes to actually play something. Hell, I work on stuff hard and nobody really cares as much when it actually gets pulled off as they do if I drop to my knees during a high note. That gets their attention. Even the other guys in the band you were playing with mostly seem to care about the harp sounds that no other instrument can really duplicate. This is not criticism, just the way it seems to me.
you're welcome guys! It was my pleasure to post them. Filming stuff is kind of my hobby of hobbies. Feel free to subscribe to Earlounge on Youtube. I post a wide variety of local NJ/NYC/PA bands. Anyone who will let me film and post it. Did you check out my other thread with video of Big Nancy?
Todd, the footage of Adam and Robert Ross was shot with my Sony Handycam. It was a cheap $200 miniDV jobby from about 3 years ago. I use the internal mic which sounds awesome at various volumes and never peaks out.
The Big Nancy footage was shot with my Droid X phone camera. It shoots in HD! but the audio isn't nearly as nice as the Sony.
