I had a few conversations with him on the phone a while back and emailed him a couple days ago to check on some Manji's he was making for me. Pleased, he replied the reed work is done and he will be cutting the combs and sending the C for testing. Wish I would have had the chance meet him and play some of his harps and get some lessons.
He was a genuine pleasure to talk music with and his posts here were very informative and unique. Truly a great musician, craftsman, and teacher.
My sincere and deepest sympathy go out to Chris' wife, Mom, Dad and the rest of his family over his passing. I hope the fond and loving memories of their beloved can fill the hole they have in their soul and they find consolation in the love and talent he contributed to the world.
If any member here has started or knows of a memorial fund for Chris, I'd be happy to contribute to it. Please post it under a new topic to best maximize getting the word out. Much appreciated.
Last Edited by on Dec 18, 2010 5:33 AM
I was lucky enough to have been the cameraman on the video posted by Tin Lizzie Dec 17, 2010 3:13 PM. In fact, my wife an I were the only ones in the bar actually listening to Chris and Paul play. It was one of the most amazing musical performances I have ever seen, and will likely ever see again. Chris was a master and in that performance, we was at the top of his game. I know he had plans to play again with Paul in the future. He talked to me about plans they had for a tour and/or an album. He was inspired by Paul's unique guitar style, and it seemed to me that he had found a musical partner that he felt really comfortable playing with, and who made him really excite to play music with. We'll never get to hear the music that Chris and Paul might have composed together, but we do have this performance, which is a very special thing indeed. I'll re-post the video below.
I've just logged on for the first time since thursday night and am stunned. I can't believe what's happened. RIP Chris.
You pissed me off more times than I can remember but I wish you were still here doing it. My thoughts are with Chris's family and all the people on the forum who will miss him and I know now that's a lot of people.
Edit..after thinking about all that's happened I'd just like to add that I have learned that words can have consequences that you never intended and that sometimes you need to pick your words more carefully or just choose not to use any. I wish I knew that last week. It's time for me to shut up for a bit now.
---------- Oisin
Last Edited by on Dec 20, 2010 12:41 AM
.....I am new and didn't know Chris (and don't know anyone else) that well but a story Chris once told stuck with me - the one about when he was playing in the parking lot of a jam and some guy told him he was "ready to play in front of an audience". ;)
Well, last night, in a dream, I found myself outside a jam easily playing a perfect chromatic scale and a voice said, "that was amazing; you are ready to play on stage." :D (I'm not, of course) ----------
Last Edited by on Dec 20, 2010 9:36 AM
Do not post here much any more. Read almost daily. I liked his attitude - yes he was abrasive but it was him. We are not robots. He sure wasn't. I think he was sometimes being abrasive while sitting at his keyboard getting a kick out of the reaction it may have had. Remarkable player and technician. He got your attention either way.
It is a pure shame he is gone. Wish I took that lesson I always meant to take but didn't. Was actually thinking the other day about doing that after the holidays as a gift to myself. You snooze, you lose. In this case, big time. Kicking myself seems silly in comparison to his passing but reinforces that things you want to do should be done. Missed meeting the man, experiencing his genius first hand.
RIP and I hope, somewhere, you are pissing someone off while laughing a bit on the inside..
I didn't know Chris personally, but wish I had from what those who did have said previously. I had pretty much decided to order a custom harp from him as my next purchase, but it is not meant to be.
I've said before in another thread that it will take me years to assimilate all the harp wisdom he put out to this forum. I've been thinking about his loss since I heard about it. Thanks Chris, you will be missed. Condolences to your friends and family.
Mercedes, I was there at there at the table outside the Rythym Room when this exchange took place,was hard holding back the giggles.Chris was playing along with whomever was playing in about 4 different positions. I'm not sure the guy even knew what he was hearing.Was really cool picking up my harps in person. James Frinks
I have been away from the forum and just catching up the threads. Very shocked about Chris passing. Though I don't know him nor exchanged any messages with him. He gave out a lot of his knowledge and I certainly benefited some. Sad. He will be missed.
For me, he showed me that you can play the harmonica any way you want it to play. He was one of the only people who had a harmonica sound that I really liked...
This video mesmerized me many months when I learned to play. I was telling my friends: THAT's HOW I WANT TO SOUND! ;-) When I got at the level required to play it, I transcribed every note of it. It was heaps of fun and I still like to play it. Anyhow this is his and my version. My version only outperforms his in quality.
Lovely playing Micha. I have to say you made something that sounds pretty complicated very comfortable. I think this would be a real struggle for me to learn but I would like to try it sometime. How long did it take you to learn this?
If you could send me the tab that would be good. My email is in my username details.
Micha - Much respect for the work you have done on this - well done ! I have subscribed to your youtube channel. Would love to work on this if you are happy to send me the tab.... :)rick at richardshanksart.co.nz ---------- KiwiRick
Allright guys. I have it somewhere written on papers. I'll scan it for you and upload it. I'll open up a new thread so this thread can continue to serve its purpose. Anyone who knows a safe place to upload it?
I don't really know anymore how much time I spent with it. It's in 12th position but there is a bridge in which you go to a pretty difficult chord. It was a great practice for my overblows at that time. It's not too hard though, and it flows easily. Anyone can do it.
Last Edited by on Dec 20, 2010 9:36 AM
