Fw: [Harp-L] Playing at Jam Sessions
Dan Berger
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dan Berger" <dber...@hvc.rr.com>
To: "Gary Popenoe" <gpop...@gmail.com>; "Robert Vivona"
<ravi...@comcast.net>
Cc: <harp...@yahoogroups.com>; "Harp - L" <har...@harp-l.com>
Sent: Friday, September 19, 2008 4:25 PM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Playing at Jam Sessions
> THE VOCALS ALWAYS COME FIRST.
>
> And isn't it easier to find the pocket and the space for the harp when you
> play with better players, its more fun,
> you sound better along with the rest of the band!
>
>
> Dan
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Gary Popenoe" <gpop...@gmail.com>
> To: "Robert Vivona" <ravi...@comcast.net>
> Cc: <harp...@yahoogroups.com>; "Harp - L" <har...@harp-l.com>
> Sent: Thursday, September 18, 2008 1:34 AM
> Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Playing at Jam Sessions
>
>
>> Great advice!
>>
>> I also do a lot if playing with vocalists. I've sometimes harmonized
>> with the vocalist. Go for the blend and it can work.
>>
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> On Sep 17, 2008, at 6:32 PM, "Robert Vivona" <ravi...@comcast.net>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Marvin,
>>>
>>> I'm sure you'll get a lot of responses to this question (from people
>>> who
>>> know a lot more than I), but I believe the main issue is that the
>>> harmonica
>>> is in a similar register (I think that's the right term) as the human
>>> voice
>>> and as such, can compete with the vocalist. Other instruments can play
>>> with
>>> less chance of distracting the audience from the vocals.
>>>
>>> That being said, I play in a band and often play behind our female lead
>>> singer while she is singing. I am a huge fan of Big Walter's, and if
>>> you get
>>> his sides from "Chicago, The Blues Today!" (playing behind Johnny
>>> Shines),
>>> you will hear great examples of Walter playing behind the vocals. In my
>>> opinion, the challenge is that you need to do something interesting,
>>> complementary, and at all costs, not distracting from the vocals. You
>>> are
>>> not soloing here, but adding to the song and complementing the
>>> vocalist.
>>>
>>> I believe another issue at jams is that playing behind the vocals in a
>>> constructive way is not simple to do and there have been plenty of harp
>>> players who have tried and failed (probably most likely due to a lack
>>> of
>>> experience, i.e., not knowing that they were on dangerous ground in the
>>> first place), causing some resistance by other instrument players to
>>> the
>>> attempt.
>>>
>>> My recommendation: If you are unsure, either stop playing during the
>>> vocals
>>> or play something very simple (chords, octaves, even root notes). I
>>> learned
>>> what I know in a band situation, so it's a lot different than a jam,
>>> but I'd
>>> probably try adding little riffs at first and see if that goes well. If
>>> it
>>> did (i.e., no one blows up at you), then I'd expand from there.
>>>
>>> Just my 2 cents. Hope it helps.
>>>
>>> Bob
>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: harp-l-...@harp-l.org [mailto:harp-l-...@harp-l.org] On
>>>> Behalf Of billh...@comcast.net
>>>> Sent: Wednesday, September 17, 2008 8:57 PM
>>>> To: harp...@yahoogroups.com; Harp - L
>>>> Subject: [Harp-L] Re: [HarpTalk] Playing at Jam Sessions
>>>>
>>>> I used to wonder the same thing! "hey the other instruments are all
>>>> playing when the singer is singing!" I think it's fine to play
>>>> background/chords at *low* volume to provide the same type of backing
>>>> that
>>>> the other instruments do. I like using the opportunity to work on
>>>> chords,
>>>> split octaves when doing this. Sometimes I try to parallel what the
>>>> person
>>>> on the organ (hammond b3) is doing or compliment it (not during their
>>>> solo
>>>> of course).
>>>>
>>>> Bill
>>>>
>>>> -------------- Original message ----------------------
>>>> From: MARVIN Fleischman <m0fl...@louisville.edu>
>>>>> When playing at certain types of jam sessions, why is it that
>>>>> guitars,
>>>> etc., are
>>>>> welcome to play while someone is singing, but not the harmonica, even
>>>>> if
>>>> it is
>>>>> being played softly? Regarding playing the harmonica during a blues
>>>>> jam
>>>> and an
>>>>> Americana jam, I have been told to play less and make it count. When
>>>>> it
>>>> is an
>>>>> unfamiliar song to me, I like to play very quietly to get the melody
>>>>> in
>>>> my head.
>>>>>
>>>>> Marvin Fleischman
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
>>> Har...@harp-l.org
>>> http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l
>> _______________________________________________
>> Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
>> Har...@harp-l.org
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>
>
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