[Harp-L] Mick Jagger's harp playing on new Blue and Lonesome album of blues covers?

[David Coulson]

I’m curious what some of the accomplished harmonica players on Harp-L think of Mick Jagger's harp playing on new Rolling Stones Blue and Lonesome album of blues covers.

Thanks!

David

[Jef Gat]

Mick's harp is fine, serves its purpose ~ it's a casual session in the
studio, done live, the vibe and energy here are great, with no pretension
to virtuoso performance showcase. It ain't Vivaldi, and it ain't "spoze" to
be. Those wringing their hands and slagging the harp-playing, analyzing,
quantifying, penning technical treatises on advanced harmonica technique,
trying to compare it to Walter, Sugar Blue, etc., are taking it (and
themselves) far too seriously...most often, it seems, to try and make
themselves look better. It's music. What you do with it is Enjoy it. That's
why they call it "playing"...

[Mike Price]

From the quick clip that I recently saw of him playing harp, I must say he sounds better then I expected.. I kind of enjoyed it.

[The Iceman via Harp-L]

good points, Jef...


Stones have nothing left to prove. Why not let them enjoy themselves?

[jon kip]

Would the opinion of others change your personal view of how you like or dislike it?


> On Dec 5, 2016, at 6:40 PM, harp-l-...@harp-l.org wrote:
>
>
> I?m curious what some of the accomplished harmonica players on Harp-L think of Mick Jagger's harp playing on new Rolling Stones Blue and Lonesome album of blues covers.
>
> Thanks!
>
> David

jon kip
j...@jonkip.com

[ian osborn]

I enjoyed it... It's good, especially given that it is someone who plays it
sparingly I assume... and I am always amazed for anyone who plays when it
is not their main instrument (vocals or guitar or piano or whatever the
case)

Oz

On Mon, Dec 5, 2016 at 6:41 PM The Iceman via Harp-L <har...@harp-l.org>
wrote:

[Gary Lehmann]

Just read the article in Saturday's LA Times Calendar section--Jagger is
quoted as saying, regarding the three day recording session, "Playing for
three days in a row--that's not what I normally do."
Take note, Jon Kip! Your ticket to fame and fortune!

[robert mcgraw]

I've only heard a bit...it's ok. He's not a good player by any stretch of the imagination, but I do like what I've heard of the CD, so it's fine.

WVa Bob


________________________________
From: Harp-L <harp-l-...@harp-l.org> on behalf of David Coulson <ndavid....@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, December 5, 2016 11:27 AM
To: har...@harp-l.org
Subject: [Harp-L] Mick Jagger's harp playing on new Blue and Lonesome album of blues covers?

[Michelle LeFree]

David Coulson asked:

> I'm curious what some of the accomplished harmonica players on Harp-L think of Mick Jagger's harp playing on new Rolling Stones Blue and Lonesome album of blues covers.

I am nothing compared to some of the players on this list but...

1) It sounds to me like Mick has woodshedded for about 90 minutes per
year since he took harp duties over from Brian, how many decades ago? He
actually sounded better than I imagined, which would have placed him
about 10 minutes of practice per decade.

2) When the local blues radio show DJ (who is quite hip) was gleefully
celebrating the new Stones album by playing, "Just Your Fool." I called
in and asked him to play Little Walter's version to put it in all
perspective. He refused.

3) If it turns more than 2-3 people on to blues music or blues harp then
it is a good thing.

Michelle

[bfr...@austin.rr.com]

i think you hit the nail on the head, michelle...

[Richard Hunter]

Jagger's a great singer. And a great songwriter.

regards, Richard Hunter

--
"The Lucky One" 21st century rock harmonica project at
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/richard-hunter-s-the-lucky-one/x/5259889#/
Author, "Jazz Harp" (Oak Publications, NYC)
Latest mp3s and harmonica blog at http://hunterharp.com
Vids at http://www.youtube.com/user/lightninrick
Twitter: @lightninrick­­­‪­‪­­­‪‪­­‪­‪­‪­­­­‪­­‪‪‪­‪‪­­­‪­‪­­­­‪‪­­‪­‪­­­­

[Michael Rubin]

And a ridiculously good showman.

I one of my beginner students got to where Jagger is on harp, I'd be very
proud. But he is not a professional level harp player.
Michael Rubin
michaelrubinharmonica.com

[The Iceman via Harp-L]

I agree w/Michael.


Just watched the "Gimme Shelter" documentary - filmed during Stones 69 tour, ending in that "end of innocence" Altamonte Speedway free concert.


Film has been beautifully reconstructed and looks pristine, but is a good showcase for Jagger's early showmanship. Very interesting film.

[Arthur Jennings]

If you want a showcase for Jagger's *early* showmanship, watch the T.A.M.I. Show film from '64 where the Stones had to follow James Brown's explosive performance.

[bfr...@austin.rr.com]

if y'all REALLY wanna hear some harp, check out musselwhite doing 'louisiana Fog'...

[martin oldsberg via Harp-L]

Michelle is probably right on the amount of harmonica practising time Mick J has put in over the years. That it does not suffice is painfully evident from the title track -- he´s simply out of tune, wrong, bad and what have you.  Thinking this does in no way make me a better player, a busybody, a smartass or an obnoxious figure in general -- just a guy who has been playing some harmonica and defends his right to find this an instrument that should be played with a certain amount of skill. (Of course I might very well be all of the things above -- it was hinted that criticism on this topic was seriously indicative of certain charachter shortcomings -- but that´s entirely another matter. If I ever were to meet Sir Mick I would avoid the subject of harmonica, that would be the polite thing to do.) A trumpet player, say, who had assaulted this song in similar fashion/on a similar proficiency level would immediately have been carried out of the studio.  No bigger deal, I had no higher expectations so can´t say I´m particularly excited by him showing that he´s on the same level as usual. All in all, I think the entire record is a little bit less bad than I expected.
  If it´s "good for the blues" that this record was made is something that´s very hard to gauge, and moreover, even if suddenly thousands of blues bands were to emerge as an assumed effect of it, that does not raise the artistic level on "Blue and lonesome" one bit. (A few years back there was a Golden Age for the harmonica predicted since a pop guy played it on a television show, but I think it takes more than that. Also, the world probably has enough of harmonica players as it is.)/Martin