The POWER....of music

[An English Boy]

Time prevents the typical AEB dissertation re: Marion "Little  Walter" 
Jacobs
right now, but suffice to say that LW's style and tone set the precedent 
that
remains the standard to this day for every harp player who has followed in 
his
wake.

Walter, the first harp player in Muddy Water's first grear Chicago Blues 
band,
was the toughest little mutha to ever stand on a stage, and after his 
murder,
er, death, suffered in a fight, he was followed by Amos "Junior" Wells (who
AEB's band Dyrewolfe opened for in 1994), then James Cotton, all of whom,
in their day lead the pack of Chicago Blues harpists, each owing a HUGE debt
to Little Walter.

Paul Butterfield, who stood at the feet of Litte Walter and Big Walter 
"Shakey"
Horton, took that style and raised the bar so high that it has never been
surpassed, especially by that sad-asssed, poor-excuse for a Harp player 
(that
so many idiotically think is great) that John Popper and his "billion notes 
a
second," but "none meaning a thing" style.

Gotta run, woman needs a ride to work, gotta toe the line and whip into
shape...later....Happy Christmas (War is OVER [if you WANT IT]).

AEB~



>From: "O'Neal, Kevin W." <Kevin.ONeal at vtmednet.org>
>Reply-To: The Who Mailing List <thewho at igtc.com>
>To: <thewho at igtc.com>
>Subject: The POWER....of music
>Date: Fri, 22 Dec 2006 10:45:48 -0500
>
>http://www.celticguitarmusic.com/harmlw.htm
>
>In the spirit of the season, I'd like to share a bit of what's happening
>in my current scene....
>
>My dad was 45yo when I was born.
>He is now 86.  Born in the deserts of West Texas in 1920, and during the
>depression migrated like so many to Southern CA looking for work.
>I've heard stories of how poor they were, and of hunting down
>side-winder rattle snakes with his older brother in the desert to sell
>the rattles at ten cents a pop.
>At like age 6!
>Can you imagine???  "Ok son, good luck!  Don't fall into a snake den
>under the sand!"
>Now it's "If you don't behave, you're going to a time out and don't get
>to play CARS on PS2 !"
>Man, what a strange world it was just 80 years ago.
>
>My Mom is from Germany and listens only to classical music.
>My Dad has never really been an influence on me musically, and the only
>music I really ever heard him listen to was some Hank Williams-era stuff
>on rare occasions.
>But, interestingly, he's always had a harp (harmonica) in his top
>drawer, and every now and then (rarely) he'd pull that sucker out and
>rip off some eye-popping blues riffs.  It was rough, but you could see
>the foundation. But it always puzzled me because it didn't fit with his
>lack of interest in music and the Hank Williams stuff.
>
>My parents are up here in VT visiting.
>My dad's wish list this year had a surprise.
>He wants Blues CD's.
>Blues???  My dad????
>And, he's taking formal blues harp lessons and learning (at 86!) to read
>music.
>He's begging me to get better at guitar (I suck) so we can jam.
>Ha!
>
>We've all heard Blues Traveler.
>Personally, I can't *stand* his harp playing.
>Utter garbage.
>
>But last night my dad put on a cd that finally let me hear how the blues
>harp should really be played....very similar to how he would play on the
>rare occasion that he did.
>Little Walter.  Marion "Little Walter" Jacobs to be precise.  Link above
>is to a quick biography.
>Once I read it, I knew that at least An English Boy would know who I was
>talking about.
>This cat knew how to play the harp.
>It was awesome.
>I actually dug music that my Dad brought to my ears.
>Not that I have anything against Hank Williams, but that stuff just
>wasn't my cup of tea, as it were.
>
>So, right before dinner, we're all listening to this great blues and
>harp playing, and my dad is absolutely waxing nostalgic about it.
>He's on fire and driven.  It runs in the family.  Put your mind to it,
>and get out of the way.
>The kids are tapping their feet (well, the 15mo old is swaying back and
>forth), and it's a good time.
>
>Now, my wife is the blues fan in the family.  I've heard my share.  I've
>seen BB a couple times.
>I have an appreciation for The Blues.  Muddy Waters, BB King, Gatemouth
>Brown...etc.
>But, if you're like me, Blues never quite did it for me.  I've always
>needed that extra gear.  That "umph."
>That energy that Maximum R&B as presented by The Who gives me.
>
>Over dinner my Dad continues to beg me to get into the Blues and
>explore.
>I try and explain the "extra gear" mentality that I need, but he just
>doesn't get it.
>
>Ok, time to stop talking about it, and just show him.
>At the end of dinner, I go and pull out LAL and slap on Magic Bus.
>Hadn't listened to this in quite a while.
>As the initial beats began, he took this naturally stubborn approach
>with a "yes, blues uses these same tempos and sticks (forgot again what
>those are formally called ...what Keith used to click out the beats at
>the beginning).  I tell him to hold on....
>Then, the guitar starts to kick in.
>He gets a worried look on his face.
>Without putting together that it's Pete playing, he states "Oooo, now
>that's a guitar with some gusto."
>Ya think!
>Enter drums, and then bass....
>The kids attention is now fully on the music and they're both right in
>front of the stereo.
>When the music explodes and the harmonica enters.....the kids are going
>nuts.
>My 4yo is dancing around the room in such a way that conjures up images
>of a River Dance on speed with a side of LSD induced "kooky-dance."
>The energy that boy has is amazing.
>My dad ran (well) into his room and comes out with his harp and starts
>jamming in the most blistering way, right along with Roger.
>Oooop, let's slow it down a bit now....feel the reigns being pulled
>in.....
>Then, let it build....classic Who...
>And again....an explosion, and my 4yo is again flippin' out, and my 15mo
>old is holding my hands and dancing like mad, and my dad is again
>jamming.
>Me?
>I've got that snarling look on my face as I feel the music pulling my
>body toward furniture that should only have seconds to live.
>Of course, I refrain from any auto-destructive art in my living room.
>But, you get the idea.
>
>Mom?  Mrs. Classic Music?
>Still at the table, dismayed that this is her family, but also has a big
>grin watching us all getting-off like that.
>
>It was a moment.
>One I won't forget for a long time.
>
>One song.
>One example of energy.
>And, probably the most my father has ever understood me.
>And,........ vise versa.
>
>The power............of music.
>
>Kevin in VT
>P.S. I encourage anyone interested in The Blues to seek out anything by
>Little Walter.  You won't be disappointed.
>
>
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