Ya'know, I would be remiss if I didn't mention Scotty here. The people I mentioned before were all in the past. BUT I was going to quit going to festivals in 2006 (the 15 year mark). It was Scotty who talked me into staying in the game. She is probably my biggest fan. Soooo thanks blondie.
smo-joe
That's nice of you and I appreciate your saying so, Smokey. You're also one of MY mentors which I didn't mention before. I think of you and Phil as my two jazz mentors (how cool is THAT, Gary)
since I know zilch about how to play jazz and am trying to learn by osmosis from both of your disparate styles. I love how you both play and about a year or so ago I added Age to the 3 REAL people/players whose sound I admire most - and would like to emulate. You also were kind enough to back me at Open Mic in Denver (SPAH 2006) and a couple more times since. IF you'd quit then it would have been a huge loss not just to me, but to the harmonica world. Just ask all of those who've so enjoyed your performances and talk about you long after the events. Look at the responses to the 2007 Buckeye Videos (although those were somewhat degraded by the time they made it to YouTube). We need to get better vids of your playing up somewhere.
When you told me you played in Restaurants/Clubs - had some incredible moments but none were ever recorded or videotaped it was a complete surprise that most of what you do hadn't already been captured for posterity so I've done my best to ensure that I record you whenever we happen to be at the same Festival.
Wish I'd been there in person when my beloved friend Jason Ricci invited you up to play Summertime - and then announced he was retiring his version because yours was 'the' Best harmonica version. Ever. He meant it (doesn't say these kinds of things lightly) And I trust his ears. It didn't matter to him that he played it on a diatonic and you on a chromatic...he thought it was the most beautiful version he'd ever heard. And that was his bottom line. You don't get much better input than that. For you to stop playing after something so profound would be what constitutes a sin (in my eyes).
So I prod you a bit when I see you showing signs of wanting to quit for no real reason. I simply want to hear you play more and it's actually a bit selfish on my part since I want to keep listening to your versions of: Song for my Father/Angel Eyes/Summertime/Embraceable You, as well as the more modern tunes you do. I like that you're not mired in the past but are willing to play the more modern music I'm interested in. You just do it so much better.
So yeah - I guess that makes me a fan of yours, but not the way some people think of the word 'fan' (which I dislike). I simply don't want your gift lost to the world.
I watched all 5 episodes of Blackie Schachner's playing at 1999 SPAH when it was posted a couple of days ago - he was 81 then and just terrific. First time I've ever seen him. I see Stan Harper playing and telling his great jokes at 90 likewise funny, sharp and amazing, and Al Smith carrying on his stage act with Judy, compiling his years of film and writing books - and he's been around forever. Ron Kalina is 'up there' as well age wise and runs Seminars at SPAH and the GSH Festival - puts his life (as he tells it) on an Ipod. How cool is that? Age really is only a state of mind and I think playing chromatics helps keep one young - or at least one's lungs younger than they would be otherwise so it's good for your physical health.
And I just plain like to hear what YOU're going to come up with next. So the idea of 'retiring' from playing when you're still only in your 60's seems such a waste.
Elizabeth (a/k/a Scotty, (a/k/a Blondie?)
PS: now you're going to miss the GSHC Festival - and I won't get to show you how much work I've been doing on my Hammond 44 Melodion. I'd been SO looking forward to jamming on 'something' fun with you.
