From: Steve & Anne Price Date: Tue, 27 Aug 1996 18:34:54 -0500 (CDT) Subject: a few impressions of SPAH (part I)
My first SPAH convention. First, I say, because I'm going back. It was incredible, inspiring, overwhelming.
But I have to confess that I was so overwhelmed by the quality and talent and abilities of everyone there that I actually didn't play very much. I was taking quite a lot in.
I have to say that it was delightful to meet so many harp-llers I've been reading and responding to (and sometimes arguing with), and hearing them play, and so many other talented people fed something deep in my soul. I do wish I'd connected with these folks long ago. And I did here, but I mean I wish I'd had some kind of contact with so many dedicated harmonica players earlier in my career.
Well, that being said, I missed much I'd have liked to have attended, but what I caught was an exceptionally talented, supportive group of musicians, kind people, aware, experimental, engaged with their instruments. Doug Tate is a thoroughly charming and humorous fellow with informed ideas on music, playing, and the construction of the harmonica. He and Bobbie Giordano brought a prototype of the chromatic they are designing, the Renaissance. I got to play this, and as I was playing the most incredible chromatic harmonica I've ever played, Douglas was explaining to me what flaws he's already got designs to fix on the thing (it was a prototype after all). I would not have made this convention were it not for Douglas and Bobbie, and I thank them both. Bobbie is every bit as sharp and quick as she is on the list, charming to talk to, excited, responsive. To encounter so many alert people and be in company with a couple of ringleaders like these was a pleasure.
I got to hear and see Filisko and his famous harps. He's both an outstanding artist and player. His work is simply magnificent. Joe's obsession with beautiful harmonicas has been a blessing to many. His approach to playing, his outstanding tongue blocking, his love of the real early harmonica solo work was nothing short of magnificent.
I got to play one of Richard Sleigh's. Richard, who is also an excellent guitar player and rack harp player, has learned at the hands of Filisko and sells quite beautiful and amazing harps, too.
Other harp-llers I'm very pleased to have met are Winslow Yerxa, Bob Williams, Harmonica John Frasier, Ned Hoosier Daddy Kraft, Buzz Krantz, Tom Ellis, Joe Fey, so many more.
I have to break this up into more than one post. Hope you all have the patience. I'm really quite excited by this whole experience.
