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From: Bobbie Giordano
Date: Sun, 1 Sep 1996 07:29:47 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Re: Renaissance Harmonica

Hmmm....I see DT has already gotten to this subject matter, but I'm not
dumping this now. Besides, I don't stick to the topic anyway. Wow, how
new!
_______________________________________________________________________
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
On Sat, 31 Aug 1996, john frazer wrote:

> >> Would I buy one? At about $3000,
> >
> >Lesse, baby grand piano or harmonica...baby grand or harmonica...
> >
> >Mic'l
>
> I was sure Doug told me $2000.
>
> hj

You should have asked Bobbie, my friend. :)

[About 2000 POUNDS means roughly $3000. Didn't you see Randy Singer fall
off his chair? But notice, Mike Turk was cool. Luckily he'd swallowed
that sip of coffee already. Hee:) hee:) !!! ]

Hi, folks! Yes, all good things must end, some say. And SPAH 96 was most
definitely some kinda GOOD THING! And so, I surmise, was the respite from
my yakkiness. Sorry to burst the bubble, folks! And to be scarier still,
I come away from these events more, not less, inspired to talk. Damn it,
Winslow!! Where did you go with that syringe!??! And better yet, where did
Madcat get one? That is where it came from, right? I turned away for a
moment to sketch an illustration for some fellow with a question for me,
and you disappeared. I still say the constriction as located in the valve
in Johnno's experiments is a significant factor... well, we'll talk later...

The thing to remember about going to SPAH, or any other such occasion, is
to get well rested beforehand, because it never stops and crowds out your
sleep time as well... just like normal gigging, huh? You'd never expect
to be so distracted until you attend one of these things. People like Bob
Williams must lie awake for weeks trying to think of ways to keep someone
fascinated for hours on end. Bob happens to be particularly good at this,
it seems, just as Jack Ely was at BHF, yet always available somehow to be
cheerfully helpful whenever needed. Congratulations, Bob [and Jack, too,
if I forgot in April]... you did yourself proud, and I'm sure many thanks
are due you and your diligent staff for all you contributed to the grand
success of the event. Certainly, you have mine.

The reviews given here already by fellow Harp-Lers tell much of the story
of SPAH 96, and from the varied angles one would expect. I honestly could
not add much to their impressions. Of course, you all believe that.....

No? Good.

Like any one who went to St. Louis, I could fill a disk with tales and
details, but I could equally do that relating the rest of my trip, most
specifically the volatile combination of my driving and the frightful
navigation skills of Doug Tate. He may know his way around a chromatic,
but NEVER trust him with a roadmap! If I ever see Clarksville, Tenn.,
again, it will be too soon...and also I believe the 4th time!!! We're
talking Twilight Zone here, guys. It was quite interesting, though,
explaining 4-ways stops, comparing center line philosophies and rules,
happening on some great roads for roller coaster simulations, and even
giving the Brit a spell behind the wheel [hospitality plus, I'd say!]
It was simple really...I just closed my eyes and ignored the rumble as
the tires ran off the road. And at least I had the map!

Few others braved the passenger seats with me this time, but Ned Kraft
volunteered a beer run, then strangely disappeared for a while after...
Hmmm. And later, after SPAH, Cathy Norton threw caution to the wind,
and risked losing breakfast, too. What a Pal!! But, SPAH was a joyride
all its own, with some of the following tourist attractions........

Excellent accomodations [if pricey for a single like I was, still worth
it for what was provided] with much of the excitement centrally located
on the lobby floor with the banquet room for seminars, performances and
jams located there. There was plenty of open seating for collections of
harpers to play together, including a grand piano, displays and the SPAH
store, restaurant and bar/lounge all on this one level, making for an
ongoing party of folks gathering together at will, unmolested by hotel
staff, to exchange memories and experiences, and make their own.

There were as many or more Harp-Lers at SPAH as I remember being at BHF.
I think we have a special privilege as a group coming to these things,
because unlike many who would go and meet new people, making new friends
there, which H-Lers also do, we arrive having already come to know each
other, sometimes to great extents, perhaps even as far as each others'
playing styles and/or preferences, goals, skills, talents, personalities,
and more. All that's left is to put a face with the name, as Madcat put
it to me. The real work in getting acquainted is already done and people
can move straight away into jocular exchanges, meaningful discussions
and harmonical sharings, wasting no time in getting the most out of such
an experience as SPAH or BHF or whatever. Harp-Lers feel immediately at
home and in comfortable surroundings, further enhancing the comaraderie.
And then, we are blessed even more when we can all return to our keyboards
and continue building rewarding relationships long after the final concert
has ended.

There is so much to enjoy and appreciate at these conventions, and I can
recognize this after having only been to two so far; with not just the
finest and most diverse performances, but thought-provoking and educa-
tional seminars and purchasable materials for expanding horizons. Yet,
besides these planned offerings, perhaps the best benefits are accrued
when there is personal interactions between attendees that share ideas,
hints, information and inspirations, solutions and suggestions, and of
course, the playing of our instruments with one another, because then we
come away with better understanding of the harmonica and each other as
well. And in all honesty, if I didn't gain any such insights from going
to these events, I wouldn't bother attending again. As it is, I am
planning on being at many more in the future, as long as I keep learning,
feel I too can contribute, find avenues for exploring and understanding
our harmonicas and how we play them, but most importantly, reaching out
to fellow and friend harpers who share the exuberance of making music.

Especially, harmonica music...naturally!

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