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From: Coolrays
Date: Wed, 14 Jan 1998 13:30:53 -0600
Subject: Xerox machines

I come from the school where in the beginning every possible lick and
technique is assimilated from the masters. In my more newbier days I
learned, re-learned and re-learned again note-for-note every lick I could
get my lips on. Walters, J. Geils, McCoy, Buffalo, Madcat ala Sky King,
Blind Owl, Cotton, Sonny Boys and numerous others. I also stole licks from
guitarists, keyboardists, saxophonists, etc. I even stole flute licks from
Jean-Pierre Rampal off a Claude Bolling album. If it moved me, I heisted
it. Then I practiced it until I knew every note and nuance in my sleep. Put
scars on a lot of records in those days.

I rarely did scales. Didn't fit my needs. I found that incessantly
repeating a LW tune to master the elegant nuances and note-selection of
such cuts as "Back Track" to be much more satisfying than repeating
Do-Re-Mi-Fa-So-La-Ti-Do et. al. While these innumerous licks are now
ingrained and interwoven into MY style, I never rely on them. At some point
long ago my own style took over.

Many of you know that I still do Whammer Jammer nearly every time I'm out
with my band. It's a dynamically perfect 2:30 of audience-pleasing
get-down-to-it rock-n-roll. It can't be beat. I'd put it against any
show-stopper I've ever heard. I do it just like the record everytime. I
can't improve on it's perfection. A lot of thought went into making that
song what it is and if I did it differently, it wouldn't be Whammer Jammer.
It would just be another 12-bar boogie. Performing it that way is also my
way of showing respect and a tribute to the original artist.

I don't play licks, though, when it comes time to take an improvisational
ride on a song. I play whatever's flowing through my soul. Sometimes it's
muddy and murky but other times it sparkles. We all know how that can be.

Mike C. claims to be able to play any of 3000+ cover tunes on any spot and
Robert B. performs classical music some of which was well-defined hundreds
of years ago. For Mike to perform Margueritaville with different lyrics or
for Robert to play a Bach piece with a different melody would be changing
the song and in some circles be considered sacrilege. The end result would
be that they were playing a different song.

Yet both of these accomplished harmonica players have a disdain for the
path that I and others have chosen. I honestly don't see a difference worth
noting. It seems very much like a glass-house situation. If there is a
difference, I'd like to know what it is.

[BTW, I have some friends who have a band that do pristine note-for-note
just-like-the-record covers across a wide gamut of styles and make
10K+/week playing the MGM Grand in Vegas.]

r