6. What Professional (or other) was/is your influence?

[SlideMeister]

Although there is a chance it might not have been even a Chromatic player, what player (professional or otherwise - alive or dead) was/is your influence. Again, keep your answer short, and no discussion.

[Grizzly]

I'd have to say Robert Bonfiglio for starters. He can do it all.

Tom

[SlideMeister]

Anyone that plays better than I do (and that I like to listen to) is a positive influence for me.
This probably sounds weird, but sometimes I'd rather just listen to myself

[Gnarly He Man]

I'm letting Bill Barrett influence me . . .
But truthfully, I just see the horn as an instrument, there was no one inspiring me to play chromatic.
I got good at diatonic, started retuning, and wound up with a slide harmonica.

[Bluesy]

In order not to become too derivative, I think it's important to listen to top players of instruments other than chromatic harmonica. For that reason I try to take my cues from Desmond, Getz, Baker, Bill Evans, Joe Pass, Stitt, Cannonball, etc. Not that I could ever hope to duplicate on harmonica what they play on their instruments, but just to have their sound in my head. My brother's piano sound comes through a lot now that he's no longer with us. (What am I talking about? It did while he was alive!)
I find that if I listen to Toots too much, his figures are all I can hear in my mind when I'm working on a solo.
Actually too, I love the sweet and very French approach of Paul Lassey, and wish he would record more American ballads and bossa nova things. I love his "Luiza".
And I do love Hendrik Meurkens and listen to anything I can by him. I particularly like that he doesn't make a big production out of soloing, but just quietly blows the notes with a jazz feel - and great skill, I might add. He seems always to play with great trios.

Tom/

[McManus]

It seems everyone I listen to is better than me; but day in day out my favorite is Bonfiglio.

[Gnarly He Man]

I think it's important to play within your ability; don't try to play like anyone else.
Let the music play!

[robertpcoble]

If there is one player that I would love to sound like, it would be Smokey Joe Leone, SlideMeister. I love his playing on both chromatic and diatonic, and I love to listen to him play jazz. Smokey Joe was in attendance at one of the Virginia Harmonica Fests, when I gave my first seminar. Afterwards, he gave me some much needed encouragement, for which I remain indebted. I know I can't carry his harmonica case, but he inspires me to continue practicing and playing.

Crazy Bob

[Ingo]

If there is one player that I would love to sound like, it would be Smokey Joe Leone, SlideMeister. I love his playing on both chromatic and diatonic, and I love to listen to him play jazz. Smokey Joe was in attendance at one of the Virginia Harmonica Fests, when I gave my first seminar. Afterwards, he gave me some much needed encouragement, for which I remain indebted. I know I can't carry his harmonica case, but he inspires me to continue practicing and playing.

Crazy Bob

I carry smokey Joe's case all the time...but keeps dropping it heheh

Today he would be a harmonica player I could be influenced by since I like and admire him as a player and as a person, but go back to the beginning it was a diiferent istrument that encoraged me, namely the accordion.Specifically the Dutch group "The Three Jacksons" and then it was 'The Hotcha Trio"...a superb harmonica trio; since then having meet sooo many harmonica players it's hard to pick out anyone in particular, but I think I have learned a bit from everyone...and I'm still learning!

With the internet and YouTube, it's mindbogling how many players there are. When I see the Caption: "The worlds Greatest Harmonica Player", I reach for the barfbag and seethe at the stupidity when the player , I'm using the term losely, is lightyears away from being even a harmonica player. Oh well, makes you appreciate the good ones. Oh yeah, it just crystalized in my brain. I want to be like Chris Bauer when I grow up. When I told him, he said that HE never grew up, so now I don't know hehehe


Ingo



Ingo

[frozenpaw]

Mother, classical pianist

[Philos]

Without a doubt... Michal Adler's solo work and her playing with The Adler Trio.

[Scotty]

Phil Caltabellotta, Smokey Joe Leone and AJFedor. I'd love to be able to play MY music but with the skills abilities and tone of a blend of all three of them. They're my chromatic 'heroes'.

Elizabeth (a/k/a Scotty)

[Gnarly He Man]

Meet Danny Wilson!
With my old buddy Danny Welton on harmonica!
"Lonesome Man Blues"

[Gary Richardson]

Toots Thielemans and Larry Adler, but this was before I used the internet.  Today with the internet there is a whole world of players that inspire me and hopefully will influence me as well.

Gary

[SlideMeister]

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