Tuesday, April 26, 2011

What Did You Miss This Week? (Week 220 #263)

More George Smith!!!

We studied the solo from George Smith's tune, Sometimes You Win When You Lose. This has a lot of the same strengths last week's tune did: brevity, repetition, blues scale, and classic blues licks like the head shake and the four draw slide to the two draw.

Class essentially became a workshop to refine and hammer home the importance of this lick, which Joe is nicknaming Lick #1. It is so quintessentially blues that you have to master it. There are variations, as evidenced by this transcription and Joe also points out the common technique of switching from the two draw to the three blow at the end of the lick.

Listen to George do this over and over again and then practice, grasshopper, practice. You need to own this lick.

Old Town School Benefit for Japan!!!

We have an official report from Old Town that the benefit concert for Japan raised $6952.50!!! Thanks to an anonymous donor who is matching that, you and the school will be sending almost $14,000 to aid Japan!

You Missed Monday Is On Facebook!!!

You Missed Monday has a facebook page now. If you're on facebook, click HERE and "like" us so you can get late-breaking gig news and also help us spread the word about events like Recital and the Chicago Blues Harp Bash. Get on board!

And speaking of Recital, if you're on facebook, be sure to "attend" our Recital event so word about this great show spreads! Click here.

Class Notes
  • The date is set for our next recital at the Harlem Avenue Lounge. Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 21. Recital sign-up sheets are now available and need to be turned in to Joe by May 2. Note too that Joe would like you to write a little bio information on the back this time so he has material to introduce you.
  • Shoji has prepared another fantastic ensemble piece for the upcoming recital. Get a copy of the harp part for Albatross from him and join the group of harmonica and guitar players performing this beautiful Peter Green tune.
- Grant Kessler, B1 Blues Crew