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Written by Chris Michalek, Shamelessly stolen without permission from a Harp-L posting
This was one of the best SPAHs I've attended since my first one in 1991. Everything was perfect except the back up band for the jazz jam and some of the acts. The Carol Beth trio rhythm section literally wrecked William Galison's entire set, frankly, I don't understand how SHE can play with them and in many ways I suspect she doesn't because they are so bad. The situation reeked of her "getting her son and his friend a gig" She wouldn't play not a minute more than 2hours and yet demanded a 20 minute break. No band needs a break for a two hour gig.
The talent level of this years convention- wow wow wow!!! So many good players who turned into great players, Galison noted the same thing during his saturday night set. A least five young players who at 14 are much more impressive than many who have been playing for 20 years.
A big F*** YOU to PT Gazell. I think he's better suited to the golden age of SPAH, he was nice then, and not the player he is today. His playing this year was Phenomenol but he is totally out of control now. I was enjoying a very nice dinner with Jimmy Conway, Jimmy Gordon, George Brooks and Rosco Selley when PT came up to our table. He leans over, places his hands squarely on the table and says "I just want to say F*** You to everyone here" and then he walked away. We were stunned to say the least and if I had any fish or ravioli on my plate I would have flung it at him with all of my might.
Yes, I prefer the PT of yesteryear, the PT of the golden age of SPAH, the one that never attened SPAH, perhaps then I could remain entrenched as one of the more notable diatonic players at the convention but instead I'm forced to remain in the shadow of his brilliant playing. F*** You PT and please go back to your bluegrass
playing, give us young guys a chance.
I didn't hang out at the big Warren and Buzz lead blues jams like most but what I heard was great and I always tried to stop by and play at least one solo as long at PT wasn't there. Instead we had another intermediate/advanced level jam with Jimmy Lee. This jam was smaller and attended by NICE players like Brendan Power, Steve Baker, Randy Singer, Geroge Brooks, Rodrigo and others I'm failing to remember (sorry) I wish I had video or audio of this jam. Phenomenol playing by all. It's a such a joy to hear so many different styles and
approaches to the same thing.
The Phil Isko teach in was great. With the exception of Bob Cohen, we got dozens of people to overblow within seconds utilizing my patented Shaolin Straw Technique. Big thanks to TJ and Greg for playing guitar as everyone at the table learned to play in 11th and 12th positions. Also the young ones who attended, AMAZING, again it was such a joy to be around them and watch them learn at such a rapid pace. It's also very weird for me to hear my licks and sounds being played all over SPAH. It's a good thing a suppose as I will now have to work harder
to stay ahead of the curve.
On the last day of the teach in, we wo rked on phrasing and how to play funk. The 17 yr old Kaleena picked it up immediately! "That's so COOL" she proclaimed. She'd never played in third position before and
by the end of the session she was playing as if she'd been doing it for years.
I attened the blues jam on saturday night. What a treat!!! It was one of the most memorable blues jams of my memories at spah. RJ Micsho, James Conway, Geroge Brooks, Brendan Power, David Barret, Warren
Bachman, Buzz Krantz, Joe Filisko, Steve Baker, Rodrigo all in one circle? Yeppers!!!! What great music was made. I actually have some video that I will post to youtube, unfortunately my desktop got blown up in a storm while I was away so it may be a week or so until I get it posted.
This SPAH was great and I for one, welcome the dimond age of SPAH. There simply is no comparison to the "Golden age" in terms of talent and organization. I can't wait until next year to attend the
Sacramento SPAH.
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