Posted by Ari Eisinger on June 13, 2007, 9:02 pm, in reply to "Re: Lonnie Johnson" Actually, I don't have much of an opinion about his right hand technique, except that I've heard people say he just used a flatpick (i.e., no fingers), and that's clearly not the case, at least not on most of the recordings. (I'm certainly not going to do the video with a flatpick plus fingers, as it would sound just terrible if I tried that!) Thanks again for the suggestions. -- Ari --Previous Message--
Link: Ari Eisinger's Home Page
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Thanks again, John.
: Hi, Ari!
: That is great that you might consider
: including one of Lonnie's accompaniments of
: Texas Alexander on the video. "Section
: Gang Blues" and "Levee Camp
: Moan" are both sensational, but are so
: dependent upon having a singer of the
: caliber of Texas Alexander (not a lot of
: them around!) that they might not be
: plausibly coverable. Lonnie's
: "melody-only" approach on those
: songs is so original and effective, though,
: that it is really remarkable. "Bell
: Cow Blues" might be a particularly
: interesting candidate, because Lonnie plays
: in both the melody-only style and his more
: conventional chordal style, with a
: particularly nifty solo, and some ideas I've
: never heard him use elsewhere.
: "Penitentiary Blues" has some of
: the same qualities, too, but is perhaps less
: dynamic and exciting than "Bell Cow
: Blues". Of course there are very many
: of the songs in which Lonnie takes an
: approach that is closer to the one he
: employed for accompanying himself. I'm
: really looking forward to seeing what you
: end up with on the video, as well as the
: video itself.
: On a different topic, I've always thought
: that Lonnie Johnson played with a flat-pick
: and fingers. I've seen photos of him that
: made it look like that was the case, and it
: would certainly go some way toward
: explaining his amazing facility in playing
: single-string runs, as well as his tone
: production, which was unique. Do you have
: any opinions on Lonnie Johnson's right-hand
: technique?
: All best,
: Johnm
:
: --Previous Message--
: Hi, John!
:
: I haven't really decided on what slow tunes
: to include, so I'll definitely give the
: Texas Alexander accompaniments another
: listen. I do want to cover some of his
: customary licks, but there may be room for
: more than one slow break and/or
: accompaniment.
:
: Thanks for the suggestion. It may help me
: wade through the piles of slow recordings he
: made!
:
: -- Ari
:
: --Previous Message--
: Hi Ari,
: I was wondering if you had any intention of
: including one of Lonnie Johnson's
: accompaniments of Texas Alexander in the
: Lonnie Johnson video you are preparing. I
: think Lonnie's accompaniments for Alexander
: were really superlative, actually my
: favorites of his blues playing. I think
: something about Alexander's unpredictable
: phrasing kept Lonnie on his toes and
: prevented him from relying so heavily on his
: customary licks. I know it may be beyond
: the purview of what you've had in mind, but
: I was just wondering.
: All best,
: Johnm
:
: --Previous Message--
: Yes, I am working on a Lonnie Johnson video.
: After that, I'll be doing one on Rev. Gary
: Davis's Early Recordings and another on
: Blind Blake (with different songs than are
: on Woody Mann's Blind Blake video). As for
: Charlie Patton, I'm not sure whether I'll be
: doing that or not, but if so, it will
: definitely be after the other three.
: Unfortunately, I'm very slow in getting
: ready for these videos, so I can't say when
: they'll be out.
:
: Thanks for your interest. I'm glad you've
: enjoyed the ones I've done so far.
:
: Ari Eisinger's Home Page
:
: --Previous Message--
: Ari,
: I have enjoyed both your videos and albums,
: and I look forward to whatever you might
: next share with us. Is it true that you
: were/are working on a Lonnie Johnson
: instructional video? Charlie Patton is
: another giant that I would love to see your
: take on.
:
: What is in the works?
:
: Mike
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