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Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 11:59:14 EDT
From: Rubyduby~ol.com
Subject: A high note (long and self indulgent)

This has really been a great week for me and I have to talk about it with
people who would understand!
First, I have a new rock band, Foscoe Jones and we did 4 great gigs, but
Saturday's was special. Check out Humbletime.com for information on the
Humbletime radio program. We did a recording for it Saturday and it was
videotaped. I believe it will be available for viewing and listening on
19May and after. I'll let you know.
But last night was the kicker. Annually there is a homeless benefit at
Austin's Continental Club called the Muddy Water's Tribute night, where
about
7 bands of local greats who don't normally play together get together and
each play a set of Muddy Tunes.
First, Headlining was Billy Boy Arnold, who I also saw on Friday. He did
Mojo in a very unusual style. The band took a minute to catch on, but then,
as it should have been, it was the best song of the night. Totally
trancsendent stuff. Billy Boy is AWESOME!
Although for those of us who are human, I want to note that on one song he
chose the wrong harp and it sounded really off key. It took him around 4
bars to realize it. This doesn't lessen his greatness, it just shows it
happens to us all. Even Little Walter played his harp upside down, getting
an unexpected high note and then switching to the low side on "Long as I
have
You".

Also Billy Boy cool to me. We met, he had heard me play a song (more on
that
later) and told me I was good. Then I told him when I was 16 and first
buying blues albums, there was an album of his with cover art so intense, I
was afraid to buy it.
He knew exactly which one I meant and said he thought he had a copy and
would
send it to me if he did. So cool.

Gary Primich told me to bring my harps and he did not let me down. We did
"Close to You" , yes Muddy loved The Carpenters and Burt Bacharach. No, I
mean CLose to You Baby Like White on Rice. On stage with me was
Gary Primich, vocals and 1st position high notes, A harp. I chose 2nd
position D harp as a contrast thing.
Sarah Brown, bass player and ANtone's recording artist
John Juke Logan (the harp player for the Rosanne TV show) on piano
Chris Miller, guitar
Mike Buck (Original drummer for The Fabulous Thunderbirds)
I have played with many greats over the years and in all kinds of
situations,
but never did I feel such a "welcome to the club" as I did last night.
During my solo, my buddy and local harp/guitar vocalist legend who was in
the
band Storm with Jimmie VAughan prior to the Thunderbirds, Lewis Cowdrey (WHO
IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE MUSICIANS OF ALL TIME< HIS HARP PLAYING FLOORS
MEHIM OUT) came straight up to me and started getting crazy. He is blues
incarnate. I bent down and started playing in a very different style for
his
benefit.
Afterwards he told a young harp player about me "If you want a white harp
player, this is the guy" . I took it as a high compliment. I actually feel
the same about him.
I think what he meant was that I dress like a human being, jeans t-shirts or
decent shirts, baseball cap or bald headed. I am not trying to look like a
blues guy. He has talked to me about my fashion style in an approving way
before. But maybe it was just a compliment of my playing.
Anyway, wow, what a night.
Michael Rubin