Help: Interview with Peter Madcat Ruth

Subject: Interview with Peter Madcat Ruth
From: AliUK
Date: 30 Aug 01 - 08:02 PM

Guys, I'm interviewing Peter "Madcat"Ruth on September 13th and I have absolutely no idea what to ask him. I Know that he played with several generations of the Brubeck clan, but can anybody give me their opinion of him. And maybe some groovy questions to ask.

Subject: RE: Help: Interview with Peter Madcat Ruth
From: Mudcatter
Date: 30 Aug 01 - 08:08 PM

Ask him if he'd like a beer

Subject: RE: Help: Interview with Peter Madcat Ruth
From: Justa Picker
Date: 30 Aug 01 - 08:10 PM

Ask him to define jazz and what it means to him.

Subject: RE: Help: Interview with Peter Madcat Ruth
From: John Hardly
Date: 30 Aug 01 - 08:43 PM

Ask him if he REALLY recorded a song called (and I'm not making this up) "Baked Beans and Weiners, My Heart's At The Cleaners And My Love's Hung Out To Dry"

One of my most treasured pieces of vinyl is and Album by a band calliing themselves "New Heavenly Blue" vintage @'70-72. A young Madcat Ruth on harp and Chris Brubeck in the band (liner notes by Dave Brubek who disclaimed said song in the note).

Joel Mabus once told me that on a particular Claudia Schmidt album project, Claudia had failed to accurately tune her guitar but decided AFTER the fact that she'd like to have a little harmonica accompaniment. Ruth was actually able to oblige her request with all his work done "bent"

The newest Joel Mabus cd is a marvelous work in which Madcat and Don Stierenburg are essentially Joel's band. Everybody ought to own this cd. A little less well know is a Frielander and Hall cd with the same combo as background musicians.

I did the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair and for more than 15 years Ruth was the biggest attraction to the stage acts (along with the Chenielle Sisters, and the Bluefront Persuaders, and Mr B. If you were real lucky you might catch Madcat sittin' in with any of them.

Wish I could be there for the interview though I will say that my personal experience with him was a less than friendly back stage, after performance, where I asked if he might have any recordings, to which he replied quite smartly "Yeah, I've got lots of recordings..."

Subject: RE: Help: Interview with Peter Madcat Ruth
From: GUEST,Knappo
Date: 30 Aug 01 - 10:52 PM

I used to see him quite often in Kalamazoo, Mi doing a solo act. He also accompanies himself on guitar. He is a fantastic player! Never got a chance to talk with him though. He has a website you may want to check out if you haven't already with some previous interviews posted. You might want to ask what type of harps he uses and why he prefers one brand over another. Just a thought. Also,sometimes I find it's better not to get to know too much about the "stars" we look up to; they do sometimes turn out to be jerks and that tends to taint my enjoyment of them. Is this interview going to be avaiable in some format for us? Anyway, good luck. I'm sure it will turn out just fine. Cheers! Tom (knappo)

Subject: RE: Help: Interview with Peter Madcat Ruth
From: harpgirl
Date: 30 Aug 01 - 11:39 PM

...Ask when he played last with Dicky Siegel or Jay Stielstra. What's was his most memorable night at The Ark? Who influenced him? Has he played with James Montgomery? What old blues players?Has he ever played with David Bromberg? Who gave him his first harp?

I've got lots of questions for "madcat"...harpgirl

Subject: RE: Help: Interview with Peter Madcat Ruth
From: AliUK
Date: 31 Aug 01 - 12:14 AM

thanks people for all the suggestions. Harpgirl, make a list and I'll see what i can do. Knappo, well it will be a live interview with Brazilians so it will probably just be me an him shootin'the breeze, but I'm gonna tape it if anyone's interested I'll post a transcript on the 'cat or maybe try and get it downloaded, any suggestions how. I know he was influenced by Willie Horton, I've always been a Carey Bell fan myself ( I like big sounds and Carey does it for mr) but Willie is a legend so It'll be cool talking to someone who actually got lessons from him.

Subject: RE: Help: Interview with Peter Madcat Ruth
From: Knappo
Date: 31 Aug 01 - 06:09 AM

Harpgirl: I have a tape of a performance of David Bromberg at The Ark (years ago) with Rory Block and Madcat sitting in together on a couple of tunes. If you would like a copy of the whole show, PM me and I'll be happy to send you one. It was broadcast on Mountain Stage. Have you seen him play? Knappo

Subject: RE: Help: Interview with Peter Madcat Ruth
From: AliUK
Date: 31 Aug 01 - 05:51 PM

seems I'll be able torecord the intervies on DAT will that help downloading to a site?

Subject: RE: Help: Interview with Peter Madcat Ruth
From: GutBucketeer
Date: 01 Sep 01 - 12:14 AM

I have one of New Heavenly Blue's old albums. Great Harp Playing. Also, I know that Madcat has done some kids tapes etc. and seems to be a pretty good guy all around.

Might be interesting to ask how his music has changed over the years. It seems much less frantic and more tasteful now. Also, he is the best jaw harp player I have ever heard or seen bar none.

JAB

About two weeks ago I was in A2 at my sisters wedding. Turns out that her new husband works with both Dick Siegel and Jay Stielstra doing home remodeling/construction. They each ended up playing a song for them later in the night. It was a great wedding :-)