Ted Greene

Philco · #1 10-27-2011, 07:25 PM

I've never felt the urge to gush over a guitar player.
But I love this guy. The person he was and the music he played.
Every now and then he plays something that just makes my jaw drop and I have to work it out.
I don't think I'll ever understand the theory behind what he is doing.
But I understand the music and I feel it.

Let me come clean and admit the Jazz guitar chordal playing is not one of my favourite things to listen to. I personally get no feeling from it and I get bored with the sound of the instrument when it's played like this.
But the way Ted played is the exception for me.

A fave of mine is this 4th thing he does at the end of this video. It's like a little bomb went off in my brain.
Keep in mind that Ted is improvising right through this short video and then comes up with this little gem. But he knows exactly what he's doing and can explain it WHILST he's playing.

Have a look at the piles of books and papers that surround him. From reading "My Life With The Chord Chemist" I discovered that he was an obsessive collector. Barb (his partner and author of the book........who also recently passed)) thought he may have a mild form of Asberger's syndrome.
If only he had gone to the doctor's to find out about the intense pain in his arms. He clearly suffered more than one heart attack before he finally died.

Anyway check this out and wait for the chord progression at the end.

TedGreene.com - Video Section
then look for "Watch What Happens"

morroben · #2 10-27-2011, 07:42 PM

I'm a huge Ted Greene fan. Barb's book is great. May they both RIP.

jmstritt · #3 10-28-2011, 08:25 AM

Lot of Ted Greene fans here, myself included! That man was amazing.

FatJeff · #4 10-28-2011, 12:39 PM

TG was in a class by himself, there's no doubt about it. One of my top fave guitarists and definitely a top educator.

Bill C · #5 10-29-2011, 12:38 PM

I too am generally not a fan of solo guitar but Ted's album always touches the heart. Barbara Franklin's book is a fascinating - and humbling - insight into Ted's life. We could do with a few more people like Ted and Barbara in this world.

M-ster · #6 10-29-2011, 01:24 PM

Those videos are great, Philco, thanks!

Nikkorico_03 · #7 10-30-2011, 12:29 AM

Check out Lenny Breau, he's one of the guys along with Ted Greene that started the harmonics, as well as a great guitar player.

morroben · #8 10-30-2011, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikkorico_03

Check out Lenny Breau, he's one of the guys along with Ted Greene that started the harmonics, as well as a great guitar player.

How about a lesson from Ted about Lenny?
TedGreene.com - Video Section

M-ster · #9 10-30-2011, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikkorico_03

Check out Lenny Breau, he's one of the guys along with Ted Greene that started the harmonics, as well as a great guitar player.

Yep, my earlier comment was made after viewing the Lenny stuff. Some of what Ted is so nonchalantly performing there is incredible!

It's unfortunate that in so many of these videos (Ted's and others) that there's always someone trying to hang with the master by interrupting, or trying to indicate that they "get it," or what have you.

On the flip side, of course, some of the vid's wouldn't exist if not for the n00bs recording them. And I'm sure I've been guilty of same at one time or another.

jazzuki · #10 10-30-2011, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M-ster

Yep, my earlier comment was made after viewing the Lenny stuff. Some of what Ted is so nonchalantly performing there is incredible!

It's unfortunate that in so many of these videos (Ted's and others) that there's always someone trying to hang with the master by interrupting, or trying to indicate that they "get it," or what have you.

On the flip side, of course, some of the vid's wouldn't exist if not for the n00bs recording them. And I'm sure I've been guilty of same at one time or another.

The guys filming were not only getting Ted on tape but paying for the lessons they were lucky to get from him!

Fast Bebop · #11 10-30-2011, 03:44 PM

I think beyond all his skills, the most amazing thing he has developped as a guitarist, is improvising baroque counterpoint. I listened a lot of his stuff, but this almost makes me want to cry. Check out Baroque improvisation n°1, he explains differents approches while improvising. N°4 is absoultely fantastic.
He's IMHO one of the few who could improvise baroque counterpoint on guitar. What he does requires so much technique, so much knowledge and endurance...he just does that like breathing (you see him suffered one time or two though, but it's purely physical :-) )

This guy sure was unique. Part of the ones you wish could never die, just to see how far he could have been in playing music.

TedGreene.com - Video Section

Philco · #12 10-30-2011, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fast Bebop

I think beyond all his skills, the most amazing thing he has developped as a guitarist, is improvising baroque counterpoint. I listened a lot of his stuff, but this almost makes me want to cry. Check out Baroque improvisation n°1, he explains differents approches while improvising. N°4 is absoultely fantastic.
He's IMHO one of the few who could improvise baroque counterpoint on guitar. What he does requires so much technique, so much knowledge and endurance...he just does that like breathing (you see him suffered one time or two though, but it's purely physical :-) )

This guy sure was unique. Part of the ones you wish could never die, just to see how far he could have been in playing music.

TedGreene.com - Video Section

Whenever I have a dinner party I show my guests the baroque clips of Ted and try to explain a little about him.
Without fail my guests cannot believe the feeling that Ted gets and his beautiful gentle manner. They would never have believed such a musician existed.

Fast Bebop · #13 10-30-2011, 04:24 PM

I like you very much now, Philco :-D

Jazzpunk · #14 10-30-2011, 04:32 PM

I wish Ted had recorded more! I have his solo disc and a live trio recording. Does anyone know if there is anything else out there?

M-ster · #15 10-30-2011, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jazzuki

The guys filming were not only getting Ted on tape but paying for the lessons they were lucky to get from him!

All the more reason to pipe down and listen, right?

Sphere · #16 10-31-2011, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M-ster

All the more reason to pipe down and listen, right?

Well, they were participating in a lesson, not attending a lecture.
I love Ted, my favorite video is the MIT seminar.

M-ster · #17 10-31-2011, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sphere

Well, they were participating in a lesson, not attending a lecture.

Don't get me wrong - I get it. I'm just expressing my own reaction to watching the videos. Personally, I find myself wishing the folks in the videos that aren't Ted Greene would talk/interrupt less so that Ted can complete his sentences and thoughts. That's all. It's fine with me if you disagree.

wolflen · #18 10-31-2011, 03:50 PM

in the late 1970s I had the great fortune to study with ted..for a year..after hearing about ted from musicians i highly respected and many guitarist i was in awe of..no..he didn't have a red G on his chest and he couldn't fly...but i would not have noticed if he did..a soft spoken, gentle person..he asked.."what do you want to learn?" ..jazz i said...and he asked..."well, what do you mean by jazz.." the term "speechless" had new meaning to me as ted played several "jazz" progressions..with chords that were always in motion..so i said..yeah like that..so for the following 50 weeks i was given lessons and chord charts that he punched out in front of me on the back of his tele with a little chord grid stamp..(remember no computers yet) the things he showed me and what he played to demo the lesson were just amazing..what i learned the most was "how to think in more than one key" and to see an entire progression and melodic ideas from one chord..

i still visit the chord sheets he gave me and apply them when i can..some of the simple progressions he has in his books "modern chord progressions" are the keys to harmonic freedom on guitar..ted stressed learn everything in ALL keys..and yes this is where you find many mysteries of moving voices and chord relations..the 3-6-2-5-1 chords in all flavors are explored in every possibility..and harmony and melody become one..

play well

wolf

Bill C · #19 11-01-2011, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazzpunk

I wish Ted had recorded more! I have his solo disc and a live trio recording. Does anyone know if there is anything else out there?

Here's a discography ...

TedGreene.com - Biography

I have the Pisano recordings from the 90's - on eMusic btw - they are very nice.

Jazzpunk · #20 11-01-2011, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill C

Here's a discography ...

TedGreene.com - Biography

I have the Pisano recordings from the 90's - on eMusic btw - they are very nice.

Cool, thanks! I recently moved right near Vitello's where Pisano does his jazz guitar night every Tuesday. It's great!