Another young monster

[monk]

Pasquale Grasso 20 years old Pretty much covering all the bases.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wjDaX-RZkE

Here's another video with his brother, Luigi, on sax. Extreme right hand close-ups at 4:40-5:30.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ph0_g...eature=related

[oldane]

Amazing technical facility with Bud Powells version of "Tea for Two". He plays Powells solo verbatim for long stretches which is no mean feat as what Powell had in mind when recording it back then was to outrace Art Tatum ("Tea for Two" was a show off piece for Tatum) and everyone else. What this guitarist is lacking a bit here is Bud Powells furious emotional pressure.

[princeplanet]

So if this guy is playing note for note solos, isn't that way less impressive than it would have been if we'd known he was actually improvising ? I mean, I can play Bird solos at 300 bpm+, but that is about 100,000 times easier than improvising at that level, right?

[oldane]

Originally Posted by princeplanet

So if this guy is playing note for note solos, isn't that way less impressive than it would have been if we'd known he was actually improvising ? I mean, I can play Bird solos at 300 bpm+, but that is about 100,000 times easier than improvising at that level, right?

You can say that. You may have noticed that I spoke positively about his technical ability but bypassed the artistic merits.

Personally, I would be a bit hesitant to touch Bud Powells music that way, because Powells music was so personal with its immense intensity and restlessness which was partly a product of his fragile mental constitution (he suffered from skizofrenia). Powell was perhaps one of the most personal and honest jazz musicians ever, and he deserves the deepest respect for that. I have never heard records where he faked or cut corners. On some of his later records he had lost his earlier brilliance (partly due to motor sideeffects of the antipsychotic medication he was on), but then that was it. No faking - and his playing still had that depth and honesty, maybe even more than in the earlier years.

It's a bit odd to hear this guitarist play one of Powells nakedly honest and personal solos more or less verbatim for showing off, and I don't quite know what to think of it. Yes, Powell tried to outrace Tatum with his "Tea for Two", but he made a new version which - apart from the fast tempo - was very different from Tatums.

[monk]

oldane,
You've made some valid points regarding technical facility versus emotional content. Given Grasso's age, it remains to be seen whether or not his expressiveness grows to meet his technique. More importantly, you've raised the question of whether or not some performances, i.e. Powell's, should be considered sacrosanct.

In the States, publicly performing a note for note for note solo is generally considered poor form but the gypsy jazz players in Europe, particularly the true Gypsies, routinely incorporate Django's note for note solos into their playing as a form of hommage to show their respect for Django.

Maybe young Mr. Grasso was paying his respects to Bud Powell or perhaps he was just showing off. I don't know.

[AmundLauritzen]

I don't think there is anything wrong about playing other peoples solos note for note. I love Bud's solos, and to hear them on guitar is refreshing. To me, it is the sound that matters, not who conceived it. I think if he keeps learning enough Bud solos, that he will eventually internalize enough of his style to improvise like that. He will never be able to replicate the style, but his own influence might have a positive impact on the end result.

I've been admiring the Grasso brothers for a long time. Listen to Luigi tear it up on Just one of those things: DARY -GRASSO Quintet,"Just one of those things"(Porter) - YouTube

That's the 40's energy right there. Pasquale plays a good solo too.

[Jim8208]

excellent!

[JoeShmoe]

wow! Is there a transcription out there for Bud Powell's Tea for Two by any chance? I have to give that one a go, beautiful. Man, any of Powell's work transcribed for guitar would be great.

Joe

[fumblefingers]

is this the same guy?


Pasquale Grasso plays Villa Lobos etude 2, 3, 9, 7. - YouTube