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I will paraphrase astrophysicist John Wheeler regarding the Milky Way galaxy and say that measuring the edge of jazz is like measuring the edge of a sneeze.
We all know where the glutinous core is but the outer reaches fade out into the intergalactic medium/handkerchief.
And then there are whole satellite galaxies/snot bergs orbiting and colliding with ours.
Actually that might just be me.
Ah Autumn, season of mists and mild maladies.
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10-23-2019 04:51 AM
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I think I caught something just reading that.
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hmm... yeah, still not "getting it". He's just to manic for me (which is ironic, because his personality is anything BUT).
Full disclosure: I've never been a huge bebop fan, I prefer Ben Webster to Charlie Parker, and Johnny Smith to Tal Farlow.
Actually, now that I've said that, Stern (and Farlow) kind of strike me as guitar versions of Bird, lol.
I guess, having grown up on big band jazz (and later going BACK in time to Louis Armstrong on my own), I just don't like the melody to be adulterated that much. (not a criticism; as I have already said- "you can't like everything")
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Originally Posted by ruger9
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But, and this is the important issue, does anyone do a better Miles impression than Mike Stern?
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Something I've always enjoyed about Stern is that he always appear to go for broke. You never get the sense that he's phoning it in regardless of context. That leads to an almost rock n roll kind of energy even when he's clearly playing anything but. Arent too many guitarists who can take the next solo after a Bob Berg or Michael Brecker and keep the intensity going.
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Originally Posted by christianm77
Not sure where we would draw the line with "modern".... Benson? Wes? We've already talked about the Frissel's and Campilongo's...
I do like Bickert. Who doesn't? But most of the modern guys I like (regarding jazz) are the ones who have some jazz sensibilities mixed into their gumbo. Guthrie Trapp is one. Andy Timmons actually did a bossa nova album recently. Setzer has a ton of jazz chops in his playing. Of course there's Campilongo who I LOVE. And now one of his protoge's, Luca Benedetti. There's a guy that calls himself El Twanguero (Diego Garcia) out of spanich market- love that guy. Paul Pigat can jazz his ass off, despite being known primarily as a rockabilly guy...like Setzer there's alot of jazz in WHAT he does.
As I'm typing this, I'm realizing that what I think I like is the jazz sensibility- to take something and make it your own. As they say in the Tour de France, Hors Categorie, beyond category. I've read some books on jazz (the concept, mindset, if you will), and as a musical art form, especially when played with others, it's pretty tough to beat... the creativity, spontaneity, the playing what you fell at that moment, the interaction with others affecting what you play... and I know I'll get lampooned for this, but I think Steve Vai- no jazz player AT ALL (self-admitted), plays music with that mindset, at least when he's creating it. The live shows probably aren't very spontaneous because it's more of a rock show, but on his creativity side, the taking music where is hasn't gone rating is pretty high.
As for non-guitar jazz, I'd have to say much the same. I really dig Harry Connick (the piano player, not the singer)- he can play his ass off, it's just not what people will buy from him, unfortunately. But when I'm pulling out some jazz, it's usually Ben Webster, Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins, Nat Cole Trio (instrumentals, altho love his vocal stuff too). Or if I want to get happy it'll be Goodman or Miller, Louis Jordan, LOUIS ARMSTRONG.
A few for your listening pleasure:
...and Timmons, ripping with Mimi Fox
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Originally Posted by omphalopsychos
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Originally Posted by christianm77
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Originally Posted by lawson-stone
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Just an update to my last post:
I JUST discovered Mimi Fox... REALLY digging her. I've seen her picture in the back of one of the Guitar magazines for years (probably in an ad for a guitar builder or something), but never really noticed. Everything I've seen so far, I love her and will be buying some of her stuff today!
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You should also check out Sheryl Bailey, another great player.
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Originally Posted by ruger9
And now one of his protoge's, Luca Benedetti. There's a guy that calls himself El Twanguero (Diego Garcia) out of spanich market- love that guy. Paul Pigat can jazz his ass off, despite being known primarily as a rockabilly guy...like Setzer there's alot of jazz in WHAT he does.
As I'm typing this, I'm realizing that what I think I like is the jazz sensibility- to take something and make it your own. As they say in the Tour de France, Hors Categorie, beyond category. I've read some books on jazz (the concept, mindset, if you will), and as a musical art form, especially when played with others, it's pretty tough to beat... the creativity, spontaneity, the playing what you fell at that moment, the interaction with others affecting what you play... and I know I'll get lampooned for this, but I think Steve Vai- no jazz player AT ALL (self-admitted), plays music with that mindset, at least when he's creating it. The live shows probably aren't very spontaneous because it's more of a rock show, but on his creativity side, the taking music where is hasn't gone rating is pretty high.
But any love for Scott Henderson? Surely it's not a huge step over into the shark infested waters of fusion for a bit of Vibe Station, say?
As for non-guitar jazz, I'd have to say much the same. I really dig Harry Connick (the piano player, not the singer)- he can play his ass off, it's just not what people will buy from him, unfortunately. But when I'm pulling out some jazz, it's usually Ben Webster, Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins, Nat Cole Trio (instrumentals, altho love his vocal stuff too). Or if I want to get happy it'll be Goodman or Miller, Louis Jordan, LOUIS ARMSTRONG.
A few for your listening pleasure:
...and Timmons, ripping with Mimi Fox
I'm thinking of what might float your boat that you haven't mentioned. I suppose by modern I mean contemporary players working in the jazz sphere, but of course that's a very loose and open field now. Obviously there's Peter Bernstein, featured in the video above.
Of course for mainstream vibes, there's Scott Hamilton and Harry Allen in the world of sax playing, and players who have a similar old school sensibility, on guitar Matt Munisteri, Chris Flory, James Chirillo, Gray Sargent and so on. If you want to hear someone nailing the 30s Django thing COLD, check out Duved Dunayevsky.
But what I think is more interesting is where the thing that attracts you to maybe pre-war jazz but in contemporary music. TBH most players now play A LOT OF NOTES. I remember hanging out with a friend, a very strict 1920's style clarinettist who basically only likes Alfonse Picout, Barney Bigard and, for some reason, 1980s John Scofield. We were listening to some virtuoso modern jazz and he turns to me and says 'why so many notes??? It's inane.'
Which is what Miles said to Stern, of course. I like Wayne Krantz, and he most goes SKRONK these days, although he is certainly a virtuoso player of lots of notes. But I also like people who play a lot of notes. Although it can get a bit much...
Also I was sad not to see Johnny Hodges in there ;-)Last edited by christianm77; 10-25-2019 at 03:11 PM.
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Originally Posted by christianm77
I listen to and can enjoy most types of music... it's easier to list what I DON'T like (rap, hip hop, "urban", I haven't gotten into "world" much yet). But rock, blues, jazz, early jazz, swing, jump blues, big band, classic rock, hard rock, pop, bluegrass, country, rockabilly, classical....
I did just, today, discover Mimi Fox. Loving her. But she is more of a traditionalist.
Originally Posted by christianm77
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Originally Posted by ruger9
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Originally Posted by ruger9
Doug
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Apologies... this thread kind of went from a GEAR thread to a PLAYER thread....
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Originally Posted by ruger9
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Originally Posted by ruger9
cheers
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Originally Posted by ruger9
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Originally Posted by christianm77
But it's hard, living in a golden age of gear... so much great stuff out there...
Julian Lage Trio, Amsterdam, April 17 2024
Today, 02:19 AM in The Players