Ben Monder is like the David Gilmour of jazz

**patshep** · 04-21-2019, 09:18 PM

He creates minimalist spaces with strong tone and amazing feel

TH · 04-22-2019, 03:52 AM

I'm thinking of him more as the contemporary Joe Pass of the guitar. He sees the potential of the instrument as a complete instrument. His solo work is unrivaled in any genre. And he plays with an uncompromising sense of beauty and expression.
If you haven't yet, you've got to get his new CD Day After Day. 2 CD set, one of them unaccompanied solo guitar, the other trio, covering standards and new standards of show, pop and movie themes.

David

**DRS** · 04-22-2019, 10:02 AM

Will have to check Ben out.

**jorgemg1984** · 04-22-2019, 05:32 PM

I'm especially fond of his sideman work, like in Reid Anderson's "The Vastness Of Space" or Bill Mc Henry's "Rest Stop"

**cosmic gumbo** · 04-23-2019, 04:28 AM

Jiff is like the Elvis of peanut butter.

TH · 04-23-2019, 06:50 AM

Originally Posted by cosmic gumbo

Jiff is like the Elvis of peanut butter.

Just cuz you read that on the "Jiff is like the Elvis of peanut butter" website doesn't make it true. I read the same thing and after reading the "Skippy is the best despite making bad peanut butter" website, Skippy has to be Elvis too. Thank you. Thank you very much.
David

**christianm77** · 04-23-2019, 07:43 AM

Originally Posted by patshep

He creates minimalist spaces with strong tone and amazing feel

Poppycock.

It’s clearly Mike Moreno

Seriously I think most of the modern jazz players who use lots of ambience are influenced somewhat by Gilmour.

I know I am (and also his friend who turned him onto delay, John Martyn. Also Johnny greenwood.)

Ben is a rock fan (including lots of extreme metal) so a direct influence would not surprise me. Think Kurt is more of a Rush and Zeppelin guy?

**christianm77** · 04-23-2019, 07:50 AM

Originally Posted by TruthHertz

I'm thinking of him more as the contemporary Joe Pass of the guitar. He sees the potential of the instrument as a complete instrument. His solo work is unrivaled in any genre. And he plays with an uncompromising sense of beauty and expression.
If you haven't yet, you've got to get his new CD Day After Day. 2 CD set, one of them unaccompanied solo guitar, the other trio, covering standards and new standards of show, pop and movie themes.

David

He’s an amazing diverse multitalented musician and I suspect thinks of himself as much as a composer as an improviser, if not more so.

I find a lot of his compositions that I’ve heard are a bit too prog rock for me (it didn’t surprise me when Bowie used him, because he’s basically the heir to Robert Fripp if you ask me) but I really like that spooky American Art Song thing he does like Charlotte’s Song.... shades of the Samuel Barber songs....

And I have to listen to his new CD cos I like it when he plays songs.

Guy is influenced as much by modern classical as jazz and seems to check out much else beside. To call him a jazz player seems a bit limiting. It was interesting to me when he said he recorded that double CD cos he was fed up of touring his very difficult written music (he said he was never able to play right although I doubt any of us would notice, humble guy) and not doing any improv. I like to hear the improv.

**christianm77** · 04-23-2019, 08:03 AM

I got it - the modern Johnny Smith :-) those chords! Those chops!

**jorgemg1984** · 04-23-2019, 08:45 AM

I don't think Bowie chose him, he chose Donny McCaslin (trough Maria Schneider), who then picked the rest of the band. But I might be wrong.

**John A.** · 04-23-2019, 10:26 AM

Originally Posted by christianm77

Poppycock.

It’s clearly Mike Moreno

Seriously I think most of the modern jazz players who use lots of ambience are influenced somewhat by Gilmour.

I know I am (and also his friend who turned him onto delay, John Martyn. Also Johnny greenwood.)

Ben is a rock fan (including lots of extreme metal) so a direct influence would not surprise me. Think Kurt is more of a Rush and Zeppelin guy?

Very cool interpretation of "Breathe". It prompted me to listen to the whole album, which is great. Thanks.

Regarding the original topic, I say Oldsmobile is the Cadillac of minivans.

John

**christianm77** · 04-23-2019, 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by John A.

Very cool interpretation of "Breathe". I prompted me to listen to the whole album, which is great. Thanks.

Regarding the original topic, I say Oldsmobile is the Cadillac of minivans.

John

I like that album a lot

**David B** · 04-23-2019, 11:02 AM

Don't forget that jazz already has David Gilmore.

**christianm77** · 04-23-2019, 12:02 PM

So, Dave Gilmore is the Dave Gilmour of jazz?

**joe2758** · 04-23-2019, 12:06 PM

Dave Gilmore is the Ben Monder of Ben Monder being the David Gilmore of jazz I think

**Doctor Jeff** · 04-23-2019, 02:07 PM

This should be in the Player section I think?

In any event, he is one of the best technical guitarists around these days. I find his more complex compositions very fascinating, though I wouldn't want to listen to such exclusively. It's just too dense.

Looking forward to exploring his new album--the few cuts I've heard are excellent.

On a side note, Bowie's songs are only as good as the riffs of his guitarist (sometimes Bowie himself--Rebel Rebel). If you can't make out the riff, the song ain't that great. (Though his last album is a freaking masterpiece--the summit of his entire career.)

TH · 04-23-2019, 04:06 PM

Here's a two degrees of separation gem for you.
Lou Reed recorded his landmark song Walk On The Wild Side and Bowie was his sideman. Two decades ago Ben covered that song with a band in NY. He and Bowie got to record together just before he died. It's nice to hear Ben as the chameleon sideman, just adding the perfect touch and not getting in the way. He'd a bit like Bill Frisell that way.
David

**cosmic gumbo** · 04-24-2019, 02:38 AM

Dave Gilmour's favorite band.

**P.J.** · 04-26-2019, 05:30 AM

Originally Posted by patshep

He creates minimalist spaces with strong tone and amazing feel

I find some of his music to be the opposite of minimal. He can sometimes overwhelm with his chops, both finger style and single note. Not things I associate with Gilmour. Hatchet Face is not exactly Comfortably Numb.

**christianm77** · 04-26-2019, 06:44 AM

Originally Posted by djg

well, the keith richards of jazz he aint

Oh dear.

Respect to all involved as better musicians than I can ever hope to be, but no.

**patshep** · 05-04-2019, 11:47 AM

I just can't get into Mike Moreno
I listen and just don't feel it that much, he's a great player, but doesn't touch me really

**mr. beaumont** · 05-04-2019, 11:58 AM

I think this has fantastic mood and space...

**Robertkoa** · 05-10-2019, 08:58 PM

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

I'm especially fond of his sideman work, like in Reid Anderson's "The Vastness Of Space" or Bill Mc Henry's "Rest Stop"

Lol.

I was just thinking : ( not familiar with Monder's work - heard a Video or two possibly an Ibanez Semi) (?)...

But HOW could he be the David Gilmour of Jazz Guitar and also be the contemporary Joe Pass of Jazz Guitar ?

'Well Robert , he has a straight ahead no FX straight into Amp mode and another mode where he explores all kinds of EFX ."

That makes sense - is that it ?

Guess I should just listen but the funny post maybe says it best...

**jorgemg1984** · 05-11-2019, 04:50 PM

Originally Posted by Robertkoa

Lol.

I was just thinking : ( not familiar with Monder's work - heard a Video or two possibly an Ibanez Semi) (?)...

But HOW could he be the David Gilmour of Jazz Guitar and also be the contemporary Joe Pass of Jazz Guitar ?

'Well Robert , he has a straight ahead no FX straight into Amp mode and another mode where he explores all kinds of EFX ."

That makes sense - is that it ?

Guess I should just listen but the funny post maybe says it best...

No idea what to say, since I never made the Gilmour or the Pass argument, I don't agree with neither of them. I just pointed out the records.