Marty Grosz

[richpiv]

That is really, really lovely playing. Me, I'm lucky because Marty lives in Philadelphia so I get to see him play whenever I can. You might enjoy this one from May, 2013. (Hoping it posts correctly) -

[destinytot]

Yes, this is truly wonderful. And the video is courtesy of Michael Steinman, of the Jazz Lives blog, from whose noble work I've learned more about life, love and beauty to inspire more than one lifetime of playing this music.

I started by imitating recordings of Marty singing and playing, then I changed the keys to suit my voice, and now I imagine how Marty would approach songs I haven't heard him sing and play.

In fact, I've written, recorded and released a story and some songs in Marty's rhythm style. In our conformist age, where style is elevated over content and counter-culture soon becomes commodified, I see it as both Underground and rooted deeply in a tradition of Spoken Word & Jazz. So far, it's on CD with a dual-language book (I live in Spain), but a digital release in in the works. You can check it out here: Ludwig Manhattan - Home It's a metaphoric exploration of the condition of being able to blend in and adapt - usually seen as a positive trait, but a situation which can conceal the fact of not otherwise having the freedom to even exist.

What inspires me about the way Marty Grosz - and a few choice others - play(s) is the idea of Beauty wrought from suffering. To call them 'genius' is probably a disservice. For me, while they're certainly 'great', they're also 'good' - because they are courageous. (Not to mention kind, witty, charming - and usually modest, too.)

That's my True North... that's freedom... to be able to think, for example, "Marvin Gaye singing 'Fats' Waller" - and run with the idea... regardless of style.

I have some free time over the summer, so I'm doing some arranging. Things work slowly over here, but I'll post the outcome.

And if anyone wants tips on learn this style, PM me with a question and I'll share what I know (which may not be a lot, but is enough to hold and carry a tune in fast company).

[destinytot]

Some chord shapes for getting started. The tuning - low to high - is Bb F C G B D.

When I asked a fellow strummer - whom I knew to have spent time jamming with Marty Grosz himself - about Marty's tuning and technique, I was told, "You and I have been playing for too long to learn to play that way now."

A decade later, I set out to learn to play that way - partly out of defiance of having been told what is (or isn't) within my capabilities. This was how I began:

[daverepair]

Hi: reviving an old thread here(being a big fan of MG's playing), with a couple of questions. One, the above discussion refers, I think, to an alternate tuning, used by MG: am I reading that right and if so, what is the tuning he uses? Also, which of Marty's many albums are solo or duets, where his guitar is prominent?

[pcjazz]

Turned 90 on Feb 28. His autobiography, It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie, will be published this week.

[richpiv]

There is a 90th birthday bash for Marty this Wednesday at World Cafe Live in Philly. Afterwards I may try to make to Abington to see Jimmy Bruno at Vintage. Sometimes stuff aligns.

[joelf]

Yeah!

[richpiv]

I’d say probably “Thanks” has a few that feature his playing, but I just absolutely love “Chasing the Spots” and “The Classic Sessions”.

[wintermoon]

he's a treasure, caught him several times over the years, really the greatest living exponent of the Carl Kress/Dick McDonough/Van Eps school, and probably the greatest since those cats as well...
I saw him @ a guitar show once walking around w/an old guitar case.
I asked him what was in it and he said "air'' [it was empty!]

[jameslovestal]

Hi: reviving an old thread here(being a big fan of MG's playing), with a couple of questions. One, the above discussion refers, I think, to an alternate tuning, used by MG: am I reading that right and if so, what is the tuning he uses? Also, which of Marty's many albums are solo or duets, where his guitar is prominent?

The tuning - low to high - is Bb F C G B D.

[DestinyT]

Hi everyone,

I wanted to share the first entry in my video study diary for the Marty Grosz repertoire.

This is a real-time snapshot of my learning process, showing voicings, phrasing and tone, and it also shows wrestling with the difficulties in real time, including a particularly uncomfortable section, a walk-up to a key change around halfway through that will take some practice to execute properly. I’ve deliberately left this unpolished so that the learning process can be seen as it actually happens.

I hope it demonstrates that it’s possible to achieve the Marty Grosz style without a vintage archtop. Laminate instruments have their own advantages in controlling feedback.

I’m now using lower-tension strings, which are easier on the fingers and allow for greater comfort while playing. I hope this might encourage anyone, like me, who’s been playing for many years, that it’s still possible to explore this style and enjoy it fully.

The recording focuses on the left hand and the fretboard, so you can study the voicings closely. The sound is captured through an AER amp and a condenser microphone, giving a natural and full tone.

I’ll continue adding more entries as I work through other tunes, and I hope this can serve as a helpful reference for anyone interested in studying this style.

Discussion welcome. Thanks for looking.

[DestinyT]

Hi everyone,

I wanted to share the first entry in my video study diary for the Marty Grosz repertoire.

This is a real-time snapshot of my learning process, showing voicings, phrasing and tone, and it also shows wrestling with the difficulties in real time, including a particularly uncomfortable section, a walk-up to a key change around halfway through that will take some practice to execute properly. I’ve deliberately left this unpolished so that the learning process can be seen as it actually happens.

I hope it demonstrates that it’s possible to achieve the Marty Grosz style without a vintage archtop. Laminate instruments have their own advantages in controlling feedback.

I’m now using lower-tension strings, which are easier on the fingers and allow for greater comfort while playing. I hope this might encourage anyone, like me, who’s been playing for many years, that it’s still possible to explore this style and enjoy it fully.

The recording focuses on the left hand and the fretboard, so you can study the voicings closely. The sound is captured through an AER amp and a condenser microphone, giving a natural and full tone.

I’ll continue adding more entries as I work through other tunes, and I hope this can serve as a helpful reference for anyone interested in studying this style.

Discussion welcome. Thanks for looking.

Here's a track recorded on a mobile phone at the band's first rehearsal: Just a moment...