Fareed Haque - Math Games

**mr. beaumont** · 02-18-2014, 02:08 PM

I kind of find the idea that anything Fareed does to have "little genuine creative energy" as strange...he's been consistently one of the most creative jazz guitar players of the last few decades...the guy's done everything from Indian/Pakistani fusion to jazz hip/hop melds to Crosby, Stills and Nash. Always trying new stuff, pushing boundaries, never conforming to a 70 year old idea of what jazz guitar playing is.

But I guess a lot of jazz guitar players out there just want another 10 choruses of "Have You Met Miss Jones?" I dunno.

I liked every minute of this. The "out of tune-ness" of his vocals didn't bother me, and the syllabic sparring with the drummer on "electro-tabla" was super cool.

**Rob MacKillop** · 02-18-2014, 02:32 PM

I may have been too critical, and apologise for that. He is clearly a great musician. I guess I was just not in the mood. I just keep thinking, "here's Martino, here's Mclaughlin, here's more of each" - and there is something in that. But the artists involved deserved better comments than I gave them, and apologise to them for that. Clearly they are all fantastic musicians.

**ecj** · 02-18-2014, 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by Rob MacKillop

I may have been too critical, and apologise for that. He is clearly a great musician. I guess I was just not in the mood. I just keep thinking, "here's Martino, here's Mclaughlin, here's more of each" - and there is something in that. But the artists involved deserved better comments than I gave them, and apologise to them for that. Clearly they are all fantastic musicians.

These guys are all definitely outstanding, Rob. Sometimes something doesn't hit you, personally, and that's okay. I have Metheny records that I can't stand to listen to anymore. Same with Di Meola, McLaughlin, and a lot of other greats.

**dingusmingus** · 02-18-2014, 03:28 PM

Wow, I really liked that! I thought there was enough variation in macro-structure (parts for the song) that I didn't get bothered by the repetitive aspects of the parts.

I loved the bass players tone--huge! I also liked the tabla sounds from mini drum triggers--sounded surprisingly cool.

**teok** · 02-18-2014, 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by edh

Pickguards? He's got duct tape on both sides of the tailpiece. Strange positions for makeshift pickguards.

Yes. Maybe. The long one extending upward from the strings on the upper bout looks right in line with his picking where exaggerated funk strumming could fall. The piece just below the volume pot could be there to protect the finish from fingernails? The rest look merely decorative. Didn't the guitarist in The Clash play a Les Paul with bits of duct tape all over it?

Full concert here

**AlsoRan** · 02-18-2014, 04:28 PM

Originally Posted by Rob MacKillop

I may have been too critical, and apologise for that. He is clearly a great musician. I guess I was just not in the mood. I just keep thinking, "here's Martino, here's Mclaughlin, here's more of each" - and there is something in that. But the artists involved deserved better comments than I gave them, and apologise to them for that. Clearly they are all fantastic musicians.

Being a friendly Jazz Forum member means never having to say you are sorry, or so the quote goes...

Anybody can be in the middle of a bad day and correspondingly react a little more harshly than they might intend so your apology was probably not needed - but simply reinforces your image as being a classy guy.

FWIW, I appreciate your clarifying your thoughts. I was beginning to doubt my own "powers of Jazz observation."

**AlsoRan** · 02-21-2014, 10:42 AM

Funny how one's ears can get opened.

After repeated listening, I now really like the entire song. The parts in which he sings seem to come from his soul and are sincere. While I was a bit taken aback at first by these portions, I now embrace them.

Nothing like seeing an artist's face when he or she is performing.

FYI, on this song I can see him putting in use the chord shapes and comping techniques from his course.

**jster** · 02-21-2014, 11:00 AM

So what is the verdict of the professionals? Is there any micro tonal stuff here or not?

**Vladan** · 02-21-2014, 11:08 AM

What difference does it make?

100 people can say it is microtonal and I still won't like it. I may like it on repeated listening, but ears can addapt to anything. Let the cat jump the piano keyboard, and soon enough you'll start hearing music in it.

**jster** · 02-21-2014, 11:11 AM

I never said knowing would make you or anybody else like it. I'm just curious whether he is trying to hit microtonal pitches.

**Vladan** · 02-21-2014, 11:43 AM

Wasn't my itention to come personal, sorry.

For the joke part, let's make sure curiosity did not kill the piano cat.

**jster** · 02-21-2014, 11:59 AM

Hehe. No worries V. But I am curious.

**Grendle** · 02-21-2014, 12:15 PM

Nice short riffs...could do without the singing though

**bbjonz** · 03-01-2014, 01:10 AM

Love Fareed but took the "Math Games" album out of my rotation. Just wasn't working for me. I really do like his ability to meld jazz with more "Eastern" sounding approaches--"Flat Earth" is a great album. He has a new trio album out called "Out of Nowhere" which is really nice. Also check out his take of "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" from the recent Blue Note holiday collection. Just a great, unique player. To this day, I love Garaj Mahal's version of "Material Girl"--great groove and soul, and his clean and distorted work just makes it for me.