The Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary
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  1. #1

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    Here is a really beautiful talk with Ben Monder - one of the best and probably most underrated guitarists in modern jazz:


    Any Monder fans out there?????

    Cheers
    Jules

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  3. #2

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    Huge fan. He's a singular figure for me, especially because he's got such an inclusive knowledge of jazz history-music history for that matter, such a deep respect for tradition- and has gone on to make his own mark on his own terms, terms that leave the most modern players in the dust (pun intended).
    Can't wait to hear what he'll share with us next!

  4. #3

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    Yeah he's a great player!

  5. #4
    Quote Originally Posted by Jimmy blue note
    Huge fan. He's a singular figure for me, especially because he's got such an inclusive knowledge of jazz history-music history for that matter, such a deep respect for tradition- and has gone on to make his own mark on his own terms, terms that leave the most modern players in the dust (pun intended).
    Can't wait to hear what he'll share with us next!
    love the pun
    yeah, ben rules!!!!!

  6. #5

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    Ben is the best. Thanks for sharing.

  7. #6

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    Interviewers like this drive me nuts.

    "He's a singular figure" sums it up well. Ben Monder has a unique approach to music and the guitar, a depth of understanding that few achieve. I don't always like the results, to be honest, and I find some of it breathtaking. He and Theo Bleckmann, holy smokes- unique and strangely beautiful.


  8. #7

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    Quote Originally Posted by Cunamara
    I don't always like the results, to be honest, and I find some of it breathtaking.
    Any player who can cover this spectrum so uniquely and masterfully, and have the depth to be a first choice pick for Paul Motian, Maria Schneider and David Bowie is not going to be pigeon holed into playing in one style that everyone will love. But to the people who hire him as a sideman, he's always got somewhere he can bring the music that was never imagined by anybody's stretch of the imagination. And that is not even mentioning his compositional abilities, which would hold the deepest scrutiny from any academic perspective. His output arc is merciless and always revolutionary.



  9. #8

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    I like his recordings (and vids) with Jerome Sabbagh:


  10. #9

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    I cant compare his overall playing/composing to any other that I know of..
    but on one take Keith Jarret comes to mind
    choosing the path less traveled and finding comfort there

  11. #10

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    Here is playing straight fours :-)


  12. #11

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    Quote Originally Posted by Jimmy blue note
    Any player who can cover this spectrum so uniquely and masterfully, and have the depth to be a first choice pick for Paul Motian, Maria Schneider and David Bowie is not going to be pigeon holed into playing in one style that everyone will love. But to the people who hire him as a sideman, he's always got somewhere he can bring the music that was never imagined by anybody's stretch of the imagination. And that is not even mentioning his compositional abilities, which would hold the deepest scrutiny from any academic perspective. His output arc is merciless and always revolutionary.


    i really like Charlottes song. It does the spooky American Art Song thing. Could have been written by Barber or Copeland.

    Not sure if I really quite get the rest of that record though, although you could say 12 tone metal meets atonal Beach Boys music, what’s to not to love? And I would respect that.

  13. #12

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    Quote Originally Posted by Jimmy blue note
    Any player who can cover this spectrum so uniquely and masterfully, and have the depth to be a first choice pick for Paul Motian, Maria Schneider and David Bowie is not going to be pigeon holed into playing in one style that everyone will love. But to the people who hire him as a sideman, he's always got somewhere he can bring the music that was never imagined by anybody's stretch of the imagination. And that is not even mentioning his compositional abilities, which would hold the deepest scrutiny from any academic perspective. His output arc is merciless and always revolutionary.
    He played on several songs on Blackstar and sends the final song literally and figuratively into the stratosphere. A fitting sendoff to a great artist.


  14. #13

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    And Hydra is just one of the most creative and devishly complicated guitar pieces of modern music. Very few musicians could attempt something like this.


  15. #14

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    Saw Ben with Starbaby - beautiful
    landscape .

  16. #15

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    I love Theo and Ben.

  17. #16

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    Ben fans: he's playing now (10 Mar) with Jerome Sabbagh on Small's Live! Great stuff!

  18. #17

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    And today he's playing in Mike Moreno's Sunday duo series -- amazing!! [Mike posts these just for a few days after, so make sure you catch it!]