"Everything Is Hard On Guitar"--Matteo Mancuso

[Jazzjourney4Eva]

Any of what? (I like this BTW)

Circular breathing.

[Jazzjourney4Eva]

Well guys, given the age of the remaining jazz guitar giants (McLaughlin, Benson, Metheny) and the loss of their peers (Coryell, Martino, Holdsworth), I wish you the optimistic best, despite your pessimistic outlook.

Cheers.

[kris]

I'm not sure you understand what I'm saying. It's all very nice to say 'I like Wes Montgomery', for example, but it does imply that one likes everything he ever did, right? I doubt if that's true of any artist. I like a lot of Picasso's stuff but it's not true I like everything he ever did. That would be absurd, like fanatical hero worship. It shows no discernment.

You like Scofield and Martino, at least that's what you've said, I believe. Do you like absolutely everything they ever did without question just because it's them who's playing it?

I'm curious what a young talented guitarist would say about your playing....?
It would be very interesting.
I mean humility and not writing pointless criticism.
I like everything of Scof's and Martino's work.

[ragman1]

haha....
do not embarrass this forum ... I think I will stop writing here ....

I'm not sure you understand what I'm saying. It's all very nice to say 'I like Wes Montgomery', for example, but does that imply one likes everything he ever did? I doubt if that's true of any artist. I like a lot of Picasso's stuff but it's not true I like everything he ever did. That would be absurd, like fanatical hero worship. It shows no discernment.

You like Scofield and Martino, at least that's what you've said, I believe. Do you like absolutely everything they ever did without question just because it's them who's playing it?

[ragman1]

I'm curious what a young talented guitarist would say about your playing....?
It would be very interesting.
I mean humility and not writing pointless criticism.

You're missing the point. They don't have to like it. No one has to like it. I don't actually care whether they like it or not, it's up to them. I know some people like what I do anyway (and so they should) so it doesn't matter.

And if a young talented guitarist didn't like it that might be because they're young and I'm not. It's all subjective and a matter of personal taste. So it doesn't matter if some people like it and others don't. It's what one would expect.

Would you get a big surprise if a young talented guitarist said they did like something I did? That would be fun!

[kris]

The musicianship and technique of the young guitarist is obvious.

[ragman1]

I like everything of Scof's and Martino's work.

Ah, you edited.

Everything? Why? Are they infallible?

The interesting thing is that if you asked Sco or Martino whether they liked everything they did I guarantee they would not. No good artist likes everything they do. It's only the fans who are blind, which is hysteria.

[ragman1]

The musicianship and technique of the young guitarist is obvious.

Of course, no one is disputing it. But it wasn't what I was talking about.

[kris]

Ah, you edited.

Everything? Why? Are they infallible?

The interesting thing is that if you asked Sco or Martino whether they liked everything they did I guarantee they would not. No good artist likes everything they do. It's only the fans who are blind, which is hysteria.

I have all the albums made by these artists.
Jazz giants.
Yes, I'm a blind fan of their brilliant guitar playing.

[kris]

Of course, no one is disputing it. But it wasn't what I was talking about.

I got the impression that you are trying to form opinions about a musician who is a young and talented guitarist.
If I misunderstood, sorry.

[Christian Miller]

Criticism is a funny thing isn’t it? I mean maybe there’s no reason to go beyond ‘they’re amazing but it’s not really my thing’ which is generally hard to object to.

Players are quite loathe to criticise publicly but often absolute b*tch*s in private. Tbh I find it all a bit negative but it’s easily done.

Otoh the older generation loved to criticise each other brutally on public haha. Is there a point where you get sufficiently good at music that you get a license or something?

[Christian Miller]

I don’t know. Lots of interesting vocab and stuff in there. It’s not really my bag of chips, but it would be understandable if he was a killer young player who’s still kind of in the “chameleon” phase.

I kind of feel like he needs to play sideman gigs and be shouted at by cantankerous old people for a bit. Maybe it’s gonna happen!

tbh there’s a lot of impressive young and youngish players I feel this about, in all styles

[Christian Miller]

Well guys, given the age of the remaining jazz guitar giants (McLaughlin, Benson, Metheny) and the loss of their peers (Coryell, Martino, Holdsworth), I wish you the optimistic best, despite your pessimistic outlook.

Cheers.

there are tbf are large number of very talented young players who are not Matteo Mancuso, and who may not be internet famous. We aren’t just relying on one dude.

[ragman1]

I got the impression that you are trying to form opinions about a musician who is a young and talented guitarist.
If I misunderstood, sorry.

Okay, but so what if I was? Are we not allowed an opinion? It's not a stupid opinion, I've been around music a long time. If you say we can't have opinions that is also an opinion - but it is an opinion stated as a law, a dictat, an order, and that's no good.

Mancuso's technique is obviously very good. He can play fast stuff with his fingers like a classical, flamenco or bass player. It sounds pretty impressive. Obviously he's got a lot of musical talent.

But don't you think it all has the same effect after a while? It certainly won't attract everybody, especially people who don't like loud rock stuff. One could also say it lacks maturity because he's young but that may improve as he gets older.

Actually, these are observations more than mere opinions, but that's another matter.

[ragman1]

there are tbf are large number of very talented young players who are not Matteo Mancuso, and who may not be internet famous. We aren’t just relying on one dude.

Exactly. Prodigies come and go. Some last, some don't. Julian Lage was considered a prodigy, I believe, but I'm not sure how many of the other people we listen to were. I suspect not many.

[kris]

Okay, but so what if I was? Are we not allowed an opinion? It's not a stupid opinion, I've been around music a long time. If you say we can't have opinions that is also an opinion - but it is an opinion stated as a law, a dictat, an order, and that's no good.

Mancuso's technique is obviously very good. He can play fast stuff with his fingers like a classical, flamenco or bass player. It sounds pretty impressive. Obviously he's got a lot of musical talent.

But don't you think it all has the same effect after a while? It certainly won't attract everybody, especially people who don't like loud rock stuff. One could also say it lacks maturity because he's young but that may improve as he gets older.

Actually, these are observations more than mere opinions, but that's another matter.

it's easy to write reviews sitting at home in front of a computer...
Who cares about your observations here and what purpose do they serve?
If you don't like what a young artist is playing, don't listen to him.
It was also easy to write nonsense about the musician from the band Miles.
What for?

[GuyBoden]

it's easy to write reviews sitting at home in front of a computer...
Who cares about your observations here and what purpose do they serve?
If you don't like what a young artist is playing, don't listen to him.
It was also easy to write nonsense about the musician from the band Miles.
What for?

Yes, I too don't understand this negativity about our fellow musicians.

[DawgBone]

Yes, I too don't understand this negativity about our fellow musicians.

You've never met a farrier I guess. Meet one and ask about the other farriers in your area. You will be told they are doing it wrong, that their technique is bad, that they've seen the results of their poor work. Talk to the accused farrier he will tell you the guy who said he was doing it wrong is actually the one doing it wrong. He will go into great detail about why they do it wrong. Welcome to the working world where only the person being asked is the one doing it the right way.

Also, men don't really respect anyone in their 20's because most people in their 20's haven't really earned any respect. It takes time. So criticism should be expected. Too bad. It's part of everyone's comeuppance in the musical realm. if you haven't experienced it it's probably because you aren't putting anything out there.

Most people aren't impressed with technical displays of guitar prowess. When does the singing start and when are you going to play something my girl can dance to are more important than you blowing notes for however many minutes over a done to death jazz standard. Jazz has mostly discarded the listener in favor of instrumental self indulgence. No dancing. No vocals. Just "look at me" guitar or other instrument olympics.

[ragman1]

it's easy to write reviews sitting at home in front of a computer...
Who cares about your observations here and what purpose do they serve?
If you don't like what a young artist is playing, don't listen to him.
It was also easy to write nonsense about the musician from the band Miles.
What for?

You haven't read this thread properly, have you? When I replied to you I hadn't either but I just did.

Reaction was basically … “I mean he seems cool … not sure what the big deal is tho

Not my cup ot tea at this point

His technique is, no doubt, jaw dropping (especially his right hand finger style)... not that I know, or have followed him that much, but I hear some affinity with Gambale, in at least some of his (electric) playing. Other than that I think we'll have to wait and see (he's very young)...

no one is, even vaguely, comparable to Allan (Holdsworth)

The OP video sounded less like fusion and more like the extreme end of the blues-rock genre except with no vocals. It was accessible and the playing was great but I wasn't mind blown.

The first 30 seconds of OP video sounded like a modern country anthem intro so I turned it off.

His playing in the vid is heavily pentatonic driven. I don't see what's remarkable about it besides him being a guitar technician.

What’s refreshing here? The clip sounds like hold music, or the jazz that used to play on The Weather Channel.

I wish he used more chords and varied the tempo of the stream-of-notes

This really helped me to express my feelings about Matteo's music: It does not speak to me. And there are reasons for it which I tried to explain

Every post is an opinion, much more than mine. After a couple posts they all talk about Allan Holdsworth!

So you must give everybody here a lecture and a big red face!

TO ALL CRITICAL POSTERS: DO NOT EMBARRASS THE FORUM. IT'S EASY TO WRITE REVIEWS SITTING AT HOME IN FRONT OF A COMPUTER. WHO CARES ABOUT YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND WHAT PURPOSE DO THEY SERVE?

[ragman1]

I'm enjoying this :-)

[ragman1]

Most people aren't impressed with technical displays of guitar prowess.

I'll tell you one thing. If your forte is lightning finger-picking there's not much point in not using it. Except that every song is going to sound very similar.

But he's young, you know...

[frabarmus]

Of all the videos featuring Matteo playing, in this thread, my personal favourite is his solo on Donna Lee. I was blown away, to be honest (wish I could improvise like that on Donna Lee, and I'm 63!). He's undoubtedly talented and has got all the tools he needs to fully express himself, IMO. I'm counting on him, great potential there... and I'm waiting to see (in a benevolent way, not as if to catch him out !!) what interesting things might come from him, both musically and guitar-wise, in the future.

When judging people who judge, one must also consider personal tastes. For example, I'm not that much into John McLauchlin/guitar player... does that mean I think he's not a good player? Not at all. He's one of the best ,undoubtedly, just not my cup of tea.
ON THE OTHER HAND, he's one of my favourite composers (and human beings!), and I love his Indian stuff, too... ...composition wise, I like John McLaughlin better than, say, Pat Metheny... have I said that Pat Metheny is not a good composer? No way. I like a lot of his music and like his playing better than John McLaughlin's. Just personal tastes and opinions.

[pamosmusic]

I'm enjoying this :-)

Me too.

Maybe not for the same reason.

[DawgBone]

I'll tell you one thing. If your forte is lightning finger-picking there's not much point in not using it. Except that every song is going to sound very similar.

But he's young, you know...

Every player sounds similar in every song they do IMO. Everyone has a musical fingerprint except for the chameleons who sound like nobody in particular which is worse IMO. The lack of a signature style is much more common in the modern era where guitarists especially are encouraged to be musically diverse in their approach. They grow up on alt rock then want to play jazz too as they develop and enter university. My own instructor was like that. Sorry, I didn't want to play jazz, rock, or country so quit wasting my time with modes that sound like I'm trying to be clever in a blues setting. The blues was below him. "You just want to learn licks". Shit yeah I do, I'm paying you. I'm wondering if he ever came full circle and went back to it? He teaches at University now, so probably not. Another chameleon. Gigs rock, country, and solo jazz stuff. Whatever pays. Signature styles have a potential for higher net income in the long haul (maybe) but at the expense of short term gains of chameleon playing where you can get all kinds of gigs quickly and make money. I'd rather work a shit job than play something I don't want to. Catch you after work....LOL

[Jazzjourney4Eva]

there are tbf are large number of very talented young players who are not Matteo Mancuso, and who may not be internet famous. We aren’t just relying on one dude.

He's got talent alright, but he also has massive skill. Massive.

If you are aware of some others like that, puhlease share!