Mark,
Elvis Costello is, quite frankly, unable to play a real guitar solo, even he
is able to warble a note or three. The guitar players I chose for that list
were the guitar monsters and listed them for that reason. Now, having said
that, were I to list all my fave gutiar players period, the list would look
quite different, then I would have to include Wes Montgomery, Sonny Sharrock
and a host of others. I was looking for waht people perceived as being rock.
The idea was not to insist that who I thought were best were just so, but
instead to try and elicit some opinions, remember this all started with
Corgie and his hiccupy Pumpkin friends. Now, having said that Mark, I would
hardly call Hendrix a guitar wanker, I think that it is not that much of a
stretch to call him one the most influential musicians of the era that began
with the Beatles and the Stones. Hendrix' use of electronics made him a
pioneer in many respects. Each person I listed was there because of the
influence they have had on popular music and Elvis Costello owes to some of
these folks. Well, Stevie Ray is a stretch I suppose, I just like his
bluesiness. Jeff Beck was arguably the first of the rockers to really bring
jazzy notions to the fore in his music. I could make cogent arguments for
all of these musicians, the beauty of lists however is to see the
differences in people's tastes. I play the guitar so I am inclined toward
guitar players. Still, Elvis Costello is an equally acquired taste and
personally, rather twee and faint for me. As I said I want to hear what
other people consider rock, to me Costello is a songwriter who uses some
rock elements but does he really rock? I am more inclined toward the
headbanging when I think of rock. The list you made included many people I
think are totally stellar, even if slightly inclined to the avant side of
rock. I would be very, very surprised if you had told me that you were a big
Zeppelin fan, but then at least you and i have met, even if it was only once
briefly, and I do see your playlists.
anyway, blah blah blah yap ayap yap ayap nuff sed
leslie
----- Original Message -----
From: Mark Turner <nugroove@pacbell.net>
To: <acid-jazz@ucsd.edu>
Sent: Thursday, May 25, 2000 9:43 PM
Subject: RE: rock 'n roll
> Leslie Shill said:
>
> >So, my list of guitar players, drawn mostly from the ranks of the
> >rockers but with some crossovers, but all of whom I consider germane to
> >most areas of modern music today are:
> >
> >1/. Jimi Hendrix
> >2/. Jimmy Page
> >3/. Pete Townshend
> >4/. Duane Allman
> >5/. Carlos Santana
> >6/. John McLaughlin
> >7/. Eric Clapton
> >8/. Jeff Beck
> >9/. Stevie Ray Vaughn
> >10/.Steve Howe
>
> Seeing your list, Leslie, I now realize how LITTLE I actually care for
rock
> guitar! Certainly these guys are all major players in the "Rock and Roll
> Hall of Fame." But to me, rock is at it's best when it's at its most
> basic, without all the guitar wankery. My all-time favorite rock "artist"
> for years has been Elvis Costello, who happens to play guitar but I don't
> think
> anyone would ever think of him as a "guitarist" because he never plays a
> solo!
> (Well, almost never.)
>
> But, if I had to list a few guitarists I find interesting and/or
> influential, it would be probably be something like:
>
> Marc Ribot
> Fred Frith
> Sonny Sharrock
> Baden Powell
> Robert Fripp
> Charlie Hunter
> Nile Rogers
> Wes Montgomery...
>
> That's about all I can think of, off the top of my head. Certainly
nobody's
> idea of a definitive list, but all players that you would easily recognize
> for their distinctive/individual styles.
>
> ______________________________________________
> Mark Turner nugroove@pacbell.net
>
> Hear "Jazzadelica" with Rocky Rococo on KFJC
> Sundays 10pm-2am, 89.7 FM, Los Altos Hills, CA
> Web: http://home.pacbell.net/nugroove/
> ______________________________________________
>
>
>
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