Metheny/Bona - Bright size life

Norwegianwood · #1 05-23-2006, 04:28 AM

I dunno if this is old news for you, but I hope not:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdUfz...co%20pastorius

Worth checking out!

RHFusillo · #2 05-23-2006, 09:41 PM

I saw them play that in concert -- Bona nailed the Jaco parts.

emjazz · #3 05-23-2006, 09:51 PM

Hmmmm.....I love Bona but there certainly was a lot of bull in that solo that he could've done without.

Matt Till · #4 05-23-2006, 09:56 PM

I like this guy's tone better than Jaco's.

emjazz · #5 05-23-2006, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Till

I like this guy's tone better than Jaco's.

....go back and listen to Jaco's solo.....

Also, there'd be no Bona without Jaco.

Matt Till · #6 05-23-2006, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Till

I like this guy's tone better than Jaco's.

I said nothing about a solo. I have the original record.

emjazz · #7 05-23-2006, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Till

I said nothing about a solo. I have the original record.

Oops, sorry Matt. Getting tired over here.

Matt Till · #8 05-23-2006, 10:18 PM

No prob

Fretless5verfan · #9 05-23-2006, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Till

I like this guy's tone better than Jaco's.

I totally agree.

Quote:

Originally Posted by emjazz

Also, there'd be no Bona without Jaco.

I totally disagree.

**Marcus Willett** · #10 05-23-2006, 11:52 PM

THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ARE MY OPINION.

Quote:

Originally Posted by emjazz

Hmmmm.....I love Bona but there certainly was a lot of bull in that solo that he could've done without.

I'm with you on this one. Bona is a great player; no doubt. But this solo has a lot of superfluous chops for the sake of chops and too much flash for the sake of flash. Sure, Jaco was guilty of that later in his career as well, but not at the point in his career when he did "Bright size life". Jaco's solo on the original is much more melodic and musical, IMO.

Again, not dissin' Bona at all; he's a phenomenal player, but he didn't even nail this tune the way Jaco did. No way.

musicman5string · #11 05-24-2006, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcus Willett

Again, not dissin' Bona at all; he's a phenomenal player, but he didn't even nail this tune the way Jaco did. No way.

Well, who has?
Certainly Larry Grenadier didn't on Metheny's live CD a few years back. I know I don't when I play this tune. But I like the interpretation with Bona; I like the faster more chops oriented take on it.....there's no way you can just play the tune the same way Jaco did.

**Marcus Willett** · #12 05-24-2006, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by musicman5string

there's no way you can just play the tune the same way Jaco did.

Of course not, and I wouldn't want anyone too. I mean, why? But what I would like is the same degree of musicality, melodic sense and lyricism. Fast playing is impressive (to me anyway) for about 5 seconds. Then my reaction is "OK, you can obviously move your fingers fast. That's the easy part, if you really think about it. Can I remember a single line you played after I hear your solo?"

Come up with an original, memorable melody right on the spot. That is so much harder than developing chops, and sadly most players don't even realize it. Anyone can develop chops if you simply practice and put in the time.

musicman5string · #13 05-24-2006, 10:25 AM

I think you're being a little too harsh; Bona plays some great melodies in that solo, even a few quotes; can you name them? Sure, there's some fast stuff, but listen to the solo Pat plays right before him: there's a ton of fast licks in there too.
Eh, to each his own.

**Marcus Willett** · #14 05-24-2006, 10:28 AM

Not at all. I think Bona played great. I think Jaco played better. A lot of my post was general and not aimed at Bona at all.

But you're absolutely right with:

Quote:

Originally Posted by musicman5string

Eh, to each his own.

stretchcat · #15 05-24-2006, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by musicman5string

I think you're being a little too harsh; Bona plays some great melodies in that solo, even a few quotes; can you name them? Sure, there's some fast stuff, but listen to the solo Pat plays right before him: there's a ton of fast licks in there too.
Eh, to each his own.

Oh Susannah?

jzucker · #16 05-24-2006, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emjazz

....go back and listen to Jaco's solo.....

Also, there'd be no Bona without Jaco.

What's that got to do with anything?!? There'd be no jaco without Mingus, Ray Brown, Charlie Parker, etc.

jzucker · #17 05-24-2006, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by musicman5string

Well, who has?
Certainly Larry Grenadier didn't on Metheny's live CD a few years back. I know I don't when I play this tune. But I like the interpretation with Bona; I like the faster more chops oriented take on it.....there's no way you can just play the tune the same way Jaco did.

Who would want to sound exactly like anyone?!? The whole point is using jaco as a reference. Bona certainly tips his hat to Jaco but takes the music in a different direction.

I remember when I first heard Gary Willis I made the mistake of thinking he was just a poor man's Jaco. Now when I listen to him, I hear all kinds of nuances I simply dismissed when I first heard him. He's never going to sound exactly like Jaco but that's the point, isn't it?

jzucker · #18 05-24-2006, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcus Willett

Not at all. I think Bona played great. I think Jaco played better.

So it's a sport's contest? Jaco played better but didn't have as many assists as Bona had though he was better at rebounding...

pnchad · #19 05-24-2006, 11:02 AM

I've been playing a long time and that's my theory on the demise of jazz in general. Somehow it became a competitive sport and lost touch with listeners (other than musicians).

Recently been listening to singers and horn players who simply interpret tunes. i.e. Pres, Chet Baker, etc.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jzucker

So it's a sport's contest? Jaco played better but didn't have as many assists as Bona had though he was better at rebounding...

jzucker · #20 05-24-2006, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pnchad

I've been playing a long time and that's my theory on the demise of jazz in general. Somehow it became a competitive sport and lost touch with listeners (other than musicians).

Recently been listening to singers and horn players who simply interpret tunes. i.e. Pres, Chet Baker, etc.

I don't agree though. It's always been a competitive thing. Bebop was created in a competitive spirit to discourage lame players from sitting in and meandering their way through tunes.

IMO, what's killing jazz (aside from lack of exposure) is it being turned into an academic pursuit. Many universities hire jazz "professors" on the basis of their paper credentials.

I was looking into a jazz teaching position recently and was told that unless you have a doctorate or have played with Wynton or Miles, they wouldn't even look at your resume!

That sums it up about jazz, I think!