I respect Jauqo III-X completely but...

[EddieG]

Jauqo, I'm sure on meeting you face to face, that you're a stand up guy, nice fella and all that stuff. I don't doubt it, a lot of people on here say you are, and I've no reason to doubt them. Unfortunately, we live on opposite sides of the world so I don't think I'll get the chance to find out for myself any time soon. And so, what follows are merely my long-distance observations, based on what I've read, seen and heard. It's all just one man's opinion, and I hope you don't take it personally.

On these boards, Jauqo quite often comes over as a bit of a conceited know-it-all. Someone who, if you don't "get" what he's doing or saying, it must mean that he's evolved to a level above you, and creating brand new artforms that are way over your head. I'm one of the people who don't "get" Jauqo's music, and believe me I've tried, but that's purely because I'm more an out-and-out melodic guy, rather than someone who likes avant-garde, "atonal" (ie wildly out of tune!) music. I can absolutely appreciate and respect someone's right to want to make that kind of music, or any kind of music that gives them a sense of fulfillment but it doesn't blow my skirt up, I'm afraid. A bit too out there for me.

But I think that Jauqo is quite smart. I've watched some of his videos, listened to some of his stuff, and I think he's a bit of what the original Jaco would call a "finger-wiggler". By that, I mean that he knows just enough for people to be impressed, but put him in a riffing contest with guys who really can improvise on the spot, for example, put him and Wooten in a room together and tell them both to improvise a fast slapping and tapping piece in B flat, and he'd be well out of his depth. But the reason I think he's smart, is because he uses things like the Low C# bass, and the 15 string bass to divert attention away from that, and onto how clever and forward thinking he is for discovering those "innovations". If we're being completely honest, there's nothing innovative about tuning a bass downwards, is there? AJ had the idea to take it lower than a Fender, everyone else who followed was just jumping on board that initial innovation. If I go lower than C#, surely by Jauqo's logic that makes me more innovative than him and Anthony Jackson combined?

But the smartest thing I think he ever did, was call himself "Jauqo", because you can't honestly tell me that he wasn't expecting people to check him out purely on that name, eh?

[john turner]

Originally Posted by EddieG

Jauqo, I'm sure on meeting you face to face, that you're a stand up guy, nice fella and all that stuff. I don't doubt it, a lot of people on here say you are, and I've no reason to doubt them. Unfortunately, we live on opposite sides of the world so I don't think I'll get the chance to find out for myself any time soon. And so, what follows are merely my long-distance observations, based on what I've read, seen and heard. It's all just one man's opinion, and I hope you don't take it personally.

On these boards, Jauqo quite often comes over as a bit of a conceited know-it-all. Someone who, if you don't "get" what he's doing or saying, it must mean that he's evolved to a level above you, and creating brand new artforms that are way over your head. I'm one of the people who don't "get" Jauqo's music, and believe me I've tried, but that's purely because I'm more an out-and-out melodic guy, rather than someone who likes avant-garde, "atonal" (ie wildly out of tune!) music. I can absolutely appreciate and respect someone's right to want to make that kind of music, or any kind of music that gives them a sense of fulfillment but it doesn't blow my skirt up, I'm afraid. A bit too out there for me.

But I think that Jauqo is quite smart. I've watched some of his videos, listened to some of his stuff, and I think he's a bit of what the original Jaco would call a "finger-wiggler". By that, I mean that he knows just enough for people to be impressed, but put him in a riffing contest with guys who really can improvise on the spot, for example, put him and Wooten in a room together and tell them both to improvise a fast slapping and tapping piece in B flat, and he'd be well out of his depth. But the reason I think he's smart, is because he uses things like the Low C# bass, and the 15 string bass to divert attention away from that, and onto how clever and forward thinking he is for discovering those "innovations". If we're being completely honest, there's nothing innovative about tuning a bass downwards, is there? AJ had the idea to take it lower than a Fender, everyone else who followed was just jumping on board that initial innovation. If I go lower than C#, surely by Jauqo's logic that makes me more innovative than him and Anthony Jackson combined?

But the smartest thing I think he ever did, was call himself "Jauqo", because you can't honestly tell me that he wasn't expecting people to check him out purely on that name, eh?

i've seen jauqo play live with a lot of folks, and in pretty unforgiving environments too. he can more than hold his own. he's hardly a finger wiggler .

you apparently have it all figured out, and don't mind being insulting in the process. please remember that at talkbass, the number one rule is respect for all members. you may not agree with what they have to say, but you don't disrespect them for it.

something that might help "keep things real" : let's hear some of your work, to gauge where you're coming from, what forms these strongly held, borderline insulting, opinions that you feel compelled to share. of course, there's nothing that says that playing ability is required to have an opinion (in fact some of the most insulting "musicians" i've ever met were some of the crappiest players), but it helps if someone can actually play if they want to build up some credibility to back up that opinion. after all, words are the cheapest things there are. usually on the internet, words are all that's available, but here at talkbass, we can also use music to communicate with one another-communicate our experience, our abilities, our tastes and our musical knowledge. this kind of communication goes far in helping threads stay -discussions- and not just be -interweb pissing contests-.

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I absolutely love The Power Of. It's groovy, intricate, it flows and changes constantly.
I'm sure to discover new details every time I will listen to it. It fits my taste perfectly.

Now, I'm not a fan of the Low C# Theory. The whole thing sounds gimmicky to me, like these low frequencies were forced into the music.

To each his own I guess. There isn't a law saying we have to love everything Jauqo makes.

[EddieG]

Aww John, come on! I expected more from a moderator.

If you'll allow me to reply here without giving me a warning for "questioning a moderator", as dissenting voices seem to be treated to from time to time, I will. For starters, I stated quite clearly at the top that this was "one man's opinion". Are members only allowed to state their opinions if they conform, or do we welcome a free exchange of views here? I also stated I respected Jauqo's "right to want to make that kind of music", and I feel I phrased my post quite respectfully without being insulting except to someone with an exceedingly thin skin. I have no disrespect for Jauqo as a person at all. If you are going to put yourself and your work in the public eye and present it for criticism, you have to expect that some of it will not be good criticism, do you not agree?

Lastly, why do I need to be a great player in order to critique someone else? I'm not a joiner, but I know enough to know when a shelf is squint. But, if it validates my opinion any, you can listen to my playing here: http://www.myspace.com/kingsizebass. I'm afraid there's no slapping, tapping, 15 string basses or the like, because I'm a bassist who is comfortable playing bass. And even though the end product on some of the tracks on that page was beyond my control (since I was playing sessions and coming in cold), I feel quite confident I can groove as well as anybody on these boards.

And perhaps the lack of those skills above will negate everything I've said. Regardless, I'm done.

[john turner]

isn't it ironic that you took my simple suggestions to be attacks and became defensive, when your own postings were much more pointed? something to consider.

thank you for sharing your work, and it sounds fine to me, no caveats necessary. see, as you said, you come from a background of wanting to fill more of a "meat and tater's" bass approach, and so it is understandable that given that premise you are skeptical of those who try to do other things with their playing. there's nothing wrong with that.

[dunamis]

Originally Posted by john turner

isn't it ironic that you took my simple suggestions to be attacks and became defensive, when your own postings were much more pointed? something to consider.

thank you for sharing your work, and it sounds fine to me, no caveats necessary. see, as you said, you come from a background of wanting to fill more of a "meat and tater's" bass approach, and so it is understandable that given that premise you are skeptical of those who try to do other things with their playing. there's nothing wrong with that.

Hey, for a mod, you're a real sensitive guy!

[Ívar Þórólfsson]

I'm going to close this one for now pending further review.