Plays like Edgar...

Jason Sypher · #1 08-22-2008, 04:18 AM

Anyone know this kid? Great playing. Hachez bass...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4mdeO8rjJg

txstatebass · #2 08-22-2008, 07:31 AM

I give up.

Will Yager · #3 08-22-2008, 07:35 AM

he does sound like Edgar quite a bit

PaulCannon · #4 08-22-2008, 08:32 PM

That's Paul Kowert. He studies with Edgar at Curtis.

anonymous12251111 · #5 08-22-2008, 08:52 PM

Great playing! Tons of talent!

Another Vid of him: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8m7iaLilBg

There's probably more as well.

Nuno A. · #6 08-23-2008, 03:04 AM

Better put my bass down and start selling watches for a living

Great player!

Nuno

Jason Sypher · #7 08-23-2008, 03:28 AM

Paul Kowert is an amazing player.

Eli_Upright12 · #8 08-23-2008, 08:46 AM

He's definitely good, the only thing I can critique is that he doesn't attack the articulations like Edgar, his playing seems timid at times. I'm used to hearing Edgar just blast into one of those big, Appalachian bluegrass runs with no inhibitions and generally high volume.

PocketGroove82 · #9 08-23-2008, 10:13 AM

Nice clips, thanks for the link.
I think it's interesting that some people love someone else's style/sound so much that they go to great lengths to study with, emulate, learn their tunes, and copy their licks in an attempt try to become the next "that guy", or simply as an homage. But coming from the electric bass side, where there are more imitators than original voices, I can wholeheartedly say that I will never be one of these people.

Back to the point, the fact that virtuosic bluegrass has made an underground comeback is awesome!

Jake deVilliers · #10 08-23-2008, 11:32 AM

Oh great, first Nickel Geek spawns a legion of kids that can play June Apple at 240 but have no idea of how to drive a band, now Edgar's clones are playing fiddle tunes but can't build a groove!

Call me a grumpy old fart but didn't bluegrass used to have a great, danceable groove to it, not to mentions waltz-time songs, fast & slow?

I'm starting to feel like the old Italian guy where we grew up who used to holler at us kids "Get offa my lawn!" Sheesh........

Bassbass41 · #11 08-24-2008, 08:50 AM

Whoa, take it easy there granpa...the kid sounds good. Give him some credit.

Heifetzbass · #12 08-24-2008, 09:25 AM

I don't know him, but it sure as hell looks like Brevard Music Center...

Jason Sypher · #13 08-24-2008, 10:06 AM

Paul Kowert is an amazing player.

BMason · #14 08-24-2008, 11:33 AM

I'm not going to criticize this guy's style, or the style of any other Curtis grad. If anyone told me that I sound almost exactly like Edgar, I would receive it pretty well.

Jake deVilliers · #15 08-24-2008, 12:31 PM

Well yeah, I hope the kid comes out of the musical space he's in and develops his own style and there's every chance of that happening when he grows up.

As for bluegrass, if it becomes an endless stream of emotionless notes, its done for. Listeners are attracted by the effervescent instrumental sound and stay for the power of the singing.

Its always amazing to me to see a crowd go still & silent when Maiken & I do a few duets with just guitar in the middle of a set. If you want to reach listeners, rather than just impress other players, you have to get beyond the notes.

Bluegrass according to 'granpa'

Jason Sypher · #16 08-24-2008, 01:29 PM

Paul Kowert is an amazing player.

Jake deVilliers · #17 08-24-2008, 03:04 PM

This topic may deserve its own thread!

Jason, if you want to discuss this further email me at jake@crescentbeachguitar.com

sbassface · #18 08-24-2008, 03:16 PM

Usually I just stand outside the building which is a couple blocks from my (jazz) school, and listen to the people practicing...

PaulCannon · #19 08-24-2008, 08:57 PM

This is almost as stupid as the "why isn't Gary Karr married?" thread. Come guys, Kowert didn't post on here asking for a critique, so why are you so quick to offer one? You've all seen one short youtube clip of him playing (which could be a few years old by now) and have decided he's just a poor imitation of his teacher. Until he comes on here himself and asks for your opinion, I think it's shows very bad form to be so publicly harsh.

Don't you guys have better things to do with your time?

Eli_Upright12 · #20 08-24-2008, 09:28 PM

It's a forum I dont think it's supposed to be 10000% PC all of the time. I think the idea is that people come and discuss topics, whether those topics are of meritorious nature or not is an opinion that each reader/poster gets to have. This is way different from the Gary Karr thread, that was about someone sexual orientation, this thread is about some ones playing style and how it relates to their maestro. There is merit in that discussion I believe. I wish I sounded more like my teacher, and I try so hard to emulate his sound, but he's not famous so I guess its no big deal. I believe a person is your teacher for a reason and they idea of being a student is that you learn and emulate from your teacher until you have to start making your own style once you've learned everything you can from them.