Brad Johnson said:If it really came down to what I like, I'd be playing in a Steely Dan/Johnny Cash/James Brown/early Weather Report/Rachelle Farrell/Yes/Joshua Redman/Johnny "Guitar" Watson/Anthony Jackson's discography band with Screaming Headless Torsos overtones."
Hey!.........I'll sub for you and Jim K in that band
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Jaco
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jerry said:Brad Johnson said:If it really came down to what I like, I'd be playing in a Steely Dan/Johnny Cash/James Brown/early Weather Report/Rachelle Farrell/Yes/Joshua Redman/Johnny "Guitar" Watson/Anthony Jackson's discography band with Screaming Headless Torsos overtones."
Hey!.........I'll sub for you and Jim K in that band
That's why, when asked by band members about what I'd like to play, my usual reply was...
"You don't want to know".
And usually... they didn't. In fact that may have been the last time I've been on the Bruce side of one of these conversations. Years ago, the band members didn't get James Brown. They actually had great disdain* for him
What were they, deaf?
*"Sucked", in polite company
There where some guitar players that I have played with in the past, who I would make copies of James brown records for. I would tell them to check out the guitar parts and how they interacted with each other without playing the root, and staying out of bassist territory.........almost always came back at me with blank stares 
Ahhh...the lost art of rhythm guitar 
Ahhh...the lost art of rhythm guitar 
Brad Johnson said:Tries to imagine how long it might take to get used to the food I had in London. I suspect jail time might be required.
Lol
Really, I guess upon repeated exposure one's pallete might develop to the point where one might come to appreciate the (potentially) complex taste of merde.
I'll never know
OK! perhaps I've been too far in my toughts....
You're right, it's not only a question of use, I won't like "merde"....
+1 for you!
Vince
Vorago said:
Jaco became great because of intensive practice. 8+ hours a day for many years. He didn't become great because of cutting skin, being double jointed, having a musical family, having a cool name, being in Florida, eating Captain Crunch, having brown hair, doing silly walks, or anything else.
Well, I'm probably too late for this thread. But, the first time I heard Jaco I wasn't yet a musician. Didn't play anything. I liked "Come On Come Over", but that was about it. Now, I love the album. Not for the technical abilities, but for the music. I like the music.
My ears had to grow.
My ears had to grow.
jerry said:There where some guitar players that I have played with in the past, who I would make copies of James brown records for. I would tell them to check out the guitar parts and how they interacted with each other without playing the root, and staying out of bassist territory.........almost always came back at me with blank stares
It's all about "playing the spaces".
The tune I usually use as a guide is "Hollywood Swinging". The guitar plays its little bit, the bass does its thing; neither really plays while the other is 'busy'.
I once had this original where the bass, guitar, & sax each played a specific part of a larger riff...a total Brecker Bros' ripoff(I think I actually copped it from a linear drum groove). Anyway, as usual, no one else wanted to play along.
Passinwind
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Brad Johnson said:
Agreed, and no worries.
I'm fortunate or spoiled in the fact that the majority of people I work with are open to suggestion. They'll at least try something if it's brought in by a musician... who knows, it just might work.
What I wouldn't do is try to convince them that they should like something. In the majority of my gigs that's a luxury anyway, it's not about what I like, it's about what the job requires. The cool thing is that we always seem to find a way to make things work AND have fun while doing it. That comes from associating myself with people who aren't sticks in the mud
If it really came down to what I like, I'd be playing in a Steely Dan/Johnny Cash/James Brown/early Weather Report/Rachelle Farrell/Yes/Joshua Redman/Johnny "Guitar" Watson/Anthony Jackson's discography band with Screaming Headless Torsos overtones.
We'd kill on the VFW circuit.. I just know it
Besides, there are thousands of song and musicians, why obsess on one? My participation in this thread is all about allowing people to have any width mind they so choose when it comes to what they like to listen to.
Yeah, I'm with you for the most part, but I don't hang with narrow minded musicians much if I can help it. It's just no fun for me. I just bailed on a band that was very single-minded about which flavors of alt-country they would play. I knew that I'd never open them up to the spins that it would take to make me happy (way more eclectic than your list, even, but I dig yours!), so I walked as soon as I could gracefully do so.
I am lucky in that I can do sound for corporate, wedding, etc. GB things, and I generally only play stuff I really want to. IOW, money and "job obligations" are meaningless to me as a player. I made an exception last year to improve my jazz chops, and I'm trying to get to grips with where to go with that now. I have total respect for those with the approach you're talking about, and I prefer to work with people like that on a professional level, for the most part. The jazz group is like that, so I'll probably continue to attempt some growth in that direction.
Wedding gigs might constitute my line in the sand though...
Passinwind
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Mark Latimour said:You know after reading this thread, i've changed my view, Jaco sucks
Write that on the blackboard 7,324 times and I'll believe it. Invalid Link Removed
Passinwind
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jerry said:Hey Passin....you would dig the guitarist I play with, he designs wind surf boards........and we rehearse on the north shore of Maui
Jaco only needed four fins...ermmm, nevermind!
PM headed at you, I think we have friends in common.
Passinwind said:Agreed, and no worries.
Yeah, I'm with you for the most part, but I don't hang with narrow minded musicians much if I can help it. It's just no fun for me. I just bailed on a band that was very single-minded about which flavors of alt-country they would play. I knew that I'd never open them up to the spins that it would take to make me happy (way more eclectic than your list, even, but I dig yours!), so I walked as soon as I could gracefully do so.
I am lucky in that I can do sound for corporate, wedding, etc. GB things, and I generally only play stuff I really want to. IOW, money and "job obligations" are meaningless to me as a player. I made an exception last year to improve my jazz chops, and I'm trying to get to grips with where to go with that now. I have total respect for those with the approach you're talking about, and I prefer to work with people like that on a professional level, for the most part. The jazz group is like that, so I'll probably continue to attempt some growth in that direction.
Wedding gigs might constitute my line in the sand though...
I don't play for a living. It's great to not have that pressure. I do play weddings... and I'm glad I do. I get to play with some of the best musicians in this area on a regular basis. Yes, it's a job but these folks are just fun to hang with. Granted I'd guess we're not exactly a "typical" wedding band.
I do this part-time so I guess that makes me a semi-pro in some circles. I make enough to pay for the toys and then some. Most of that stems from really being up on music, being very flexible (no whining), reliable AND adventurous.
Back OT...
I guess the whole "Why aren't you as blown away as I am?" air of this thread is what has me defending this person's right to disagree.
JimK said:
Yes indeed. One of my favorites. And in an odd way germane to this thread. For years and years, I detested accordions. But in 1990 I got into a band with a killer Celtic accordionist, I started loving the instrument, and these days accordions follow me everywhere I go. My current casual project, which is still in its infancy, has me on ABG, an electric guitarist, and an accordionist. We've been working up some of our own tunes, as well as some Monk, Shorter, and even Ornette.
But it could just as easily and validly have gone the other way. I could have detested accordions *even more* on further acquaintance.
Passinwind
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Richard Lindsey said:But it could just as easily and validly have gone the other way. I could have detested accordions *even more* on further acquaintance.
One of the main reasons I won't play weddings any more involves accordion. Repeated listening merely drives me closer to buying an Uzi.
Invalid Link Removed
jerry said:There where some guitar players that I have played with in the past, who I would make copies of James brown records for. I would tell them to check out the guitar parts and how they interacted with each other without playing the root, and staying out of bassist territory.........almost always came back at me with blank stares
Geez jerry, you went and nailed one of my biggest pet peeves.
It is a lost art... and it's one of the things I pointed out years ago to the guys who thought JB was beneath their skill level
Turned out they couldn't really hear what was going on. IMO something supposedly that simple shouldn't be a big deal to play. The two guitar thing that JB was famous for was lost on them, they didn't get the symmetry.
That was years ago and the last time I ran into one of them they were still into the same music as they were in the early 80's. Some people don't want to listen and they shouldn't have to. It's (possibly) their loss, not mine so why should I care?
And they wonder how I can know as many songs as I seem to.
