and I haven't seen much reaction here, so I thought I'd say something.
By way of context, I'm not really a jazz player (guitar and DB). I play with jazz players because I love the harmonic richness of it, and, at least as a bass player, I anchor the harmony and I land on 1. I'm principally a songwriter, and I sometimes write in the idiom. (Plug: seach "Paul Henry S. When She Sings" on Youtube for a sample.)
Dave Frishberg excelled at both playing (piano) and songwriting. If he's known for anything, it's for writing "I'm Just A Bill" for Schoolhouse Rock (he got that gig through another fine songwriter/player, Bob Dorough, who was working for Schoolhouse Rock at the time). Lesser known, but still known: "Peel Me A Grape," "My Attorney Bernie," and the strangely haunting "Van Lingle Mungo." He had a knack for lyrics. More than a knack, he was an artist at combining his command of language with expressing the underlying sentiment, and all the while wrapping his words in a beautiful musical package, either his own or in collaboration with others.
Listening to his piano playing and learning to cover his tunes. taught me a great deal about guitar playing. I met him once when he played the Throckmorton Theater in Mill Valley. He was softspoken, modest, and gracious to this particular fan. Thanks for everything Dave.
By way of context, I'm not really a jazz player (guitar and DB). I play with jazz players because I love the harmonic richness of it, and, at least as a bass player, I anchor the harmony and I land on 1. I'm principally a songwriter, and I sometimes write in the idiom. (Plug: seach "Paul Henry S. When She Sings" on Youtube for a sample.)
Dave Frishberg excelled at both playing (piano) and songwriting. If he's known for anything, it's for writing "I'm Just A Bill" for Schoolhouse Rock (he got that gig through another fine songwriter/player, Bob Dorough, who was working for Schoolhouse Rock at the time). Lesser known, but still known: "Peel Me A Grape," "My Attorney Bernie," and the strangely haunting "Van Lingle Mungo." He had a knack for lyrics. More than a knack, he was an artist at combining his command of language with expressing the underlying sentiment, and all the while wrapping his words in a beautiful musical package, either his own or in collaboration with others.
Listening to his piano playing and learning to cover his tunes. taught me a great deal about guitar playing. I met him once when he played the Throckmorton Theater in Mill Valley. He was softspoken, modest, and gracious to this particular fan. Thanks for everything Dave.
