Why Jimi Hendrix is so Important

[mellowinman]

Creativity is subjective. My point was that a great guitarist can function in any musical environment. You could put a guy like Steve Morse in Metallica, Frank Sinatra's band, George Jone's band, Doc Watson's band, Weather Report, Miles Davis band, or a classical orchestra and he would kill it. Hendrix could not have cut it an any of those situations. That doesn't lesson his influence or interest, but it is what it is.

And yet, no one can point me to a single interesting song Steve Morse has played on.

 

[hasbeen]

Creativity is subjective. My point was that a great guitarist can function in any musical environment. You could put a guy like Steve Morse in Metallica, Frank Sinatra's band, George Jone's band, Doc Watson's band, Weather Report, Miles Davis band, or a classical orchestra and he would kill it. Hendrix could not have cut it an any of those situations. That doesn't lesson his influence or interest, but it is what it is.

I'll buy that. It is still subjective though as to what makes a guitarist "great".

 

[JMacBass65]

And yet, no one can point me to a single interesting song Steve Morse has played on.

Indeed

 

[hasbeen]

And yet, no one can point me to a single interesting song Steve Morse has played on.

I think the entire "What If" album in interesting. Man, I remember when that album was released. I emersed myself in it for the entire year.

 

[king_biscuit]

And yet, no one can point me to a single interesting song Steve Morse has played on.

Just because you don't find the Dixie Dregs interesting or Steve's work on many solo records interesting, doesn't mean others don't. I think the Dregs stuff is way more interesting than anything Hendrix did.

 

[king_biscuit]

I think the entire "What If" album in interesting. Man, I remember when that album was released. I emersed myself in it for the entire year.

Me too, all of the Dregs albums. Andy West was so cool!!

 

[bluesdogblues]

...a great guitarist can function in any musical environment. You could put a guy like Steve Morse in Metallica, Frank Sinatra's band, George Jone's band, Doc Watson's band, Weather Report, Miles Davis band, or a classical orchestra and he would kill it.

Umm,..I think great guitarists doesn't have to be like that. Great guitarists aren't always versatile guitarists. And vice versa.

 

[king_biscuit]

Umm,..I think great guitarists doesn't have to be like that. Great guitarist aren't always versatile guitarists. And vice versa.

That's where I make a distinction between artist and instrumentalist. A great artist can create great art on a guitar and not be a great guitarist in an absolute sense. I think to be a great guitarist in an absolute sense, one has to have complete command of the instrument and that requires both technical ability and musical knowledge of many styles of popular music. Hendrix was certainly a great artist who played the guitar, but he lacked the technical command of the instrument and the musical knowledge to be a truly great guitarist. None of this diminishes he influence or greatness.

 

[mellowinman]

Just because you don't find the Dixie Dregs interesting or Steve's work on many solo records interesting, doesn't mean others don't. I think the Dregs stuff is way more interesting than anything Hendrix did.

And yet, most people have no idea who they are. They didn't write any songs that are iconic in rock history.

And that is a problem for their legacy, now isn't it?

 

[mellowinman]

That's where I make a distinction between artist and instrumentalist. A great artist can create great art on a guitar and not be a great guitarist in an absolute sense. I think to be a great guitarist in an absolute sense, one has to have complete command of the instrument and that requires both technical ability and musical knowledge of many styles of popular music. Hendrix was certainly a great artist who played the guitar, but he lacked the technical command of the instrument and the musical knowledge to be a truly great guitarist. None of this diminishes he influence or greatness.

And yet you've posted about it around 30 times on this thread, a thread about Why Jimi Hendrix is so Important.

Pretty much trolling the thread, if you ask me.

 

[king_biscuit]

And yet, most people have no idea who they are. They didn't write any songs that are iconic in rock history.

And that is a problem for their legacy, now isn't it?

More people know about Britney Spears than Hendrix, does that make her greater him?

 

[mellowinman]

More people know about Britney Spears than Hendrix, does that make her greater him?

I'm talking about rock and roll, and at this point, I am going to scroll past your posts.

You are annoying.

 

[king_biscuit]

And yet you've posted about it around 30 times on this thread, a thread about Why Jimi Hendrix is so Important.

Pretty much trolling the thread, if you ask me.

I'm only replying to posts quoting my posts about Hendrix in a Hendrix thread; you are making it personal and calling names, which is the hallmark of trolling.

 

[king_biscuit]

I'm talking about rock and roll, and at this point, I am going to scroll past your posts.

You are annoying.

If you actually had an interesting comment I'm sure you would make it.

 

[bluesdogblues]

That's where I make a distinction between artist and instrumentalist. A great artist can create great art on a guitar and not be a great guitarist in an absolute sense. I think to be a great guitarist in an absolute sense, one has to have complete command of the instrument and that requires both technical ability and musical knowledge of many styles of popular music. Hendrix was certainly a great artist who played the guitar, but he lacked the technical command of the instrument and the musical knowledge to be a truly great guitarist. None of this diminishes he influence or greatness.

I still strongly think that -using your language- "Great instrumentalists' who are guitarists" aren't always versatile guitarists, and don't always have to be. And vice versa.

 

[king_biscuit]

I still strongly think that -using your language- "Great instrumentalists' who are guitarists" aren't always versatile guitarists, and don't always have to be. And vice versa.

Well disagreement is a great thing and the fuel for most of the discussion in these forums.

 

[hasbeen]

Holy smokes gents...."can't we all get along"? Mellowinman- you are abosolutely correct that Hendrix is an icon- culturally, musically ...etc.

King Biscuit isn't trolling though. He's made some valid points on his defintion of greatness.

In the end, I don't think a thread can be created where somebody is called "the greatest...." without getting some different view points.

 

[Jack Butler]

And yet, no one can point me to a single interesting song Steve Morse has played on.

I agree 100%. Others dig him, but for whatever reason getting through a whole song of his is exceedingly difficult for me. He's technically great, and seems like a nice dude, but it just sounds like elevator music on guitar to me. Completely uninspiring.

 

[tbz]

Man so much to agree with in this thread; I'll just start rambling and hopefully I'll address everything.

1) Little Wing from Hendrix in the West - Few folks have mentioned this, that is one of the best versions of that song I've ever heard. Nice to see others feel the same.
2) Have to agree with the pre/post Hendrix age sentiments. His influence was clearly heard across the board when he debuted. From the Beatles to Clapton to Townsend folks changed the way they thought about music after hearing Hendrix.
3) Hendrix really used the Wah in a way few else have; as folks have mentioned he used it as a EQ when he wasn't going for a "wah" effect, and would set it flat to adjust his overall sound. Additionally he really did a lot of super subtle stuff with it that, honestly, I've heard few others actually perform properly. I started on guitar, and spent weeks as a teenager in front of an amp trying to work that stuff out; it's pretty intense.
4) I also wish he would have lived longer. That being said I've had a long standing theory that he was about to invent disco (listen to Dolly Dagger, for an example of this.) Really wonder how his legacy would look, had he lived, and that happened.....

 

[mellowinman]

Man so much to agree with in this thread; I'll just start rambling and hopefully I'll address everything.

1) Little Wing from Hendrix in the West - Few folks have mentioned this, that is one of the best versions of that song I've ever heard. Nice to see others feel the same.
2) Have to agree with the pre/post Hendrix age sentiments. His influence was clearly heard across the board when he debuted. From the Beatles to Clapton to Townsend folks changed the way they thought about music after hearing Hendrix.
3) Hendrix really used the Wah in a way few else have; as folks have mentioned he used it as a EQ when he wasn't going for a "wah" effect, and would set it flat to adjust his overall sound. Additionally he really did a lot of super subtle stuff with it that, honestly, I've heard few others actually perform properly. I started on guitar, and spent weeks as a teenager in front of an amp trying to work that stuff out; it's pretty intense.
4) I also wish he would have lived longer. That being said I've had a long standing theory that he was about to invent disco (listen to Dolly Dagger, for an example of this.) Really wonder how his legacy would look, had he lived, and that happened.....

I think he was headed down the funk road. He was searching for a more "black" identity, musically speaking, and I think he was finding it. But that's the thing about Jimi; as far back as you can go, he always had SOUL, which I find deperately lacking in many guitar players.