Oh I've tried, I really have

[sharon]

Thanks everyone - this forum is such a mine of information. I'm going to try and find the time to do some serious listening of all the different players and styles.

Bob you're right, I've always been a person who just likes something regardless, which is why I've got such a very eclectic taste in music. It's also why I wanted to play an instrument. I just love certain melodies whether they are opera, show tunes, rock, pop, classical, blues etc. But for me it has to have a start and finish. I think this is why I find the hard core (for me) stuff so challenging to listen to. (It's also why I enjoy doing scales - there's a melody in there somewhere 😛)

Sharon

 

[jadoube]

Rogerb wrote:

Just checked:
"he original Hot Five was, other than Armstrong's wife Lil Hardin Armstrong on piano, all New Orleans musicians who Armstrong had worked with in that city the 1910s: Kid Ory on trombone, Johnny Dodds on clarinet, and Johnny St. Cyr on guitar and banjo."

Spot on. All highly regarded players in their own right, all forming thier own bands from time to time.

The hot five also do various good versions of wild man blues. All good simple fun music.

According to stuff I'm reading it seems it was rare for these guys to be able to read the notes. Armstrong learned how, mainly to get into a wider variety of higher value gigs - in effect adding Creole and then white music to his skill set. Race was a big economic barrier down South in the 1910's

 

[Bobby G]

I particularly like the St James Infirmary Blues, but that old stuff in general has a great feel.

Cheers, Bob

 

[philthd]

its so strange the way different people experience the same things so differently


when im listening to "tasteful" players with "nice tones" who stay "within" the changes i find that an impressive technical feat and i do enjoy it, but im always hoping theyre about to cut loose and show some passion

digital radio station theJazz is full of pleasant, safe, listenable material - i listen to it a lot but i need the more intense things i own to excite me

 

[Jules]

philthD wrote:
when im listening to "tasteful" players with "nice tones" who stay "within" the changes i find that an impressive technical feat and i do enjoy it, but im always hoping theyre about to cut loose and show some passion

Not sure about the logic of this- surely it's possible to be passionate & intense without stepping outside playing within a 'conservative' musical structure? Listen to what Miles Davis could do with 1 note, or Sydney Bechet! (Ok they were a great players but could deliver more passion than virtually anybody with only half the notes, and in Bechet's case holding within major, minor or blues tonalities for pretty much all the time, in most numbers I've heard).

 

[philthd]

oh, i was oversimplifying for dramatic effect


i wouldnt at all say that clean playing is passionless and there are many examples of sweet players who can grab at your heart

in all forms of art the restrictions of the form are important and give structure, but many of the greatest artists have used those boundaries to rail against and break new ground

to me the most intense passions cannot be constrained

 

[frankb]

You're not alone, Sharon! I too prefer a bluesy style and the more discordant elements of jazz jar my ears!

I have nothing against flurries of notes (Michael Schenker's metal guitar solos spring to mind! [ducks and runs for cover!]), but I'm coming from a rock / blues background and the more off-the-chain jazz stuff just doesn't make sense in my head!

Nice that there's room in the musical universe for all tastes, though! It'd be boring if everyone liked the same thing.

 

[Jules]

Yup, I'm actually with you on this- Having had my say further up the page, I confess to being a big fan of Pharoah Sanders' freakouts in his playing (though they're not exactly technically slick, they win out on raw passion). The main bane on this thread seems to be ultra technical, 'as many notes as you can fit inot a bar' bop.

philthD wrote:
oh, i was oversimplifying for dramatic effect


i wouldnt at all say that clean playing is passionless and there are many examples of sweet players who can grab at your heart

in all forms of art the restrictions of the form are important and give structure, but many of the greatest artists have used those boundaries to rail against and break new ground

to me the most intense passions cannot be constrained

 

[sharon]

D'you know, this forum is great because your opinions are never rubbished.

That's it exactly - "as many notes as you can fit in the bar" it's not always needed and doesn't always make for a better tune just a different style.

I can understand going off on one more in the guitar solo e.g Jimmy Page (runs for cover with Frank), even a drum solo. I'm sure there are loads of people who would find this tedious as well. I suppose it's a matter of the amount of a type of music you listen to.

Just goes to show how different we all are despite all playing the same instrument. 😉

Sharon

 

[Jules]

sharon wrote:


That's it exactly - "as many notes as you can fit in the bar" it's not always needed and doesn't always make for a better tune just a different style.

As Mr Burns once said in the Simpsons "Cease this infernal Tootling!"

 

[sharon]

:laugh: that's a phrase that can often be heard at our house.

 

[nick_cook]

sharon wrote:
:laugh: that's a phrase that can often be heard at our house.

[color😛urple]I think my wife has finally realised I'm not going to stop until I'm ready!!!! (But I do restrict myself to half an hour at a time)

[/color]

 

[sharon]

Crikey Nick, I couldn't get anything done in 1/2 hour. I normally get in 1 hour daily (but I only work part time) squeezed in between finishing work, walking/running the dog and picking up the kids. Once the kids are home all bets are off. Although I have been seen mashing potatoes with the sax around my neck 😛

The other Saturday I had the house to myself and played for 2 hours! The time just disappeared.

 

[visionari1]

Gidday Sharon,

Mashing the Spuds, Wow, that would be something to see!

A bit late seeing this post and its wonderful replies.

All my Sax Cds, are selected mainly for the slower melodic tunes.

I can tell in the first four bars, just by listening to the tempo and general feeling , even before the lead instrument comes in if its something I'll like!

As other people have said, Coltrane, has a wonderful smooth melodic side, Ben Webster, Johney Hodges, Art Pepper, Jan Garbarek, Zoot Sims, Stan Getz.

The key here is to listen for Ballads, the slower the better. I personally like the beat to be around the same as a human heart beat (or slower), this way its very calming and natural to absorb!

Cheers

Visionari1 🙂

 

[sharon]

Hi Visionari1 - First off sorry about the world cup knock out :cry:
We were certain the all blacks were going all the way.

Thanks for the recommendations, I'll have a listen. I know what you mean about the slow beat. I enjoy playing that sort of ballad (and not just because it's a bit easier 😉 )

SHaron

 

[phil_edwards]

visionari1 wrote:
As other people have said, Coltrane, has a wonderful smooth melodic side, Ben Webster, Johnny Hodges, Art Pepper, Jan Garbarek, Zoot Sims, Stan Getz.

Visionari1 🙂

Add Paul Desmond to that list, Sharon.

regards, Phil