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Post by Al Truest on Aug 23, 2005 3:28:58 GMT
I can remember laying back with my head between two giant tower speakers - music blaring - and reading the album cover for whatever I happened to be listening to. I really miss that experience (except for the low frequency hearing loss)  Today, the A/V components are much smaller, as is the print on the liner notes for Cd's and DVDs. What a shame that the best musicians in the world are no longer recognized outside the industry magazines. I learned who played what for who by reading album covers. Does anybody care anymore. To test your memory and/or your interest; name your favorite musicians, what they play and for who. I'll start: Drums - Paco Seary (Zawinul Syndicate), Steve Gadd (Steely Dan), Chester Thompson and Peter Erskine (Weather Report - the new Kate Bush album for Erskine as well) Bass - Jaco Pastorius (Joni Mitchell, Word of Mouth) - Hiram Bullock (Don Grolnik) - Tina Weymouth (Talking Heads) Melissa Auf de Maur (Hole) Guitar - Clapton, Beck, Jeff Baxter (Steely Dan) Amit Chatterjee (Zawinul Syndicate) Vibes - Victor Feldman (Steely Dan) Horns - Wayne Shorter (sax) Brecker Brothers, Marsalis Brothers, Dave Sanborn - Tom Scott Keyboards - Herbie Hancock, Rick Wakeman, Joe Zawinul, Bob James, Dave Grusin, Bruce Hornsby, Martha Argerich Strings - Loreena McKennitt (harp) Susanna Pell, Emma Murphy (Cello) - both for Kate Bush, Yoyo Ma (cello) and Itzhak Perlman (violin) These are just a few of my favorites. Most have played with multiple collaborators such as singers and groups. Tell me if you recognize most of them. If not, you should check them out. Also please share your preferences. I pledge to check out all your suggestions and then comment. I may add a few along the way.  |
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Post by matanchik on Aug 23, 2005 10:41:36 GMT
i have to add tori amos in keyboards, she may not be a session player but she's totally revolutionary with her piano and harpsichord playing.
i would also add drumer matt chamberlain (tori amos, fiona apple and many other alternative artists) and joni mitchell on the guitar category.
what about a voice section? i'll add billie holiday, bjork, kate of course and tori amos
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stev0
Moving
He's an utter creep and he drives me 'round the bend
Posts: 517
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Post by stev0 on Aug 23, 2005 15:14:08 GMT
On another board, someone asked what would be considered the Perfect Band. I answered:
Drums: Keith Moon
Bass: John Entwhistle
Guitar: Pete Townsend
Vocals: I don't know. Maybe Brian Ferry.
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Post by Al Truest on Aug 23, 2005 17:21:32 GMT
On another board, someone asked what would be considered the Perfect Band. I answered: More precisely Who...John Entwhistle is the most worthy of consideration. Moon was a showman but couldn't carry a stick bag for drummers like Paco Seary or Chester Thompson when it comes to proficiency. Granted he was an excellent drummer. It's just that jazz and latin percussion is much more difficult to master. I can bang as loud and on time as Moon could. Maybe not as good - but close. |
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Post by Al Truest on Aug 23, 2005 17:38:34 GMT
i have to add tori amos in keyboards, she may not be a session player but she's totally revolutionary with her piano and harpsichord playing. i would also add drumer matt chamberlain (tori amos, fiona apple and many other alternative artists) and joni mitchell on the guitar category. what about a voice section? i'll add billie holiday, bjork, kate of course and tori amos Billie Holiday thumbs up. Bjork and Kate ditto Tori on piano - very strong - but not the best IMO. Look up Martha Argerich if you want to hear the most talented living pianist.  |
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Post by matanchik on Aug 23, 2005 18:08:32 GMT
maybe on piano she isn't the best, but on the harpsichord she certainly is. maybe because there are no other artists who used this instruments as heavily as she did. check "boys for pele" to hear her abilities.
i love beck's music, but i'm not impressed at all with his guitar playing, i would offer steve caton (tori's former guitarist), pat matheny and david gilmour instead
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Post by Xanadu on Aug 23, 2005 18:12:40 GMT
Drums - Clem Burke (Blondie) and Martin Chambers (Pretenders) Bass - I'll second Tina Weymouth (Talking Heads) and add Tony Levin (Peter Gabriel) I have loads more, but I'll have too look over the CD collection. These just hit me immediately. Oh, and for the record, I still look at the musicians Al (pun intended ) I still have quite the vinyl collection, since you still can't match the artwork and availabilty. You never know who you'll find there in the liner notes. I have even discovered Herb Alpert on an Alison Moyet album! Did you know George Harrison played on a Belinda Carlisle solo album? Tony Levin's bass is on The Other Side of the Mirror - Stevie Nicks. Sometimes the collaboration is amazing, and other times is falls short. I will work on some others for you.
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stev0
Moving
He's an utter creep and he drives me 'round the bend
Posts: 517
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Post by stev0 on Aug 23, 2005 19:41:55 GMT
I agree that technically, Keith Moon may not have been the best drummer ever. However, you have to admit he was probably the most FUN drummer ever!
(objoke: What do you call a guy who hangs around musicians? A drummer)
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Post by Al Truest on Aug 23, 2005 19:47:21 GMT
I agree that technically, Keith Moon may not have been the best drummer ever. However, you have to admit he was probably the most FUN drummer ever! I will agree. Fun to watch that is. I hear John Bonham for Zep was pretty fun to party with. That is if you liked to fight. Yeah, yeah....But at least we can ply our skill on pans and buckets and countertops or other things laying around. Air guitar is just not the same. |
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Post by Adey on Aug 25, 2005 1:38:26 GMT
Tough one.
I always want to include the best Rock/pop musos in this sort of category, but logically I know that the true creme de la creme are from the classical world and maybe a few are from jazz circles..
However:
John Williams - classical guitar
Steve Vai - electric guitar (not a fan personally, but his virtuousity, innovation & dedication show him to be truly world class and way ahead of his peers)
Piano - God knows, some classical bod almost certainly. But for the sake of a name - Keith Emerson or Dave Brubeck..
Synths/Elec Keyboards - can't call it. I'll go for Wakeman, Zawinul, Chick Corea "Return to Forever", Tony Banks or Emerson (again).
Ian Paice - drums (he isn't the best in the world but he excites me the most - especially his snare work - listen to Deep Purple's "Burn" and then kneel before him). Honorable mentions must also go to Steve Gadd, Vinnie Caliutta & Neil (Rush) Peart.
Berlin Philharmonic - orchestra.
Paul Buckmaster - strings (Oh the drama of his arrangements!)
Jacqueline Du Pret - cello (Yoyo Ma, if you want someone still alive..)
Violin - no idea. A classical player obviously, probably the little Japanese girl - name escapes me and Nigel Kennedy is a contender obviously (but still a prat).
Vocals - can't bring myself to mention Pavrotti & Kiri Ti Kan Opener or any other opera bods, though technically they eat popular music singers for breakfast. I'll go with Kate, Elton, Alison Moyet, Paul Rogers, Paul Carrack & Lou Gram.
btw - whats this about Billie Holiday? She had the emotion admittedly, but usually always sang flat (except when she was singing sharp..)
Muscle Shoal Horns circa '76 - horns.
Entwhistle, Stanley Clarke, Pastorius or Ebberhard Weber - bass.
As ever, ask me again next month and several of these will be different..
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Paul
Reaching Out
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Post by Paul on Aug 25, 2005 1:51:38 GMT
Violin - no idea. A classical player obviously, probably the little Japanese girl - name escapes me do you mean Vanessa Mae (?) |
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Post by Adey on Aug 25, 2005 2:28:30 GMT
Dunno.. probably!
Thanks, FF..
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Post by ~Passion~ on Aug 25, 2005 6:48:32 GMT
Vanessa Mae did a duet with Josh Groban once during the past Christmas holidays in 2004 for charity. It was amazing. With his velvet voice and her skilled violin chords, the music blended in so nicely. Like it was only one entity. They performed You Raise me Up. Odd how I never can feel much faith anymore, even in church, but with that particular song, I remember crying buckets... I had been through a lot that year.
*le sigh*
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Post by Al Truest on Aug 26, 2005 20:23:54 GMT
Thanks Adey. This is what I was looking for. Not only your respected choices but the commentary and opinion. Such as: Tough one. I always want to include the best Rock/pop musos in this sort of category, but logically I know that the true creme de la creme are from the classical world and maybe a few are from jazz circles.. This is true; but the eagerness to include 'rock-stars' is naturally going to spur more discussion. However, turning people on to some less accessible talent is rewarding as well. 'Can't disagree with any one of these. It is fun to pretend to love opera isn't it. ;D I actually admire their performances. But I must say that theater, ballet or symphonic performances are as hi-brow as I can manage. Voices I would chose:
Kate Bush
K D Lang
Loreena McKennett
Emmy Lou Harris
Patsy Cline
Roy Orbison
Johnny Mathis
Aaron Neville
Marvin Gaye
Roger Whitaker
Tracy Chapman
Sarah Brightman
Carole King
Linda Ronstadt
Susheela Ramen
Tony Bennett
Mel Torme
That girl from Massive Attack (?)I love Billie Holiday's voice. But I must be slightly intoxicated and feeling melancholy to get in the mood for her. Kate has great admiration for her. Good choices. Mine will change if I get out my old stash of recordings or give this more thought. In the mean time I am going to post some links for the percussionists I mentioned earlier. I plan to post them on the current "Roots" thread @ the 'Moments of Pleasure' board. Therein you may hear a musician from the new Kate album (Peter Erskine) plus a seven minute clip of Steely Dan's "Aja" featuring Steve Gadd's mind boggling drum masterpiece to end the song. |
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Post by CopyOfCpt (just say Cor) on Aug 31, 2005 15:38:31 GMT
For instruments I would vote for the guys of Radiohead: brilliant multi-instrumentalists.
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Today, the A/V components are much smaller, as is the print on the liner notes for Cd's and DVDs. What a shame that the best musicians in the world are no longer recognized outside the industry magazines. I learned who played what for who by reading album covers. Does anybody care anymore. To test your memory and/or your interest; name your favorite musicians, what they play and for who. I'll start:
