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Topic: When the typical becomes celestial |
Jim Hoke
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 13 Sep 2006 5:18 am |
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| One nice thing about the steel is that songs that may be regarded as corny or un-hip become objects of rare beauty when played by a good steeler. I used to wonder why someone would put out a steel CD and have Love Me Tender or Scarlet Ribbons on there - you know, so "uncool". Now I know that in steel world, "cool" is irrelevent. This is true freedom! A sax player, for instance, must always play "hip" ideas and grooves, in a highly "hip" style, or everybody will notice how the actual sound isn't that attractive. |
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Ray Minich
From:
Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra
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Posted 13 Sep 2006 6:23 am
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| Jeff Newman proved it to me with his version of "Dance With Me" on the "Once In a Lifetime" CD. |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 13 Sep 2006 6:32 am
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| Jim, I think you're right. If you let down your guard and just let the music reach you, there's nothing like it. That's why we're here. |
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Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
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Posted 13 Sep 2006 10:00 am
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| It's funny, when I was younger I would've never thought about playin something like "Moonglow" or most any Hawaiian tune,"too corny" but then I got into steel guitar and now those "corny" tunes took on a whole new meaning, especially when you hear yourself playin them. |
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Jim Hoke
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 14 Sep 2006 5:10 pm
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| Moonglow - ah, that's a good one. Juicy chords. I like playin' "Chances Are". Can't get any cornier than Johnny Mathis. |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 14 Sep 2006 7:27 pm
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| I have a Johnny Mathis live VHS that I play along with regularly. He would have been so much better with a steel player in his band.... |
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James Cann
From:
Phoenix, AZ
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Posted 15 Sep 2006 7:53 pm
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I've been working on "Cabaret," which I worked up as a BIAB file, and I'm having just too much fun with it.
Also, there is an mp3 file somewhere in a "Steel on the Web" post--can't remember who did it) of "How Deep Is Your Love"-- disco, no less! (Come to think of it later on, I think it's Tommy Dodd.)
As you said, Jim, let the music reach you![This message was edited by James Cann on 15 September 2006 at 08:53 PM.] [This message was edited by James Cann on 15 September 2006 at 08:59 PM.] |
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Jeff Lampert
From:
queens, new york city
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Posted 15 Sep 2006 9:40 pm
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| A sax player, for instance, must always play "hip" ideas and grooves, in a highly "hip" style, or everybody will notice how the actual sound isn't that attractive. |
The saxophone is an extremely beautiful sounding and expressive instrument, at least as much so as a steel in the hands of players of equal ability. There is no other instrument capable of the articulation of a saxophone and it is considered by many to be the ultimate instrument for a soloist, whether playing slow romantic songs, temperamntal blues, or up-tempo jazz. We steel players can only hope that in our lifetimes, out instrument gets 30% of the attention saxophones currently enjoy on the world-wide musical stage.
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[url=http://www.mightyfinemusic.com/jeff's_jazz.htm]Jeff's Jazz[/url]
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David Mason
From:
Cambridge, MD, USA
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Posted 16 Sep 2006 3:32 am
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I agree with the premise - "simple", romantic type songs can be really moving when done well - but I too don't understand the sax reference? That can be one amazing-sounding instrument... I wonder if maybe you've grown up hearing music students trying to imitate Charlie Parker and John Coltrane, and getting the dissonance and freneticism right but missing the heart of their playing. If you want to hear a relatively "modern" bop sax player with killer tone, dig out some of the best, late 50's/early 60's Sonny Rollins stuff; if you want to get to the heart of the romantic style, dig back to Lester Young or Ben Webster. The question of which players resonate with which listeners is really unpredictable and illogical; maybe you just haven't found the right sax player yet?  |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 16 Sep 2006 5:41 am
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| Find a recording by Eugene Rousseau called 'Saxophone Vocalise'. Absolutely stunning, classical saxophone. It's gorgeous; he can make it sound like a violin when he wants to, or just play exquisitely. |
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Jim Hoke
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 16 Sep 2006 5:44 am
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| Actually I play sax, as my main gig. Maybe I was being harsh. Of course I like good sax tone. But we are pushed into always having to sound urban, sexy, hip, etc. It's type casting, just like steel is supposed to sound "weepy". I've recorded myself doing things with steel and baritone sax, of all things, and WHATTA SOUND....so dis-similar but they work so well together. I've just added a bunch of sax section stuff to Randy Beavers' new CD of jazzy originals and it's great stuff. He's such a monster; I'm learning alot. |
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Barry Blackwood
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Posted 16 Sep 2006 6:04 am
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| Funny, I've never thought of Paul Desmond's sound as "unattractive ..." |
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