| Author |
Topic: TOMMY EMMANUEL- AMAZING |
Mark van Allen
From:
Watkinsville, Ga. USA
|
Posted 18 Feb 2007 9:22 am |
|
Many of you may be acquainted with this amazing Australian acoustic guitarist through his U-tube videos, as I was. Having a rare Saturday night off, a pal and I went to see him at a local venue.
Intense, funny, highly entertaining, stunningly skillful, thrilling, mindbending are just a few of the adjectives I heard correctly applied to his show. He was also extremely gracious to his fronting band (the Greencards) bringing them out for an encore set and making a very big deal out of their somewhat intimidated guitarist, very classy.
I'm a fan for life. Please, do yourselves a favor, and if he's appearing anywhere near you, don't miss. It doesn't get any better. |
|
|
 |
Craig Stock
From:
Westfield, NJ USA
|
Posted 21 Feb 2007 6:33 pm
|
|
Dave, I'm surprised that no one has responded to your post. I have a CD y Tommy and love it. I haven't seen him live, but would love to. His playing is excellent and so diversified, you are lucky to have seen him. I will check out to see his schedule.
The last time I didn't go check out someone was when I was in College in Lubbock Texas and my dorm friend said "You gotta come to Fat Dawgs and see this guy named Stevie Ray, (he played about once a month then)" I never went and then a few year later, I was kicking myself.
_________________
Regards, Craig
I cried because I had no shoes, then I met a man who had no feet.
Today is tomorrow's Good ol' days |
|
|
|
Manfred Schall
From:
Langenfeld, Germany
|
Posted 22 Feb 2007 9:31 am
|
|
Hi Mark and Craig,
got to see him a couple of times (3-4) over here in Europe.
Alone, with his brother and with John Jorgenson.
Awesome, top notch shows.
He 's a real entertainer. Very recommended.
Cheers,
Manfred |
|
|
|
Darvin Willhoite
From:
Roxton, Tx. USA
|
Posted 22 Feb 2007 11:07 am
|
|
I have the album Tommy did with Chet Atkins, and it is one of my favorites. This may have been the last album Chet did, I don't remember. I also have a DVD that he does a short interview and tells how Chet was his idol even when he was very young.
There is a song on the album called "Ode To Mel Bay" that cracks me up everytime I hear it. Johnny Gimble also does some nice fiddle work on the album.
_________________
Darvin Willhoite
MSA Millennium, Legend, and Studio Pro, Reese's restored Universal Direction guitar, a restored MSA Classic SS, several amps, new and old, and a Kemper Powerhead that I am really liking. Also a Zum D10, a Mullen RP, and a restored Rose S10, named the "Blue Bird". Also, I have acquired and restored the plexiglass D10 MSA Classic that was built as a demo in the early '70s. I also have a '74 lacquer P/P, with wood necks, and a showroom condition Sho-Bud Super Pro. |
|
|
|
Leroy Riggs
From:
Looney Tunes, R.I.P.
|
Posted 22 Feb 2007 2:29 pm
|
|
He is a regular at Walnut Valley Music Festival (http://wvfest.com/) every September and hearing him once or twice is a treat but the third time is a little tiresome. And the fourth, well, .....
He never changes his show. He says Chet refered to him as 'the greatest guitar player in the world'.
_________________
A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.
..... |
|
|
|
Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
|
Posted 22 Feb 2007 10:49 pm
|
|
| Yes he is amazing. I have seen him live....just him and his sound man. You would swear there were several of him. The percussion, playing both bass, melody and rhythm and whoknowswhatelse all at the same time. A terrific entertainer and a musician beyond description. |
|
|
|
Darvin Willhoite
From:
Roxton, Tx. USA
|
Posted 23 Feb 2007 3:24 pm
|
|
Chet must have said that about everybody. I read an interview with him where he said that about Lenny Breau.
_________________
Darvin Willhoite
MSA Millennium, Legend, and Studio Pro, Reese's restored Universal Direction guitar, a restored MSA Classic SS, several amps, new and old, and a Kemper Powerhead that I am really liking. Also a Zum D10, a Mullen RP, and a restored Rose S10, named the "Blue Bird". Also, I have acquired and restored the plexiglass D10 MSA Classic that was built as a demo in the early '70s. I also have a '74 lacquer P/P, with wood necks, and a showroom condition Sho-Bud Super Pro. |
|
|
|
Gary Boyett
From:
Colorado
|
Posted 25 Feb 2007 7:11 am
|
|
Tommy is my current favorite. He can do everything on that guitar. His Only CD is my favorite so far. The Mystery is also very good.
If you like guitar this is one you must have.
http://www.tommyemmanuel.com/home.asp |
|
|
|
Charles French
From:
Ms.
|
Posted 25 Feb 2007 7:21 am
|
|
| He's fair but no Tony Rice or Bryan Sutton |
|
|
|
Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
|
Posted 26 Feb 2007 1:40 pm
|
|
| Charles French wrote: |
| He's fair but no Tony Rice or Bryan Sutton |
Rice is one dimensional in that he is a flatpicker and everything he plays has such a bluegrass slant to it. TE can play as much with just his thumbpick as these two PLUS the added dimension of his fingerstyle work and the different styles of music he does is amazing.
I don't really care to get involved in "who is better", but to say that TE is only "fair"......you have to be kidding. |
|
|
|
Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
|
Posted 26 Feb 2007 5:29 pm
|
|
I'm not going to get involved in who's better either.
I will say, about Tony Rice, that he sometimes will combine a bit of finger picking with the flat pick, and when he delves into jazz, if he were playing in a combo with say a standup bass player, piano player, and a tasteful jazz drummer-as opposed to a group with more of a bluegrass orientation- I believe one would say, "hey-that Rice can really play some jazz!"
I think the environment might dictate the perception of the player a bit.
If one plays solo, then maybe that is an "unencumbered" environment.
Don't mean to hijack Mark V.A.'s thead, but here is Tony playing Shenandoah, and this really isn't bluegrass.Tell me that this isn't beautiful:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=xswwXOPhoTU
_________________
Mark |
|
|
|
Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
|
|
|
|
Charles French
From:
Ms.
|
Posted 27 Feb 2007 4:51 am
|
|
| Bill Hatcher wrote: |
I don't really care to get involved in "who is better", but to say that TE is only "fair"......you have to be kidding. |
hmm, I think you do.....and by the way I was kidding...and to say---->
| Bill Hatcher wrote: |
| Rice is one dimensional in that he is a flatpicker and everything he plays has such a bluegrass slant to it. TE can play as much with just his thumbpick as these two |
 |
|
|
|
Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
|
Posted 27 Feb 2007 5:37 am
|
|
When your "kidding" you should let us know with a nice smiley face.
Rice is a fine player, but compared to TE---which you did--he IS very single dimension bluegrass oriented. TE brings a lot of different things to the table with his playing. |
|
|
|
Dave Burr
From:
League City, TX
|
Posted 27 Feb 2007 8:03 am
|
|
Tommy is beyond great! If you haven't watched the videos of him available at, http://www.woodsongs.com/showlist.asp you are really missing out (shows 428, 349 and 245). I've downloaded all of them.
Bill, I have to say that I disagree with you about Tony. The clip below being a prime example of why. I really don't call this one dimensional "bluegrass" picking... Tony's catolog contains a vast amount of material done in this vein. To say that you don't care for it would be one thing (and totally valid based on preference), but to dismiss or categorize it as "single dimensional bluegrass oriented" flatpicking is not a fair assessment IMHO.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=XRso4AVVZ2Y&mode=related&search=
Respectfully,
David Burr |
|
|
|
Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
|
Posted 27 Feb 2007 8:58 am
|
|
Tommy Emmanuel came through here awhile back, and I really wanted to see him, but unfortunately I had to be somewhere out of town on business. I have nothing but the utmost respect for him.
And I have to believe that Tommy and Tony Rice have the utmost respect for one another.
It's on forums like this where us "mere mortals" go back and forth about pickers, which is the internet music site version of guys sitting around in a bar with some beer and peanuts arguing about who is the best NFL quarterback these days. As the old saying goes, which needs to be adjusted for inflation, "that plus six bits will buy you a cup of coffee."
When you're sitting on your couch at night with the lights down and have these guys on the CD player, you're hopefully listening to what they're trying to say through the music, and not thinking, "on the last tune he used a flat pick, now check out the sound of him finger picking pick on this one!"
If one doesn't "get it" about Tony Rice, then I could write another thousand words here and it ain't gonna make any difference.
_________________
Mark |
|
|
|
Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
|
Posted 27 Feb 2007 11:29 am
|
|
Dave Burr.
Thanks for the clip of Rice playing the Coltrane inspired "My Favorite Things". Yes it is nice to hear him trying to get something going on a jazz inspired tune, but his playing is still very one dimensional bluegrassy even on this tune. He sounds sort of like a cross pollination of Dickey Betts and Carlos Santana with a dreadnaught!  I give him credit for the effort and raise my opinion of his playing to being 1 and 1/2 dimensional bluegrassy, but stick by my opinion of his playing in comparison to Emmanuels which was described above as being only "fair" and "no Tony Rice". |
|
|
|
David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
|
Posted 28 Feb 2007 8:37 am
|
|
Tonmy Rice is a super and versatile player,
and under-rated in some circles.
But for the sake of this question
it is somewhat apples and oranges,
But I have to give the nod to Tommy Emmanuel.
I would REALLY love to hear them play together,
much more than give this responce.
_________________
DLD, Chili farmer. Plus bananas and papaya too.
Real happiness has no strings attached.
But pedal steels have many! |
|
|
|
Mark van Allen
From:
Watkinsville, Ga. USA
|
Posted 28 Feb 2007 10:12 am
|
|
I suppose most pickers have their promoters and detractors. I really don't think, or care, who's "better", "hotter", faster or cooler... It's just a beautiful thing to me that there are so many styles and interpretations of "music" for us to be entertained and inspired by. A world that has Django, Tony, John Jorgenson, Charlie Christian, Leo Kottke, Chet, Marcel Dadi, Richard Ruskin, Monte Montgomery... has enough acoustic ear candy for everybody, I bet.
My point with this thread was to prod acoustic/guitar fans who haven't seen or heard Tommy E to make the effort. I always appreciate being turned on to new influences here.
I fondly recall looking up from my Dobro at a backstage Jam at Live Oak and being surrounded by Peter Rowan, Vassar, Sam Bush, and Tony R., who was playing masterfully across several stylistic genres. I only hope I get to jam with Tommy one day. (I'm not in such a hurry for Django, Charlie, Chet, and Marcel...) |
|
|
|
Jeremy Steele
From:
Princeton, NJ USA
|
Posted 28 Feb 2007 10:37 am
|
|
| The first time I saw the You Tube video of Tommy E. playing "Over The Rainbow" my jaw hit the floor....it's still there. |
|
|
|
Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
|
Posted 28 Feb 2007 10:43 am
|
|
I think it was here on the Forum that someone provided a YouTube link to a guy, and I'm frustrated by drawing a blank here, but the picker is another "master of the Telecaster." No-not Red Volkaert.
After viewing the video, which indeed showed some killer playing, I scrolled down to read comments, and someone had written that this particular player, "could wipe up the floor with Brent Mason."
Might have been one of the more lame comments I have ever read in my life. No one can wipe up any floors with Brent Mason, period.
I'm a big Mark Knopfler fan, and on another forum someone chimed in that "Richard Thompson is the guitarist in that style that Knopfler wishes he could be."
I'm a big Thompson fan as well, but I have no idea how people formulate ideas like this.
These guys are all great-enjoy 'em!
Mark V.A.-that must have been the jam of a lifetime for you. Wow!
_________________
Mark |
|
|
|
Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
|
Posted 28 Feb 2007 11:48 am
|
|
No west coast dates announced yet, but I'm looking forward to this one, from the AKUS site:
"A Very Special Performance
In spring of 2007, Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas will be joined by acoustic music's most influential modern master - Tony Rice for a limited number of dates in which they will exclusively perform music drawn from Rice's remarkable recorded legacy. "It's hard to find words to say what an influence Tony Rice has been on people of our generation who grew up in bluegrass," says Union Station bassist Barry Bales.
In a career that has now spanned over three decades, Rice has used bluegrass as the foundation for a series of acoustic explorations that have ranged from sophisticated jazz-informed instrumentals to haunting, heartbreaking song-based work. Alison Krauss and Union Station have long professed the great musical debt they owe to Rice, citing the profound impact albums such as Cold on the Shoulder, Native American, Manzanita, and Me and My Guitar have had on their concept of acoustic music and their individual development as musicians.
This special series of engagements gives Union Station an opportunity to bring a wide-ranging selection of Tony Rice's music to a new audience and to perform it with their unmatched blend of passion and precision. Drawing from both Rice's vocal and instrumental catalog, the performances will feature Rice's still evolving and dazzling guitar work augmented by the vocals and fiddle of Krauss; Dan Tyminski on guitar, mandolin, and vocals; Ron Block on guitar, banjo, and vocals; the supple bass of Barry Bales; longtime Rice associate Jerry Douglas on Dobro; and drummer Larry Atamanuik. As Bales remarked on the eve of the tour's first rehearsals, "The hardest thing is not picking which songs to do – it's deciding which songs not to do…"
_________________
Mark |
|
|
|
Jerry Hayes
From:
Virginia Beach, Va.
|
Posted 1 Mar 2007 9:00 am
|
|
Being a guitarist (and a fingerstylist) long before I took up steel I'm a big fan of Tommy's. That said I'm also a big fan of Tony Rice's. He may be known mostly as a bluegrass player but he did take it to places where it'd never been IMO. Tony seems to throw in a note here and there that really catches your ear and makes you take notice. He's one of the tastiest players I ever heard in any style. Tommy Emanuel is a total master of the instrument with either fingerstyle or flatpick but they both have their own thing so I'll continue to like 'em both. I've been a fingerstyle player all my life and it amazes me how some of those guys can do the hybrid thing with a flatpick and two fingers. I've never been able to do that! It used to amaze me how Joe Maphis could play Merle Travis style like that. Brian Lonbeck (a Maphis student) plays the same way and does it great.........JH in Va.
_________________
Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!! |
|
|
|
Gary Boyett
From:
Colorado
|
Posted 4 Mar 2007 9:36 am
|
|
If you like flat pickers- check this guy out:
Joscho Stephan |
|
|
|
