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Topic: Robert Randolph |
Donald Dunlavey
From:
Jonesboro, Georgia, USA
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Posted 29 Oct 2004 7:02 pm |
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| While I can appreciate the value of traditional muisic on any instrument, Musicians who have been willing to move out of the box so to speak, have brought in a lot of good music. And everyone has there own choice in music don't they? Just a thought here. No declaration |
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Jeff Lampert
From:
queens, new york city
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Posted 29 Oct 2004 7:25 pm
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oh oh.
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[url=http://www.mightyfinemusic.com/jeff's_jazz.htm]Jeff's Jazz[/url]
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Savell
From:
Slocomb, AL
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Posted 29 Oct 2004 7:51 pm
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| . [This message was edited by Savell on 31 May 2005 at 01:25 PM.] |
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Rick Garrett
From:
Tyler, Texas
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Posted 30 Oct 2004 3:35 am
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And AWAY we go!
Here comes the RR can of worms boys. 
I think the boy can play.
Rick |
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George Wixon
From:
Waterbury, CT USA
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Posted 30 Oct 2004 4:18 am
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While I know it's not RR's cup of tea so to speak, I'd like to hear him play something like "Mansion On The Hill." I think all doubt of wether he could play or not would be removed at that point. I'm open to all kinds of music but my preference is towards country.
George |
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Ron !
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Posted 30 Oct 2004 5:02 am
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hmmmmmm.
Haven't we been here before???
Ron
Nikaro SD10 4x6 |
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 30 Oct 2004 5:40 am
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George. I would like to hear you play "Countdown" by John Coltrane. Then I would decide whether or not there was any doubt you could play.
I never tire of the "two left pedalpusher" types trying to come up with something to express their bewilderment at RR.
I stopped at a music store here in Atlanta the other day. I have a friend who works there and deals some used pedal steels. I noticed there were a few sold from the last time I was there. He told me about the young kids coming in there in their baggys and backwards hats that are catching on to RR big time. Some are playing in the House of God churches here and some are just wanting to groove like Robert.
If you have never bought any Sacred Steel/House of God style CDs and done a little investigating on where all this is coming from, then you will continue to miss out on RR and understand better where his playing style comes from and what he is all about and why he is so popular right now.
He has just ramped up the style quite a few notches. The groove and spirit are still there, just presentable in a more secular environ, just like Aretha singing in church and then out of church. Still there.
Go Robert. |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 30 Oct 2004 5:45 am
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| Bill, now that you mention it, I don't think I ever heard Coltrane, or Bird for that matter, play "Mansion on the Hill" or even "A Way to Survive". It's a wonder they got as far as they did with such poor credentials... |
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Steve Howard
From:
High Ridge, Missouri, USA
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Posted 30 Oct 2004 6:08 am
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I have yet to be a part of this bag of worms so I don't want to miss my chance
From the little bit I have heard of RR (and I want to hear more so I can be more educated), would it be correct to say that he could be compared to what Jimmy Hendrix did for guitar?
The way I feel about Jimmy Hendrix is that even though ability wise he wasn't close to being as good as some of his peers, what he did for how the guitar could be played was years before his time. He was doing things that no one else was doing. Some liked it, some hated it, but there sure were a lot more people getting interested in it because of him.
I would have to put RR's talent level above what Jimmy Hendrix had, but I don't think he is up there with some of the great steel players. But talent is only half the battle. There is lot to be said about "feel" and rhythm. And RR has it.
So, I don't think that just because he may not stand up talent wise to his peers, he sure is getting a lot of attention and a lot more people interest in an instrument that until now has really only had a small "knick" of the music world. As they say, any plublicity is good plublicity. And I enjoy listening to him, thats all that matters. |
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 30 Oct 2004 6:11 am
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I'm all for RR. Growing up on rock & roll, I like his music, his jamming, entertaining and his playing, even though I don't listen to "the music of my youth" very much at this point in my life.
What I am now interested in, is his next direction (if there is to be one) or evolvement. He is certainly capable of moving forward. Hopefully he has the creativity and determination because he certainly has a foothold and following.
He has my support and respect.
BTW....what's the big deal with Mansion On The Hill and A Way To Survive?
You can attend any or all the the steel shows throughout the country and hear 22 guys at each one play those songs[This message was edited by HowardR on 30 October 2004 at 07:18 AM.] |
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Howard Tate
From:
Leesville, Louisiana, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 30 Oct 2004 6:12 am
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| RR is not the music I love, but I enjoy watching him play. I'm amazed at what he can do, it's so foreign to me. It's like a lot of jazz, it's not the sound as much as the display of skill. That's one rednecks opinion, anyway. |
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Andy Zynda
From:
Wisconsin
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Posted 30 Oct 2004 6:28 am
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Two things about RR discussions bug me.
#1 He can play. There's no arguing that fact.
#2 More than half of what you're hearing when listening the RR, is the FAMILY BAND! Good god, you could drop Robert out of the mix, (and Robert does this alot, to keep listeners from steel fatigue) and still have a smokin, heart thumping band!
No one ever mentions his band as part of his sound, and I think that his band is the greater part of the whole RR thing.
I felt similarly about Stevie Ray Vaughan. He was a monstrous, emotional blues/rock player, but without double trouble, (Tommy Shannon and Chris Layton) a lot of his power was missing. I have recordings of SRV before DT, and it proves my point.
This is just my own opinion, and that's all.
-andy-
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Jeff Lampert
From:
queens, new york city
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Posted 30 Oct 2004 7:01 am
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A very good point. Why should RR be held to a standard that no other musician I've ever hear of is held to, including the greatest that ever played. Why does no one question if Segovia could play the blues? Why does no one question if Oscar Peterson could play bluegrass? Why does no question if Eric Clapton could play classical? Why does no question if Lloyd Green could play disco/funk? Why does no one question if Wes Montgomery could play folk music? Why does no one question if Lester Young could play baroque? Why does no on equestion if Yo-Yo Ma could play rock? Yet, Robert Randolph, a blues player, has to explain why he doesn't play country music. Small wonder that pedal steel guitar continues to be so pigeon-holed. We're the ones doing it.
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[url=http://www.mightyfinemusic.com/jeff's_jazz.htm]Jeff's Jazz[/url]
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John Macy
From:
Rockport TX/Denver CO
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Posted 30 Oct 2004 7:24 am
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| Nice, Jeff... |
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Dan Tyack
From:
Olympia, WA USA
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Posted 30 Oct 2004 7:34 am
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What Jeff said.....
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www.tyack.com
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 30 Oct 2004 8:07 am
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| Jeff---way too perfect! |
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 30 Oct 2004 8:17 am
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Right you are Jeff....you really went for baroque on that one....  |
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Bill Llewellyn
From:
San Jose, CA
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Posted 30 Oct 2004 8:26 am
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I think some are concerned that Robert is hijacking the PSG. If there were an online violin forum back in the days when the violin started getting used as a fiddle in folk music, there might have been a similar debate. But I don't think the violin being used in folk/country hurt it any. Nor do I think Robert rocking out with the PSG hurts it any. Especially since he does it so well. And it's being received by the public so well. New life (and a new direction) for PSG. The times, they are a-changin'.
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Bill, steelin' since '99 | Steel page | My music | Steelers' birthdays | Over 50? |
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Tim Tweedale
From:
Vancouver, B.C., Canada
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Posted 30 Oct 2004 9:40 am
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There's a great clip of Robert Randolph on NPR demo-ing a bunch of different styles, including country. Does anyone have a link to that?
-Tim |
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Mark van Allen
From:
Watkinsville, Ga. USA
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Posted 30 Oct 2004 10:29 am
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Well stated, Jeff. To borrow from another current thread, whether we call it Hawaiian Guitar, Steel Guitar, Pedal Steel Guitar... it's a guitar capable of playing any style, not an "electrified horizontal tone production machine (with pedals) for the reproduction of only medium-tempo country shuffles"...
I simply don't understand the mindset that "Steel guitar" as an art form embraces only a small set of musical parameters. Thankfully all the greats we admire didn't think Bob Dunn and Leon McAuliffe had "said it all".
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Stop by the Steel Store at: www.markvanallen.com
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Karlis Abolins
From:
(near) Seattle, WA, USA
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Posted 30 Oct 2004 11:59 am
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What Jeff said! I just wish that I had Robert Randolph's skill. I really like the style derived from the sacred steel tradition. I like listening to The Campbell Brothers as well. Add Dan Tyack to the list of music I am listening to recently. I hope that someday I will have enough skill at this type of blues-based music to share it with others.
Karlis |
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Steinar Gregertsen
From:
Arendal, Norway, R.I.P.
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Posted 30 Oct 2004 12:09 pm
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Jeff's post should be on top of the "Post Of The Year" list, if such a list excisted!
Steinar
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Frank Parish
From:
Nashville,Tn. USA
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Posted 30 Oct 2004 12:57 pm
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Finally a more positive thread for the PSG and RR's accomplishments.
I think that's the first time I've heard the phrase "Electrified Horizontal Tone Machine" today. I'll try to remember it the next time I'm asked what it is. |
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Chris Walke
From:
St Charles, IL
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Posted 30 Oct 2004 1:34 pm
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Andy Z -
I don't disagree with your point that the Family Band is a huge part of RR's sound. And it is a testament to his musicianship that he lets the band shine thru.
However, your comment about SRV makes me wonder....Maybe he was better with DoubleTrouble (one of those great combinations of musical talent - the whole is greater than the sum of its parts), but then again, how much younger and less experienced was he on this recording your heard from before DoubleTrouble? I think that's something that should be considered. Either way, DT did not provide any flash, they were just one of the most rock-solid rhythm sections a blues player could hope for. The fire was SRV's.
ooops. topic drift. |
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Lee Baucum
From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
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Posted 30 Oct 2004 5:05 pm
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Now, if we can just find out how RR tunes his guitar. JI or ET? I'll bet he's a "straight up" tuner.
You know, the fact that we're already referring to him by his initials says something. I don't know what, but it says something!
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Lee, from South Texas
Down On The Rio Grande
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