Conference napalm::guitar

                                                             
    re.0
    
    Hmmm... There are some pretty sweeping statments in there mate.
                 
    I've never heard of the Ruskie, but I'm afraid I find it difficult
    to believe that he's the 'worlds greatest', with only two fingers.
                                  
    As for Hendrix, this is very subjective and has been discussed elsewhere
    in here - in my opinion ? He sucks.      
                                             
    Nuno Bettencourt from Extreme ? *NOW* You're talking !! Great chops
    and a style that must make Eddie Van Halen feed very flattered in
    his old age.
                
    Cheers,     
    -Tony

    re .-1
    
    Rhienhardt was, in fact a VERY influential guitarist, and is well known
    in the jazz circles.  I've never heard him play but I've heard of him.
    
    As for Hendrix, without making any judgements, I can say this:  You may
    not like him at all, but just look at the history.  It speaks for
    itself as far as influence, etc.
    
    The most I can say for anyone anymore is whether I like them or not. 
    I'm in no position to sit in judgement on someone's playing ability,
    that's not for me to say.
    
    Will

    I certainly have heard of Django Rheinhardt and have most of his
    recordings.   He played back in the thirties.  The phrase "ahead of
    his time" is in my opinion shamelessly abused to the point of it not
    holding ANY weight in my court any more.
    
    However, Django is one of the FEW examples where I think that phrase
    is appropriate.   Django was doing things (stylistically speaking)
    that people didn't pick up on until perhaps 35 years later.
    
    And despite his handicap, he had chops like no one for those times.
    
    	db

    Django was an ExCellENT guitarist! One of the things that I notice from
    alot of non-classically trained guitarist os how little of the hands
    they use, 2 or 3 fingers on the left most of the time.  
     The first time I saw Vai on MTV (DLR vid) I knew the guy was GOOD
    just because he used the pinky and didn't favor the 1st or 2nd digit.

    
                      
    re: .2            
                      
    Whilst I respect Hendrix as a musician and as an innovator of rock 
    guitar, his music, other than some of the classics, does nothing 
    for me.
                      
    Each to their own.

    There are many recordings of Django available. The audio is fairly
    sloppy (Hey, whadya want for 50+ year old recordings?) I've got a
    live recording called "Django Reinhardt and The Quintet Of The Hot
    Club Of France" that's a good example of his chops...
    
    Edd

I don't like to think of music as a contest, where someone is the "best".
There a huge number of musicians in many different genres of music that
I enjoy greatly.  Just because some of them have outstanding technical
ability or were a big influence on me (or anyone else) doesn't necessarily 
mean that I think more of them then someone that just writes songs I
enjoy listening to.  

<mild flickering flame>

I get so tired of reading these "competation" notes in these notes files.  
Didn't we just get done with a "Clapton is better then EVH is better 
then Yngwie is better then Vai is better then..." note in here.

Who really cares anyway?  You already know who you want to listen to and 
it's doubtful any of you are going to change any of others opinion on this
by stating yours.

<flame off>

Tony, I don't remember if you like traditional jazz much or not, but 
if you never heard Django Rheinhardt, you might want to check out
some of his music.  It spawned an entire sub-genre of acoustic jazz playing.
You'd be amazed how well he could play with just two fingers!  He played
stuff with just those two that I'll *never* be able to play with four.

Greg

    Edd,  ( of WEFXEM )
    
         That's exactly the Album I had in mind, and probably one of the
    few that I've actually heard myself.  Is there anywhere around here
    that I can pick up this album, so that I don't have to go into Boston?
         Also, just caught a group on PBS, the show was called Austin City
    Limits, and they had a group on called "Strength In Numbers".
         They've got to be one of the Hottest Groups I've heard in years!
         We're talkin' Mandolin, Dobro, Banjo, Upright Bass & Electric
    Fiddle.  Haven't heard a group improvise so well since the Sixties.....
         
                           God Gave Rock'n Roll To You,
    
                                                                  Stormin'
    
    
         

       Jean Baptiste (Django) Reinhardt was a Belgian gypsy.  He was born
       in 1910 and died in 1953.  He started out playing banjo, but a fire
       in his caravan severly damaged his left hand, particulary the third
       and fourth fingers.  He switched over to guitar at that point and
       developed a unique technique that allowed him play amazingly fast
       single string solos despite his handicap.

       By the way, the damaged fingers were not fused together.  In some of
       the books I have there are close-up pictures that show the damage.
       There is considerable scar tissue on the hand, but the fingers are
       separate.  Because of the damage, he couldn't use them for normal
       fingering.  According to articles I've read he could only flop them
       onto the fingerboard (and only the upper two strings at that) for
       some simple chords.

       Django is probably most famous for his years with Stephane Grapelli
       in the Quintet of the Hot Club of France.  And for years my favorite
       Django album was "Djangology."  However, recently I came across a
       fantastic Django album called "Django:  Solos, Duets, and Trios
       1937-1943" and it has moved up to the top spot on my list.  I've
       always liked Django and been impressed by both his musical taste and
       his technique (especially when one considers the state of his left
       hand), but I had *no idea* he could play like this.  It's absolutely
       amazing.  In my opinion, if you haven't heard this, you haven't
       really heard Django.  I had read over the years that the Quintet had
       somewhat limited him.  Now that I've heard this album I would have
       to agree.

       One last thing:  I'm trying to locate The Book Of Django by Max
       Abrams.  The local book stores don't have it in their listings.
       Anyone know of any good music oriented books stores that might
       carry this?


       							John

    Strength in numbers is another of the many 'all-star' groups that forms
    in and around Nashville for a couple of appearances/albums and the
    general good time of the players involved when they're not on tour with
    their normal groups.   This iteration is noteworthy because it DOESN'T
    have Tony Rice on guitar - instead when they use a guitarist it's
    Mark O'Connor.  Mark also plays some Mandolin, Bela Fleck is on 
    Banjo, Edgar Meyer on double bass, and 'Flux' (Jerry Douglas) on
    dobro.  Great musicians all.  
    
    RE: .7 'yawn'
    
    	In part I agree, over zealous competition is destructive.  
    On the other hand, references to guitarists through this conference 
    have often moved me to obtain and critically listen to recordings of their
    respective material.  In that regard this type of discussion continues
    to have value.
    
    	On Django - he and Charlie Christian were both extremely
    influential during the period of the early part of the use of guitar
    with big bands, combos, and etc... and were quick to utilize the
    resophonic and electric components.  Remember Eddie Lang?  He and Joe
    Venuti (jazz violin) were the inspiration for the Django/Greppelli
    duo/combo.  Eddie Lang was first call for studio guitarists and
    on top of the pyramid in the mid-to-late 20's until his untimely
    early death.  
    
    	BTW, for those serious students of the genre, transcriptions of
    Charlie Christian and Django are available at most music stores that
    carry the jazz masters series.  You can also obtain transcriptions of
    Charlie Parker, Miles, etc...

    Django already has his own basenote--1241.
    
    Danny W.

    
    	Yes, Django is fabulous!!  His vibrato is unreal for playing
    	an acoustic.  Must have been those Super Bullets...
    
    	The closest current player I've heard to Django is most definitely
    	Berelli Lagrene.  He played last night in Boston (I didn't go) with
    	Al DiMeolo and Larry Coryell.  He's a young kid and he's great!!
    
    	

    > And for years my favorite Django album was "Djangology."  However,
    > recently I came across a fantastic Django album called "Django:  Solos,
    > Duets, and Trios 1937-1943" and it has moved up to the top spot on my
    > list.  I've always liked Django and been impressed by both his musical
    > taste and his technique (especially when one considers the state of his
    > left hand), but I had *no idea* he could play like this.  It's
    > absolutely amazing.  In my opinion, if you haven't heard this, you
    > haven't really heard Django.  
    
    I have to agree - I had the same reaction.  Django has always been
    one of my top favorites, and I thought I had heard most of his best
    stuff, but this obscure album (which John was gracious enough to
    loan to me) absolutely blew my mind.
    
    It is far more experimental and loose than anything with the Quintet
    De L'Hot Club, and demonstrates chops significantly more advanced
    than any other Django recording I've heard.  It's mostly freeform
    improvs, unlike the very dated "swing" stuff he played with the
    Quintet.   This album sounds like more like the jazz guitar albums
    of the 50's and 60's.
    
    For Django fans, this is an ABSOLUTE MUST (if you can find it).
    
    	db

    I've heard of this guy since I started reading Guitar Player back in
    the early seventies, but I've never heard any of his recordings. Is the
    record your talking about of good enough quality? Often, someone will
    tell me about some blues player who used to play  years ago and put on
    a tune for me to hear. Trouble is I can't get by the damn recording to
    listen to the dude.
    
    "sakman"
    
     

	it's definitely not up to modern standards.  There's the usual hiss,
	pops, and clicks, and a certain tinny quality to the sound (too much
	treble, not enough bass).  The latter can be ameliorated a bit by
	tweaking the tone controls, but overall there's not much you can do
	about it.

	Me, I just filter it out in my head.  Sure I'd prefer better quality
	recordings, but until they become available (if ever) I'm not about to 
	let that interfere with my enjoyment of Django's talent.


									John

        .9 has  it right.  I have a 6 cassette boxed set which contains
        all of Django's  recorded  music (including recordings with his
        son, Joseph).  The  quality is so-so, but as was said, you tune
        out the noise.
        
        Andy
        

Django is *required* listening for any guitarist.  Don't quibble over 
recording quality or musical style or anything.  Just listen.

Bob

    Whilst not wishing to disagree at all with those who wonder at Django's
    mindblowing style, may I draw your attention to perhaps the most
    ignored guitar I can think of - Lonnie Johnson.
    
    Johnson played and sang the blues, he accompanied people like Texas
    Alexander (Lightnin Hopkins cousin) and played a number of duets
    with Eddie Lang, besides making solo recordings. He also played
    in Louis Armstrong's Hot Five (or it may have been the Hot Seven).
                       
    Some years ago, in the UK an album was released called Blue Guitars
    and this featured Johnson and Lang solos, duets and samples of them
    both playing with jazz bands.
    
    Brian Rust, who is an authority on traditional jazz and who wrote
    the sleeve notes on this album considers the Johnson solos to be
    the finest example of jazz guitar ever recorded.
    
    If you are not a jazz fan, do not be put off. Johnson swings like
    mad and like Django, should be compulsory listening.
    
    BTW, I am not interested in a "who is better than whom" contest
    either. Just listen and enjoy.
    
    It is quite obvious that there are many out there who have not heard
    of guitar players who equally as many people consider to be virtual
    gods.
    
    Lets just share the names around rather than trying to compile a
    top ten.
    
    andy
    

Now, if we're talking WORLDS BEST as the topic implies, lets' not get off track
here...Or perhaps we should SET NOTE/TITLE="Django"...  ;)

IMHO, the Worlds Best belongs to a dude who recently has a solo effort only
available thru TV.  He plays an interesting variety of tunes from Chopin
to Cher.  His instruments are the most unique, and I'll never understand how he
gets that unique distortion (aside from the 26 Marshalls on the back of
the stage ;)...Or that whammy bar vibrato.

He is...







The ONE AND ONLY....







Zamfir...   


Bahahahahahahaaa...Sorry.
I agree with Greg.  The WHO'S BEST is a silly topic, and it's been beaten to
death in every other topic in here in one form or another.

jc (Who'd rather argue about equipment ;)

As I type this in I'm listening to a CD I just picked up at Rockit Records in
Nashua:  Djangology 49.  This is a reissue on the Bluebird label of songs from 
the original Djangology album, along with a bunch more from the same sessions 
that weren't included on the original.  All told there are twenty songs on this
album, along with extensive liner notes which include comments on each song.

Also, for those of you who can't stand the surface noise and whatnot of old 
recordings, this CD is ADD which means it has had digital mastering.  And it
has been reprocessed with the Sonic Solutions "NoNOISE" system.  While this
doesn't entirely eliminate surface noise, it definitely improves the quality
a lot.  In my opinion, a bargain at $10.99.  Now if they'd just do the same
for that Solos, Duets, and Trios album.


								John