Favorite Muscians
Submitted by Jake-O on Tue, 11/01/2005 - 12:36
Tags:
- Jaco Pastorius (bass) of Weather Report and of legend: Legend not being a band, but truly what he is. Hard to say anything about Jaco that hadn't already been said, other than he means alot to me and his music digs deep actually makes you think. He was actually a very intelligent man, just plagued by addiction and manic-depression, but he was somewhat of a philosopher of bass, and music in general. He pioneered so much and played stuff that people today can't seem to keep up with, and this is back in the 70's when the bass was little more than time-keeper and bass notes of the chord. Also played ballads like no else can.
- Recommended listening:
- Songs- Portrait of Tracey, Donna Lee, Liberty City
- Albums- Jaco Pastorius, Invitation, anything you can get honestly
- -Eddie Hazel (guitar) of Parliament/Funkadelic: Like most musical geniouses, he was self-destructed and left us too early with too little. Also often shrugged off as mearly a Hendrix rip-off, if you listen carefuly, you hear a voice in Hazel's playing that's truly unique. He played not only with dripping emotion and sweet tone, but technique and prowess on the instrument that leaves him well-rounded and hard to beat.
- Recommended listening:
- Songs-Maggot Brain (of course), California Dreamin', Friday Night, August the 14th
- Albums-Maggot Brain, Games, Dames, and Guitar Thangs, Standing of the Verge of Gettin it On
- Robbie Robertson (guitar) of The Band: Always seems to be underappreciated. Robbie played with more feel than anyone else on the instrument. He had a way of approaching notes thjat he could do more with just three than guys like Steve Vai or Yngwie could ever do with a million. Robbie also (mainly) composed most of The Band songs, an inpressive feat. His playing was shadowed by Bob Dylan's "selling out" or Garth Hudson creative organ parts and sounds, but I believe when Robbie played that impromtu solo on the Last Waltz when Clapton strap came off, he outplayed anything Clapton ever did.
- Recommended listening:
- Songs: Tears of Rage, Ophelia, Anything with Bob Dylan
- Albums: Before the Flood, The Band, Music from the Big Pink, (or save alot of time and get) Across the Great Divide
- Bill Evans (piano) of The Bill Evans Trio and a sideman to many great artists: Bill Evans deserves any and all credit he gets. Not as influential as perhaps Monk or Ellington, or as famous as Herbie or Chick, Bill is a true giant of jazz and can lay out greater melodies than anyone. His phrasing is what truly makes him stand out. Every idea he plays just translates purely through the piano and flows perfectly. The Trio was huge, and produced great stuff in a terribly short amount of time.
- Recommended Listening:
- Songs: Waltz for Debbie, My Romance, My Foolish Heart
- Albums: Know What I Mean? (with Cannonball Adderley), Kind of Blue (with Miles Davis), My Romance
- Terry Bozzio (drums) of Frank Zappa, Missing Persons, Jeff Beck, others: I mainly enjoy his work with Zappa and Beck, Missing Persons was kind of lame. He makes the drums so musical. This might be because he has so fucking many of them, but also the way the doesn't just smack the shit out them, but actually plays the drums. This isn't as common as you'd think. He also can just rock out like none other.
- Reccomended listening:
- Songs- Punky's Whips, any song where he's featured for solos
- Albums- Baby Snakes, can't think of the names of any Jeff Beck ones at the moment
- Miles Davis (trumpet): Definetly the most famous person and most-appreciated I've mentioned so far! Obviously, there's not much to say Miles other than he's THE Man. He could play as fast as Dizzy, and did earlier in his career, but just chose to play with that harmon mute shoved up his ass and as little as possible. The man was full of surprises and could always teach any musician a thing or two whenever he picked up his horn.
- Recomended listening:
- Songs: If I Were a Bell, So What, Sketches of Spain, Right Off, Autumn Leaves, you know the drill....
- Albums: A Tribute to Jack Johnson, In A Silent Way, Kind of Blue (duh) Milestones, too many to note
These are some of my personal favorite players on various instruments, not in any order really. This doesn't necessarily mean I think they are the best ever on thier instrument, however.
This is exclusively thier playing and styles, not composition I'm noting. I'll have another list of my favorite composers later.