"Jazz is not dead - it just smells funny" Frank Zappa stated a long time ago. Frank Zappa is clearly one of my everlasting heroes - and as long as I dont understand too much of his lyrics there is no need to wonder about Zappa (?!). I am sure that I would precisely recognize Zappa playing the guitar in a bunch of hundreds of others - because he´s so UNIQUE in his dynamic and powerful and relaxed way of music - he´s really great. I don´t dare to say much about his music as there are lots of very clever comments on his music - just browse the web for a smart introduction http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Zappa. If you like to listen one of my favourite and very characteristic pieces here it is.
Andy and Sofa #2At the beginning of the next song you can listen to Cannonball Adderly saying the following words "My pianist Joe Zawinul wrote this song for me". Huhh - I wished I could say something similar once in my life!! The song clearly belongs to the best jazz-tunes I ever listened to. I collected about 20 different versions from this song but there might be much more available, I think. A wonderful piece of music.
One of the best drummers in the history of music - Billy Cobham - influenced a whole generation of musicians. When I saw him 20 years ago in Hannover I wondered that lots of people in the audience constantly commented his playing - I simply didn´t know that he´s the godfather of drumming. He never got super-famous as a solo-artist, but on each of his albums there are at least 2 or 3 really beautyful songs. Here you can listen to one of them.
Here is a brilliant movie, Billy Cobham and his band, Stratus: http://youtube.com/watch?v=8ae3l12PM2c
Most of the jazz-guitarists in the world have one common model - Pat Metheny. His extraordinary musical spirit in playing and composing is amazing. He invented a very characteristical sound in his playing which you can listen a long time (even when it´s getting a bit boring after a while). I once attended a concert and I thought both parties - musicians and audience - could act a bit more, but maybe you shouldn´t visit a concert in Bielefeld (?!). Here is one characteristic song from him.
Music is pain! If you don´t believe just watch Metheny in this movie http://youtube.com/watch?v=BThgt4dARbo
There exist songs that you never forget, right? If there might be 200 unforgettable songs in my mind - 10 of them will have been composed by Quincy Jones. He has been such a grand artist.
Some years ago Quincy held an award speech about the connection of soul and science. Not VERY essential I think but worth watching nevertheless http://youtube.com/watch?v=XAyzKVG20gY
1 comment:
Pat Metheny ist doch nun wirklich nicht langweilig Mann
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