Subj : Jazz guitar
To : Martin Ridgley
From : Paul Lawson
Date : Thu Sep 07 2000 10:02 am
Martin Ridgley wrote in a message to Paul Lawson:
-=> Paul Lawson wrote to Martin Ridgley <=-
MR> Good point. I guess the alternative at the time was folk music,
MR> which also seemed to have wide appeal on college and university
MR> campuses - partially due, I suspect, to the 'protest' element in
MR> many of the lyrics.
I'd agree with your assesment.
MR> I've only got about 5 or 6 of his albums, all from the 1970s,
MR> and all on the ECM label. I like 'em all, but something -
MR> possibly Lyle Mays keyboard work - turned me off him around that
MR> time, and I stopped buying his albums.
I like lyle mays, I had one of his solo efforts a while back and it was
interesting to see how much of the Metheny group sound was his. Wow from the
'70s, you have his real early stuff. Try checking out Travels, it's a live
double CD that highlights most of his '80s work. For studio I think his best
'80s is "Off Ramp" If it was possible to wear out a CD, my copy would be
through. Towards the tail end of the '80s he got onto a brazillian kick for a
bit. Not to the Lee Ritenour extent but many of the rythums have a heavy latin
feel. I like "still life(talking)" from that period. The best he has to offer
from most of the '90s are projects that don't include the full Metheny group.
He did a CD with Gery Burton (he got his start in his band) called reunion
thats fantastic, another project with Roy Haynes and Dave Holland called
"Questions and Answers" thats mostly bop and aslo fantastic. His last
recording is called Quartet featuring the core of the Metheny group very nice
with some interesting explorations (can't think of a better word) on it. The
last full Metheny group CD is also interesting, he seems to be getting into
much more isoteric stuff using some unique instruments. As I said I'm a huge
Metheny fan so take that under advisement. I think he's the most versatile
player out there and one of the finest just straight players I've ever heard.
Listen to his phrasing, it's enough to make you cry.
MR> Yeah, you're right about his technique. What I heard of that
MR> early stuff still left me kind of cold for some reason, though.
He has that effect on lots of people, I just love his tangos. I saw him
in Italy about '86. You know he plays flamenco with a pick!!! Now that's a
right hand!
MR> <sigh> I'm afraid I'm still in the dark ages when it comes to
MR> computer technology. Believe it or not, I still don't have either
MR> a CD/ROM, or a burner. ;-\
Wow! You must be running DOS and maybe windows 3.1. :)
MR> I'll send you an email anyway though, 'cause this is probably
MR> off-topic for the echo.
Sounds good, I'll look forward to hearing from you!!!
Paul
--- timEd 1.10.y2k
* Origin: Paul's point, Salt Lake City, Utah. (1:218/704.16)
