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Posted by Sir Stonesalot on January 31, 2000 at 18:23:34:
In Reply to: Re: Review of Mick Taylor show in SF posted by steel driving hammer on January 29, 2000 at 14:33:41:
: Taylor's playing style "today" is too many notes and not
: enough strumming the chords.
: I like the saying by John Lee Hooker...
: "Throwaway those fancy chords and give me that beat"
I hear ya Hammer. Along these lines, here's a neat story....
Mile Davis and John Coltrane are on a train. It's a long trip and they start a conversation about improvisation. Coltrane says to Miles, "Sometimes when I improvise, the ideas come into my head faster than I can play them. When I try to get them all out, they get jumbled together, and it don't sound the way I want it too. What the hell can I do about it? I don't want to stop the flow of ideas." Miles looks at him and says, "Take the fuckin' horn out of your mouth."
To me, the moral of this story can be applied not just to music, but life itself. Sometimes, less is more.
Most technically proficient guitar players, or for that matter, "Virtuosos" of any instrument, need to learn this lesson. Most of the time, they try to cram too many notes into a space that would be better suited for less. I call this "noodling". Some people get off on noodling guitar players. I don't. Sure, noodling can be technically impressive. It can also lack some emotion, and power. I prefer emotion and power in the music that I listen to. No doubt, Eddie Van Halen is a technical genius on the axe. But I find his solos boring. It's the same with the Grateful Dead. Jerry & Bob are fine players, but their meandering style does nothing for me. I hear that stuff, and I want to scream "Take the fucking horn out of your mouth!"
I must admit that haven't heard any of MTs solo stuff, so I can't comment on his work. But for $16.00, I'll give it a listen if he comes anywhere near here.