Now I don’t know about you, but I rarely remember the first time I heard a particular artist. They better be really good for that to happen! Well, Chieli Minucci is really good. What I had first noticed was Chieli’s guitar work, but it didn’t take long before it was just as much the music. The music of both Chieli as a solo artist and with Special EFX is very rhythmic and often upbeat. What stands out about his playing is his superb use of dynamics, even when playing fast lines, and also his use of volume control. Continue Reading
Dec
12
2009
Category : Musicians
Dec
03
2009
Category : Musicians
For a short while I took guitar lessons from one of the finest female jazz guitarists since Mary Osborn. I never became a great guitarist, but that’s because I never put in the time it takes to be a great guitarist. Emily on the other hand, lived and breathed the guitar.
One day I arrived at Emily’s apartment to take a lesson and there she was in a leg cast and on crutches, Continue Reading
Nov
30
2009
Category : Musicians
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The beauty that went on inside Jaco’s head never ceases to amaze me. Whenever I heard Jaco play a song his presence was always so strong. He didn’t have to overplay or overpower a song to make that presence known either.
- I only got to see Jaco play in a group setting 2 times, once with Weather Report in 1977 or 1978, when they played in Virginia Beach and the second time in Forest Hills Stadium, when Jaco was the leader of Joni Mitchell’s Band. Both times were amazing! Up to that point the best electric bass player I’d ever seen was Stanley Clarke, but Jaco had so many more sophisticated harmonies going on and to me his sense of “space” was perfect. Continue Reading
