YTSEJAM digest 5941

From: ytsejam@torchsong.com
Date: Fri Aug 24 2001 - 07:14:58 EDT

  • Next message: ytsejam@torchsong.com: "YTSEJAM digest 5944"

                                YTSEJAM Digest 5941

    Today's Topics:

      1) Thee Dancing Gee-tarist! And more...
     by Cyberwolf <ninja@mindspring.com>
      2) Angularity
     by "Christopher W. Ptacek" <someone@digitalrodent.com>
      3) Re: Vai too rehearsed
     by Scott Hansen <schansen@cts.com>
      4) Re: Angularity
     by =?iso-8859-1?Q?Mauricio_Mart=EDnez <al769526@mail.mty.itesm.mx>
      5) The absolute Man
     by Michael & Pamela Nazer <mnazer@pressenter.com>

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------

    Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 11:00:40 -0400
    From: Cyberwolf <ninja@mindspring.com>
    To: ytsejam@torchsong.com
    Subject: Thee Dancing Gee-tarist! And more...
    Message-ID: <3B851A91.27E416C8@mindspring.com>

    Hmmm... interesting thread. The dancing, showmanship of incredible guitar players (and
    their grandmothers). Could be the theme to a Richard Bey (is he even still
    alive?)/Rikki Lake/Jenny Jones/Morton Downey Jr (I know he's not)/Jerry Springer
    episode. The point here:

    What's the big issue? I don't see any... Every musician chooses to express themselves
    differently. I see no problem if Vai wanted to shave his head and body bald (once
    again), put on body armor and a feathered headdress and walk upside down. His
    credentials are impeccable, as is his playing, and he certainly retains his musical
    integrity irregardless.

    Let's remember, LIVE, everyone seems to be complaining about the lack of stage
    presence, and a real live stage set. Seems people, after all the programming by the
    grunge/slacker era (which I've no problem with, personally), actually sometimes MISS
    extravaganza's like KISS, Tool, etc. So, musicians putting on an intense live set,
    only benefits their reputation IMHO, not to mention their repetoir of choreographed
    moves.

    Let's remember in and of itself, performing live is a spectacle to begin with, where
    you take it from there is a matter of personal choice.

    Also, I remember plenty of people complaining about Jannick from Iron Maiden's rather
    unorthodox performance rituals during their last tour, but I also HEARD some
    incredible melodious and intense guitar playing from the man, so I've no problem
    there. Humorous? Effeminette? Who cares. Too many people in the prog world are worried
    about offending their repressed homophobic intolerance, anyhow. Can of worms, anybody?
    Heh heh.

    G;day
    Scott M. (Musician/graphic artist/activist, Dr. Pepper Aficianado)
    CD: VIRTUALITY (ambient, neo-progressive cyber rock)
    http://www.theambientmind.com
    http://www.theambientmind.com/virtuality/
    http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/mosher

    ------------------------------

    Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 13:00:22 -0500
    From: "Christopher W. Ptacek" <someone@digitalrodent.com>
    To: <ytsejam@torchsong.com>
    Subject: Angularity
    Message-ID: <000c01c12bfd$7c1a4060$0b01a8c0@mindspring.com>

    > Please tell us more about this angular playing you
    > mentioned. I'm not familiar with this technique.

    Angular in terms of note choice and the geometry of where / how he frets the
    notes he's playing. Petrucci is very scalar, like a Paul Gilbert etc. He
    uses a lot of patterns (not in the remedial sense of "stuck in box patterns"
    etc) Vai uses more of the fretboard. His melodies don't tend to fall as
    directly out of scales and arpeggio shapes. I guess I'm saying angular much
    in the way the term is used to refer to Metheny or Holdsworth, though Vai's
    certainly not THAT extreme. His lines aren't all as guitaristic as JP's.
    In fact, the main solo on Fire Garden Suite appears to be highly influenced
    by a violin solo from McLaughlin's Shakti group. I'm sorry if I'm not doing
    a good job explaining this concept... it'd be easier in tab, actually, if
    you are really concerned. Drop me an e-mail and I'll have a go at it.

    ------------------------------

    Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 15:23:18 -0700
    From: Scott Hansen <schansen@cts.com>
    To: <ytsejam@torchsong.com>
    Subject: Re: Vai too rehearsed
    Message-ID: <B7AAD066.2448%schansen@cts.com>

    Rob Denni said:
    > I think my point was missed. This guy has seen G3
    > three nights in a row, and he complains only of Vai
    > being too rehearsed and repetative from night to
    > night. I guess because JP and Satch don't were
    > costumes and jump around and play a "show", its okay
    > for them to be repetative and rehearsed from night to
    > night. I'd rather put up with Vai's repetativeness
    > than Satch's any day.

    Ummm....no - I didn't miss your point at all - in fact I think you missed
    *my* point. What I'm trying to get across is that Vai appeared to be going
    thru the motions, seeing as *everything* was exactly the same. I mean for
    God's sake, he could've said something different/unique at each show
    instead of the same generic blanket statements - that's the kind of thing I
    expect from a politician - not from a band playing live, where the
    spontaneity *is* important (otherwise I might as well go listen to the CDs
    or watch a live video).

    Yeah Petrucci and Satch played the same sets also, but at least I *could*
    see some differences each night, just as you can when you go to see Rush
    even tho they play the same exact set each night. Petrucci and Satch were
    *not* repetitive to the degree that Vai was. Had you been to 3 shows like I
    had, you'd know that.

    Scott

    ------------------------------

    Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 17:27:35 -0500
    From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Mauricio_Mart=EDnez <al769526@mail.mty.itesm.mx>
    To: <ytsejam@torchsong.com>
    Subject: Re: Angularity
    Message-ID: <006601c12c22$cff90c00$3faaf094@compaq.net.mx>

    Bring it on on the list Chris...i'm interested in this stuff too. I kind of
    sense what's the difference between a player like Petrucci and Gilbert, and
    Vai. But if you have another way of explaining this angular playing....i'd
    sure like to hear it.

    Mauricio

    ----- Original Message -----
    From: "Christopher W. Ptacek" <someone@digitalrodent.com>
    To: "Multiple recipients of list" <ytsejam@torchsong.com>
    Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2001 1:02 PM
    Subject: Angularity

    > > Please tell us more about this angular playing you
    > > mentioned. I'm not familiar with this technique.
    >
    > Angular in terms of note choice and the geometry of where / how he frets
    the
    > notes he's playing. Petrucci is very scalar, like a Paul Gilbert etc. He
    > uses a lot of patterns (not in the remedial sense of "stuck in box
    patterns"
    > etc) Vai uses more of the fretboard. His melodies don't tend to fall as
    > directly out of scales and arpeggio shapes. I guess I'm saying angular
    much
    > in the way the term is used to refer to Metheny or Holdsworth, though
    Vai's
    > certainly not THAT extreme. His lines aren't all as guitaristic as JP's.
    > In fact, the main solo on Fire Garden Suite appears to be highly
    influenced
    > by a violin solo from McLaughlin's Shakti group. I'm sorry if I'm not
    doing
    > a good job explaining this concept... it'd be easier in tab, actually, if
    > you are really concerned. Drop me an e-mail and I'll have a go at it.
    >

    ------------------------------

    Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 21:27:05 -0500
    From: Michael & Pamela Nazer <mnazer@pressenter.com>
    To: ytsejam <ytsejam@torchsong.com>
    Subject: The absolute Man
    Message-ID: <B7AB25A8.145B%mnazer@pressenter.com>

    I finally got my copy of leonardo today, I ordered it 3 weeks ago!
    I have not listened to the whole thing yet, but so far very interesting.
    The vocals are very rich, the choral arrangements are great. and as some
    one has already mentioned this indeed showcases James' talents. I am
    hearing many influences; Queen, Yes, Explorers Club, Symphony X, Savatage,
    and Joesph and the amazing technicolor dreamcoat. Very much a prog opera.

    Pam

    ------------------------------

    End of YTSEJAM Digest 5941
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