What are you listening to right now?

[TheVat]

Be seeing you.

I loved that Lotus 7.  

[TheVat]

Stirring performance, lovely performer, and I loved the top comment which concerns coughing during a performance.  (clicking on comments should show it first)

I can play Asturias on piano, but on acoustic guitar it sounds

so.

much.

better.

[exchemist]

Continuing the guitar theme, time for a bit more Bach: Prelude from 1st Cello Suite played on the guitar by the lovely and talented Julia Lange:

 

What I like about this performance is that, unlike some guitar performers of this piece on YouTube (there are quite a few) she doesn't try to make it all about herself by messing about with the tempo and inserting dynamic contrasts all the time, as if it were a Romantic piece. It's Baroque. She allows Bach's pulse (always very strong) to carry it forward and lets his cascades of notes do the expressive work, with just a little inflexion here and there to stress key moments. Very classy interpretation, I thought. And she looks as if she in a sort of calm and peaceful ecstasy throughout, which is rather delightful.   

[TheVat]

Brava.  I like musicians who get to that sort of communion with the piece and invite you in (vs showoffy "look at me play, Ma!" stuff).

If you like "ecstasy throughout," also may be seen in many BB King solos.  

[Ken Fabian]

I've been revisiting some of the music I liked when (much) younger. Not much of it still has appeal. Even going back over Beatles albums there were a lot that just don't do it for me, but still leaving some that really, really do. The hard rock likes of Led Zep, Deep Purple, I liked then, not much now.

One band - at least some of their catalogue - has managed to impress me more than I expected going back around; I was a fan of Yes in 70's and 80's and much taken back then with Steve Howe's guitar and Rick Wakemen's keyboards especially. Still am but this time around I am floored by Chris Squire's bass playing.

Not necessarily has wide appeal but since people seem to be including linked examples.

(People who make videos of live performances suck at showing what anyone apart from lead singer and lead guitar are doing but this one segue's into Squire's signature solo piece - him showing off, and a bit indulgently; the basslines across so many songs are awesome, better than that imo, as often the lead instrument as not but so few videos show what he is doing (and how any video people who were AT a Yes concert failed to pay notice to him has me scratching my head)) -

"Long Distance Runaround/The Fish" -

 

Edited December 12 by Ken Fabian

[StringJunky]

A new view angle from the twin towers tragedy, a chap just uploaded after 23 years. It's quite clear the collapse starts at the sites of impact and not a detonation at the bottom by a secret government cabal.

 

Edited December 21 by StringJunky

[Genady]

1 hour ago, StringJunky said:

the collapse starts at the sites of impact

It sure did. I watched it from about 500 m.

[StringJunky]

1 hour ago, Genady said:

It sure did. I watched it from about 500 m.

Wow! I was doing a landscaping job at a house and the lady owner came running out and said a plane had crashed into the WTC, then we saw the second one. We knew then it was an attack. So sad and shocking  to see and hear those people crashing down onto the foyer roof from inside cameras before they collapsed. 

You were standing 500m from the start of  the mess we see today in the Middle East.

Edited December 21 by StringJunky

[Genady]

29 minutes ago, StringJunky said:

Wow! I was doing a landscaping job at a house and the lady owner came running out and said a plane had crashed into the WTC, then we saw the second one. We knew then it was an attack. So sad and shocking  to see and hear those people crashing down onto the foyer roof from inside cameras before they collapsed. 

You were standing 500m from the start of  the mess we see today in the Middle East.

When the first plane crashed, I was straight under the WTC. 500m was how far I walked away before the structures collapsed.

[StringJunky]

34 minutes ago, Genady said:

When the first plane crashed, I was straight under the WTC. 500m was how far I walked away before the structures collapsed.

You had a close shave.

[TheVat]

On 12/11/2024 at 11:53 PM, Ken Fabian said:

I was a fan of Yes in 70's and 80's and much taken back then with Steve Howe's guitar and Rick Wakemen's keyboards especially. Still am but this time around I am floored by Chris Squire's bass playing.

I underappreciated Yes back then, only really discovering them decades later.  And Squire is amazing on bass, as in Roundabout.  And, as you mention, much of Zeppelin or Deep Purple hasn't really stuck with me, though I occasionally find myself enjoying their instrumental pieces more now, like "Lazy" or "Kashmir."  

9 hours ago, StringJunky said:

A new view angle from the twin towers tragedy, a chap just uploaded after 23 years. It's quite clear the collapse starts at the sites of impact and not a detonation at the bottom by a secret government cabal.

I was on the grassy knoll in Dallas, in 1963.  Just some weeds and burger wrappers.  

Funny how those weird theories get so much traction.  There was footage I saw on the news that evening, 9-11-2001, where it was pretty clear where the pancaking started.

[Ken Fabian]

17 hours ago, TheVat said:

I underappreciated Yes back then, only really discovering them decades later.  And Squire is amazing on bass, as in Roundabout.  And, as you mention, much of Zeppelin or Deep Purple hasn't really stuck with me, though I occasionally find myself enjoying their instrumental pieces more now, like "Lazy" or "Kashmir."  

It isn't to everyone's taste and the lyrics seem more about atmosphere than story or meaning - but I do like Yes. They didn't tour Australia much and I missed them every time.

In truth I don't spend a lot of time listening to music, not even as radio in the background and get my regular music "hits" from messing around with a nylon guitar - sloppy, choppy, undisciplined and over time the flaws have morphed into features, but I have fun with it. What listening I do can include anything from JJ Cale to Beethoven (Violin Concerto lately, with Isaac Stern). Django and Stefan. Jazz mixes - Dave Brubeck, Cannonball Adderley, Mongo Santamaria, Satchmo, the "easy listening" sorts - a lot of Jazz doesn't work for me.

[StringJunky]

36 minutes ago, Ken Fabian said:

Dave Brubeck, Cannonball Adderley, Mongo Santamaria, Satchmo, the "easy listening" sorts - a lot of Jazz doesn't work for me.

Jazz really needs to be heard in the flesh. I   saw a South African Jazz pianist with double bassist, brass wind player and drummer. They seemed to meld all styles together and it was a masterclass in musicality and precision. The drummer was like a clock with swing. I'm normally into Blues, Pink Floyd, Progressive etc. Yes, I bow to their skill and the ease with which the jazz players improvise.

I've just got back my deep-bodied OM after 6 years from my nephew. Its tone has matured well. It is 18 years since I had it built.

Edited Sunday at 09:53 PM by StringJunky

[Ken Fabian]

16 minutes ago, StringJunky said:

I've just got back my deep-bodied OM after 6 years from my nephew. Its tone has matured well. It is 18 years since I had it built.

Hats off to your woodworking skills then. And perhaps your ability to source suitable wood too. No small project to make a guitar - to have it turn out good has to be gratifying.

As for Yes and their lyrics - they always seemed a bit... close to the edge... of some deeper meaning. Which I didn't quite get. But maybe that was the intention?

[exchemist]

More Bach arranged for different instruments, this time parts of the C Minor Lute suite played on the harp: 

 

There's a certain restful gentleness to the harp version: good to listen to last thing at night.   

 

[StringJunky]

1 hour ago, Ken Fabian said:

Hats off to your woodworking skills then. And perhaps your ability to source suitable wood too. No small project to make a guitar - to have it turn out good has to be gratifying.

As for Yes and their lyrics - they always seemed a bit... close to the edge... of some deeper meaning. Which I didn't quite get. But maybe that was the intention?

I paid for it to be built. Yes's lyrics were more a medium for Anderson's voice, I think. More to evoke emotions rather than concrete concepts.

1 hour ago, exchemist said:

More Bach arranged for different instruments, this time parts of the C Minor Lute suite played on the harp: 

 

There's a certain restful gentleness to the harp version: good to listen to last thing at night.   

 

I like Baroque. Here's another Bach piece on guitar by Vidovic. I prefer Julian Byzantine, but she is close.

 

[TheVat]

4 hours ago, Ken Fabian said:

Jazz mixes - Dave Brubeck, Cannonball Adderley, Mongo Santamaria, Satchmo, the "easy listening" sorts - a lot of Jazz doesn't work for me.

Always like Brubeck, and play a couple of his pieces on my 400 lb. 230 string guitar, partly thanks to hand injuries Brubeck suffered early in his career which caused him to develop a style that is easier to play for those of us with shorter fingers.  Adderly very listenable, very much a poet who recites through his sax.  That sextet he was in, with Davis, Coltrane, Evans, et al, really had no weak links.  

3 hours ago, Ken Fabian said:

Hats off to your woodworking skills then. And perhaps your ability to source suitable wood too. No small project to make a guitar - to have it turn out good has to be gratifying.

OM refers to a type of guitar manufactured by Martin.  

[Ken Fabian]

3 hours ago, StringJunky said:

I paid for it to be built.

Oops, misread that - had it built, had built it. My own guitar is Takamine C136s classical, which was acquired more by chance than intent. I'd always thought it sounded good but it is getting in need of re-fretting and has two splits in the top (from a drought/extreme low humidity a few years back) so I tried out a couple of classical guitars at a local music shop. None sounded anywhere near as good. When finances permit I'll have it repaired.

[StringJunky]

8 hours ago, Ken Fabian said:

Oops, misread that - had it built, had built it. My own guitar is Takamine C136s classical, which was acquired more by chance than intent. I'd always thought it sounded good but it is getting in need of re-fretting and has two splits in the top (from a drought/extreme low humidity a few years back) so I tried out a couple of classical guitars at a local music shop. None sounded anywhere near as good. When finances permit I'll have it repaired.

Time is part of the making of the tone, like wine its bouquet. Also, you know that guitar and can get the sound you want out of it. With a new guitar you have to start again.

[Ken Fabian]

@StringJunky - is your choice of username guitar related? All this time and I never really thought about it - or thought to ask. And yes, my guitar has gotten better with use and age. I was also trying new guitars on a tight budget - something of equivalent quality being out of my range. And I was not fully appreciating what I've got.

My addiction (and sometimes it does seems like it) to playing guitar comes and goes a bit, with and without attempting to sing. I think am still getting better at it but with age and arthritis catching up with me that window isn't going stay open. I've always been a bit (a lot) self conscious about it and don't perform well under pressure. But I also don't do the practicing and rehearsing that performing well under pressure requires - too many interests, not enough time, not enough persistent focus on any of them to achieve excellence.

I do kinda regret my lack of interest in singing earlier in my life - probably never would have had a powerful voice but maybe could've sounded good.

[StringJunky]

53 minutes ago, Ken Fabian said:

@StringJunky - is your choice of username guitar related? All this time and I never really thought about it - or thought to ask. And yes, my guitar has gotten better with use and age. I was also trying new guitars on a tight budget - something of equivalent quality being out of my range. And I was not fully appreciating what I've got.

My addiction (and sometimes it does seems like it) to playing guitar comes and goes a bit, with and without attempting to sing. I think am still getting better at it but with age and arthritis catching up with me that window isn't going stay open. I've always been a bit (a lot) self conscious about it and don't perform well under pressure. But I also don't do the practicing and rehearsing that performing well under pressure requires - too many interests, not enough time, not enough persistent focus on any of them to achieve excellence.

I do kinda regret my lack of interest in singing earlier in my life - probably never would have had a powerful voice but maybe could've sounded good.

Yes, I had a 2 year or so period when I'd just got my guitar and was trying every string make and type out there until  I settled on Ernie Ball Earthwood bronze 11's. A guitar playing friend called me that and that was what popped up in my head when I joined here. In retrospect, I should have left it until the guitar dried out and settled down before doing that. I made it harder for myself  to settle on string choice because it was changing all the time in the first two or three years. The action doesn't seem to have moved in the six years it's been away, so I presume it is settled now.

To get over the self-conscious/pressure thing, I've thought of playing in front of a mirror and frequently recording/reviewing myself might settle the nerves of playing in front of others.

At the end of the day, we get out of it what we want, even if it's just noodling now and  again. The sound of a live guitar and feeling its vibrations is a pretty good way to meditate and get away from normal life for a while.

Edited Monday at 11:12 PM by StringJunky