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Funkiest guitar player ever? [message #99483] Sun, 13 July 2008 07:20 Go to next message
Bill L is currently offline  Bill L   UNITED STATES
Messages: 766
Registered: August 2006
Senior Member
Many of us may not think of Wes Montgomery as a "funky" player, but
listening to a bunch of his tracks today, I realized he was perhaps the
funkiest cat that ever strummed a guitar. His thumb-only (no pick) right
hand technique, which limited his lead runs to shorter phrases, also
gave him some chops that I have never heard anyone equal in the
strumming area.

For those who don't know much about Wes, I highly recommend giving him a
long listen. He was a truly unique and innovative player who's potential
appeal is much wider than the typical jazz artist.

If you can find it there's a live cut of "Tequila" (one of his "hits")
that scared me so much I dropped the tune from my solo repertoire.
Re: Funkiest guitar player ever? [message #99484 is a reply to message #99483] Sun, 13 July 2008 07:43 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Gantt Kushner is currently offline  Gantt Kushner   
Messages: 545
Registered: June 2006
Location: Silver Spring, Maryland, ...
Senior Member

Most jazz guitar players/students/fans know all about Wes but the average
music fan might not realize just how deep and broad his musical experience
was. He was The Man! That said, I'm convinced that George Benson is still
one of the greatest living jazz guitar players. He can still do it all!

Gantt

Bill L <bill@billlorentzen.com> wrote:
>Many of us may not think of Wes Montgomery as a "funky" player, but
>listening to a bunch of his tracks today, I realized he was perhaps the

>funkiest cat that ever strummed a guitar. His thumb-only (no pick) right

>hand technique, which limited his lead runs to shorter phrases, also
>gave him some chops that I have never heard anyone equal in the
>strumming area.
>
>For those who don't know much about Wes, I highly recommend giving him a

>long listen. He was a truly unique and innovative player who's potential

>appeal is much wider than the typical jazz artist.
>
>If you can find it there's a live cut of "Tequila" (one of his "hits")
>that scared me so much I dropped the tune from my solo repertoire.


Gantt Kushner
Gizmo Recording Company
Silver Spring, MD
www.gizmorecording.com
Re: Funkiest guitar player ever? [message #99487 is a reply to message #99483] Sun, 13 July 2008 08:26 Go to previous messageGo to next message
TCB is currently offline  TCB
Messages: 1261
Registered: July 2007
Senior Member
Wes was something else, for sure. On the jazz geetar front my faves are still
Charlie Christian, Freddie Green (funky before the term existed), and Grant
Green (no relation).

Also, another 'thumb only' guy is my fave blues player, Albert King. If I
ever get serious about blues/jazz playing again I'll probably do the thumb
thing. I'm OK at it now but not nearly as good as I am with a pick. And the
thumb doesn't work with a power pop band.

TCB

Bill L <bill@billlorentzen.com> wrote:
>Many of us may not think of Wes Montgomery as a "funky" player, but
>listening to a bunch of his tracks today, I realized he was perhaps the

>funkiest cat that ever strummed a guitar. His thumb-only (no pick) right

>hand technique, which limited his lead runs to shorter phrases, also
>gave him some chops that I have never heard anyone equal in the
>strumming area.
>
>For those who don't know much about Wes, I highly recommend giving him a

>long listen. He was a truly unique and innovative player who's potential

>appeal is much wider than the typical jazz artist.
>
>If you can find it there's a live cut of "Tequila" (one of his "hits")
>that scared me so much I dropped the tune from my solo repertoire.
Re: Funkiest guitar player ever? [message #99497 is a reply to message #99483] Sun, 13 July 2008 19:18 Go to previous messageGo to next message
steve the artguy is currently offline  steve the artguy
Messages: 308
Registered: June 2005
Senior Member
Bill-

all you say is true. It all depends on what you mean by funk. Or rather "funk."

When I first read the subject line, the name that came to mind was Johnny
Guitar Watson. That guy just oozed funk.

I'd also have to add anyone who James Brown hired. That's got to count for
something.

If you twist the term "funk" far enough, you'd have to include Django, just
for his sheer uniqueosity. Well, maybe you wouldn't have to, but I might.

Just for sheer cussedness, I'd include Monk. Thelonius, not Wes's brother.
Sure, TM was a piano player, but if Wes is funky, so was Thelonius.

Nowadays, I'd say it's Charlie Hunter. But what do I know?

Funk. What a concept. Originally it meant "smelly."

-steve the couldn'tbementionedinthesamepostwiththeseguys guitar player

Bill L <bill@billlorentzen.com> wrote:
>Many of us may not think of Wes Montgomery as a "funky" player, but
>listening to a bunch of his tracks today, I realized he was perhaps the

>funkiest cat that ever strummed a guitar. His thumb-only (no pick) right

>hand technique, which limited his lead runs to shorter phrases, also
>gave him some chops that I have never heard anyone equal in the
>strumming area.
>
>For those who don't know much about Wes, I highly recommend giving him a

>long listen. He was a truly unique and innovative player who's potential

>appeal is much wider than the typical jazz artist.
>
>If you can find it there's a live cut of "Tequila" (one of his "hits")
>that scared me so much I dropped the tune from my solo repertoire.
Re: Funkiest guitar player ever? [message #99501 is a reply to message #99497] Sun, 13 July 2008 21:43 Go to previous messageGo to next message
TCB is currently offline  TCB
Messages: 1261
Registered: July 2007
Senior Member
If we're getting away from jazz guys, we also need to include Leo Nocentelli,
Catfish Collins, Nile Rodgers, Eddie Hazel, and Steve Cropper in the mix.


TCB

"steve the artguy" <artguy@somethingorother.net> wrote:
>
>Bill-
>
>all you say is true. It all depends on what you mean by funk. Or rather
"funk."
>
>When I first read the subject line, the name that came to mind was Johnny
>Guitar Watson. That guy just oozed funk.
>
>I'd also have to add anyone who James Brown hired. That's got to count for
>something.
>
>If you twist the term "funk" far enough, you'd have to include Django, just
>for his sheer uniqueosity. Well, maybe you wouldn't have to, but I might.
>
>Just for sheer cussedness, I'd include Monk. Thelonius, not Wes's brother.
>Sure, TM was a piano player, but if Wes is funky, so was Thelonius.
>
>Nowadays, I'd say it's Charlie Hunter. But what do I know?
>
>Funk. What a concept. Originally it meant "smelly."
>
>-steve the couldn'tbementionedinthesamepostwiththeseguys guitar player
>
>Bill L <bill@billlorentzen.com> wrote:
>>Many of us may not think of Wes Montgomery as a "funky" player, but
>>listening to a bunch of his tracks today, I realized he was perhaps the
>
>>funkiest cat that ever strummed a guitar. His thumb-only (no pick) right
>
>>hand technique, which limited his lead runs to shorter phrases, also
>>gave him some chops that I have never heard anyone equal in the
>>strumming area.
>>
>>For those who don't know much about Wes, I highly recommend giving him
a
>
>>long listen. He was a truly unique and innovative player who's potential
>
>>appeal is much wider than the typical jazz artist.
>>
>>If you can find it there's a live cut of "Tequila" (one of his "hits")

>>that scared me so much I dropped the tune from my solo repertoire.
>
Re: Funkiest guitar player ever? [message #99515 is a reply to message #99501] Mon, 14 July 2008 11:34 Go to previous messageGo to next message
steve the artguy is currently offline  steve the artguy
Messages: 308
Registered: June 2005
Senior Member
"TCB" <nobody@ishere.com> wrote:
>
>If we're getting away from jazz guys, we also need to include Leo Nocentelli,
>Catfish Collins, Nile Rodgers, Eddie Hazel, and Steve Cropper in the mix.
>
>
>TCB

now I just have to find out who two of those guys are...

-steve the not-all-knowing
Re: Funkiest guitar player ever? [message #99522 is a reply to message #99497] Tue, 15 July 2008 08:28 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ed is currently offline  Ed
Messages: 199
Registered: February 2006
Senior Member
Funk = Smelly? Then that would have to be that guy on YouTube that is playing
his acoustic with his feet! Absolutely FUNKY!!! I watch that and I am not
sure to pity the guy, or praise him! Throw a few dollar bills at the monitor
when he completes the song... lol.


"steve the artguy" <artguy@somethingorother.net> wrote:
>
>Bill-
>
>all you say is true. It all depends on what you mean by funk. Or rather
"funk."
>
>When I first read the subject line, the name that came to mind was Johnny
>Guitar Watson. That guy just oozed funk.
>
>I'd also have to add anyone who James Brown hired. That's got to count for
>something.
>
>If you twist the term "funk" far enough, you'd have to include Django, just
>for his sheer uniqueosity. Well, maybe you wouldn't have to, but I might.
>
>Just for sheer cussedness, I'd include Monk. Thelonius, not Wes's brother.
>Sure, TM was a piano player, but if Wes is funky, so was Thelonius.
>
>Nowadays, I'd say it's Charlie Hunter. But what do I know?
>
>Funk. What a concept. Originally it meant "smelly."
>
>-steve the couldn'tbementionedinthesamepostwiththeseguys guitar player
>
>Bill L <bill@billlorentzen.com> wrote:
>>Many of us may not think of Wes Montgomery as a "funky" player, but
>>listening to a bunch of his tracks today, I realized he was perhaps the
>
>>funkiest cat that ever strummed a guitar. His thumb-only (no pick) right
>
>>hand technique, which limited his lead runs to shorter phrases, also
>>gave him some chops that I have never heard anyone equal in the
>>strumming area.
>>
>>For those who don't know much about Wes, I highly recommend giving him
a
>
>>long listen. He was a truly unique and innovative player who's potential
>
>>appeal is much wider than the typical jazz artist.
>>
>>If you can find it there's a live cut of "Tequila" (one of his "hits")

>>that scared me so much I dropped the tune from my solo repertoire.
>
Re: Funkiest guitar player ever? [message #99525 is a reply to message #99515] Wed, 16 July 2008 11:57 Go to previous messageGo to next message
TCB is currently offline  TCB
Messages: 1261
Registered: July 2007
Senior Member
"steve the artguy" <artguy@somethingorother.net> wrote:
>
>"TCB" <nobody@ishere.com> wrote:
>>
>>If we're getting away from jazz guys, we also need to include Leo Nocentelli,
>>Catfish Collins, Nile Rodgers, Eddie Hazel, and Steve Cropper in the mix.
>>
>>
>>TCB
>
>now I just have to find out who two of those guys are...
>
>-steve the not-all-knowing

Leo = Meters
Catfish = JB band
Eddie = early Funkadelic

Leo still blows my mind with what he does, and it's not like he's a kid anymore.


TCB
Re: Funkiest guitar player ever? [message #99552 is a reply to message #99525] Thu, 17 July 2008 22:23 Go to previous message
steve the artguy is currently offline  steve the artguy
Messages: 308
Registered: June 2005
Senior Member
"TCB" <nobody@ishere.com> wrote:
>
>"steve the artguy" <artguy@somethingorother.net> wrote:
>>
>>"TCB" <nobody@ishere.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>If we're getting away from jazz guys, we also need to include Leo Nocentelli,
>>>Catfish Collins, Nile Rodgers, Eddie Hazel, and Steve Cropper in the mix.
>>>
>>>
>>>TCB
>>
>>now I just have to find out who two of those guys are...
>>
>>-steve the not-all-knowing
>
>Leo = Meters
>Catfish = JB band
>Eddie = early Funkadelic
>
>Leo still blows my mind with what he does, and it's not like he's a kid
anymore.
>
>

I am feeling educated. I've heard those guys forever and just never knew
who they were.

Thanks, Thad.

-steve
>TCB
>
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