Best Guitarist

[Fudbutter]

I know no one cares about fusion anymore but I saw Di Meola at Ridgefield tonight. Sat right in front of him and watched reeeeeal close.

Just wanted to note that I'm convinced that his skills exceed anyone who ever lived. It's a shame that this level of musicality will disappear with my generation.

Not sure where he goes next but if you like serious guitar, try to see him. You might not get another chance to see him play electric.

 

[Green Jets & Ham]

I know no one cares about fusion anymore but I saw Di Meola at Ridgefield tonight. Sat right in front of him and watched reeeeeal close.

Just wanted to note that I'm convinced that his skills exceed anyone who ever lived. It's a shame that this level of musicality will disappear with my generation.

Not sure where he goes next but if you like serious guitar, try to see him. You might not get another chance to see him play electric.

Fud, checkout that last video I posted of Zappa. The poignant stuff starts at 2:45, Steve Vai's lead-in into Frank's solo, and just so you know what Vai (a brilliant guitarist in his own right) is talking about, Frank's solos were completely organic. Unlike most rock guitarists or guitarists in general, Frank did not play the same practiced solos. He had a general framework for the composition, but then he liked to be creative and instinctive. Thats what you see in the solo at the end of that video and thats what Vai is referring too in his lead-in.

 

[Green Jets & Ham]

BTW that piece of music Vai plays at the beginning of that video, the Zappa composition he thought was recorded and lost, well it was found on a bootleg recording Frank did at the Ritz in 1981 and here it is, its called "What's New in Baltimore"

 

[Fudbutter]

BTW that piece of music Vai plays at the beginning of that video, the Zappa composition he thought was recorded and lost, well it was found on a bootleg recording Frank did at the Ritz in 1981 and here it is, its called "What's New in Baltimore"

Big time thanks there GJH, enjoyed the heck out of both videos. You get my hero of the day award !

You familiar with Dweezil Zappa doing his Dad's stuff on tour? Been doing it awhile. Just like what you saw Vai doing, but he goes much deeper in showing the hows and whys his father was special. Then plays the piece with a great band.

He will be at the Beacon on 10/30. I think his brothers are giving him trouble about doing this (been doing it 10 yrs) so there may not be more of this in the future.

A side note, it is nice that there are people who have good taste in music despite a disastrous taste in football teams

 

[Green Jets & Ham]

Big time thanks there GJH, enjoyed the heck out of both videos. You get my hero of the day award !

You familiar with Dweezil Zappa doing his Dad's stuff on tour? Been doing it awhile. Just like what you saw Vai doing, but he goes much deeper in showing the hows and whys his father was special. Then plays the piece with a great band.

He will be at the Beacon on 10/30. I think his brothers are giving him trouble about doing this (been doing it 10 yrs) so there may not be more of this in the future.

A side note, it is nice that there are people who have good taste in music despite a disastrous taste in football teams

Yes, I was aware that his son is playing his music (terrifically) and I think its awesome that Frank's son is keeping his fathers music alive. Frank cared deeply about his compositions and I think he would be pleased that his son is doing this. I'm sure the siblings have their reasons for objecting, but I hope they reconsider. Frank also loved his fans and from what I can gather they are mostly thrilled that Dweezil is doing this. If it was anyone other than his son I could see his siblings being pissed, but for Frank's son to be doing this, I think its awesome.

 

[Fudbutter]

Not sure if he was mentioned above, and if not he should have been. We lost Larry Coryell (Eleventh House) yesterday at age 73. A true fusion pioneer, he sported a very distinct style and was one of the first to use an envelope filter (who back then didn't immediately jones for a Mutron?)

A great example of his playing is noted on Lenny White's superb Venusian Summer album when he traded solos with DiMeola on "Prince of the Sea"

 

[Fudbutter]

Just a heads up to the like minded

John McLaughlin will be touring late this year with Jimmy Herring (Aquarium Rescue Unit). It will be his final tour. They will each do a set (Herring can play too) then get together for a set of Mahavishnu material. It has been years since he did any of it. Here are some (relatively) nearby shows to NY for the last chance to see who is one of the biggest game changers in electric guitar history

11/1/17 Buffalo, NY, University at Buffalo Center for the Arts
11/2/17 Albany, NY, The Egg
11/3/17 New York, NY, Town Hall
11/4/17 Port Chester, NY, Capitol Theatre
11/5/17 Cranston, RI, Park Theatre/Rhode Island Center for the Performing Arts
11/8/17 Boston, MA, The Wilbur Theatre
11/9/17 Philadelphia, PA, Keswick Theatre
11/10/17 Newark, NJ, Prudential Hall,New Jersey Performance Art Centre
11/11/17 Washington DC, Lincoln Theatre

 

[Fudbutter]

Just learned that Allan Holdsworth passed away at age 70

Great player (Gong, UK (1st album), Jean-Luc Ponty Band, many solo albums). Unique and recognizable, used a SynthAx of which very few were made.

With so many of the guys on this list getting older, we'll have more disappearing than joining until guitar virtuoso becomes a thing of the past. Listen to popular modern music today and the concept of solos and improv are quickly becoming obsolete

S'long Allan