man, let me tell you. bluegrass doesn't have all that much going for it. i mean, after all, all the songs sound exactly the same, just with some variation in tempo, and there are only three things they talk about: love, or lack thereof, jesus, or the mountains. that's when you can even make out what they're saying at all. but...the fiddler person was absolutely incredible. they did this VERY fast jig towards the end and i have never seen anyone move so fast. this is coming from someone who has been to play at tempos upwards of 225. and then they let the bass guy loose. he did this solo thing that was unbelievable. we gave him a standing ovation. i have never heard, much less seen anyone do that with ANY instrument. simply astounding. so for those two perks, the whole two hours was worth it. although i doubt that you'll ever catch me at one of them howdy's again. just wanted to let you all in on my doings with my monthly post intruding on your lives! :-) ta ta for now. Zack

Zack my man, I just can't pass on this one!
" bluegrass doesn't have all that much going for it. i mean, after all, all the songs sound exactly the same, just with some variation in tempo"

Now take out the word "bluegrass" and insert "Jazz", and what would be your impression of the speaker? perhaps CLUELESS?????

Trust me here, there is much more to bluegrass than speed. I will admit that it is an aquired taste but,like sushi, well worth the effort. I am not putting you down. There was a time in my not-so-distant-rock-n-roll past when I might have sneered at these hicks singing through their nose--------but let me tell you, there is substance here, a beauty and a soul that grows stronger with time. This is as far away from electronic arranger keyboard as you can get,and sometimes I need it like a drink of pure mountain springwater!
Bill

I honestly like a lot of bluegrass music out there.. However, for me to really enjoy it the song must have a good fiddle player.. Don't know what it is, but I love the sound of the fiddle in bluegrass.. I've made many attempts myself to try and replicate this fast style of fiddle playing on my keyboard, but always wind up laughing at myself because of how terrible I make it sound...

Squeak

Having hung out and jammed with some bluegrass players ( Ireally am an acoustic guitar player at heart)I must agree with Zack to some extent. Although some of the absolute best players I have ever heard are BG players, the tunes do very similar to me as well from one to another. There is not enough variety in the genre to me anyway.

Jazz is one of my big things as well and there are several flavors of jazz, so the comparison does not equate to me.....unless you were to say Dixieland Jazz to me, in which case I would ALMOST equate that with the bluegrass comparison, in that I do not enjoy it much and it all sounds very similar to me one tune to the next.

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jam on,
Terry
http://imjazzed.homestead.com/Index.html

O.k..Terry, take out "jazz" and insert "classical" or :"hiphop" or "reggae" or whatever. I was not equating bluegrass with jazz. I was saying that many people hearing a new musical form make a snap judgement that reveals more about the listener than it does about the music. I'm just saying, try again---there is something here worth discovering, and don't write-off an entire art form based on one experience. That's all,
Bill

Don't all polka's and country songs sound the same?

The way you play them they do.
DonM

(I've been waiting to zap you!)

Don,



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jam on,
Terry
http://imjazzed.homestead.com/Index.html

Bill,
No argument here really and I agree with you per se. Based on merit I truly believe all work has equal merit, including Rap, which I find little if any redemming quality in for my tastes. Mostly because of 2 reasons 1. I do not find it artistically very creative 2. I find no need at all for the EXTREME vulgarity and violence in it. I do realize though it is mainly driven by a different lifestyle and culture than I experience, thereby creating it's merit. It also is in essence story telling in a different way then I like to hear.

I also think you are 100% correct about music having to do with the listener. I think it's all about what we bring to the listening table. When my work is critqued by others, I try to also take into account what baggage it is they are bringing to the table.
Taking that into account when deciding if their criticisms have value in my work or not.

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jam on,
Terry http://imjazzed.homestead.com/Index.html



[This message has been edited by trtjazz (edited 02-05-2003).]

I have to agree with trtjazz about the rap music.. I personally like some of the rap and hip hop today, but the mojority of rap itself is extremely harsh. The language is quite offensive, but trtjazz, did make a good point and that it is driven by a different lifestyle and culture. Many rappers today are from inner cities and grew up in rough surroundings. Most rap about the lifestyle they lived and grew up in. The language is just the way they've been taught to express themselves.. Of course there are some rappers who just don't belong behind a mic because they advocate drugs, and violence. Good examples are the names of some of the labels.. Example: "Murder Inc" and "Death Row Records". Although there are many rap songs that I would not listen to, I have a great deal of respect for it because of the work that goes into creating it.. So many people think that it's just a simple loop that continues throughout the whole song. This is not the case at all.. Has anyone here every really tried to write a rap or hip hop song? A lot of work goes into them, and it's not just loops. When I was in college I acutally made some good money writing rap beats for students. However, it was a lot of work. It takes a good deal of time to come up with a beat that doesn't sound dated. Also a lot of voice programing is involved, and you have to be very familiar with sampling and how to use it properly. I didn't use the PSR line either... I was using a Yamaha EX-7 and a Roland XP-60. A lot of people say that rappers aren't really musicians which is not the case at all... You'd be shocked at how many rappers are paino and guitar players...

Squeak

From one of the 'old guys':
I've listened to a lot of music through the years (..mmmm... possible song title?!? ) just for the artistry of it, but rap and hip-hop are NOT on the list... I realize I may be missing out on hearing SOME talented people, but I don't have the time or the inclination to wade through the muck ...
I also have a bit of a problem with hearing some individuals talk about improving their lives and the conditions under which they live, but yet promote music that supports and encourages that same lifestyle ... Of the little rap/hip-hop videos and music I have seen and heard, TOO much of it glorifies a life of violence, drugs, sex, and degradation of women ...
As for the 'sameness' of the sound and style of different music, I think if you listen to ANY music only on the surface, you could make that argument for any genre....
What is more repetitious than the I VI IV V or I IV V chord progressions of early RnR???.. but how great was it to some of us? .. listen to a jazz combo for a while and you pretty much know when each player is going to take a solo ... and let's not get into polkas, and jigs ... But take the time to 'listen' and it's amazing what one might hear ... and I KNOW ... you're saying the same thing about me and rap/hip-hop ... but that AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN anytime soon ..
t.

I guess I'm just an old rock & roller that will never change.
My type of music consists of 50's - 70's r&r, country 50's - 80's,
and a little bit of the good old Polka's & Waltz's etc. etc.

I don't know why but I just can't get anything out of other
genre music.
If I get stuck listening to classical or such I get so P O'd
I could smash the stereo system.

I guess there's no hope for this old fart.
Denny

Denny,

As one old fart to another, I concur. Much of the stuff I enjoy ranges a bit farther back, consisting of 40s Big Band, lots of 50s, 60s and 70s R&R and a fair amount of country from the same era. Though some folks may refer to hip-hop and rap as music, it has never been pleasing to my old ears. I'll stick with Sinatra, Cole Porter arrangements, a bit of Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Strisand, Belafonte and a whole lotta' other folks that keep my toe tappin' and those wonderful songs constantly echoing in the cobwebs of my mind.

Cheers,

Gary

I'll join the chorus. Long live the oldies!
I even like a few new songs, but they are the ones in which you can understand the lyrics and that actually have melodies.
DonM

I agree with most of what's been said. Guess it shows most of our ages, musical upbringing, experience, tastes, or whatever. Speaking of sameness----what about opera? One or two numbers on public radio and I'm ready to turn the dial! Love the symphonic music, however.

C'mon Tom, you're supposed to same something nasty back to me. Aren't you feeling well?
Has that ol' X1 been treating you o.k.?
DonM