Considering the events of the last few weeks, I think I have identified a reason for some of the problems. Music is meant to be shared among musicians on both a litteral and an unspoken level. And that means PLAYING MUSIC together!

I'm fully convinced that if even the most combative of us were sitting holding our instruments across from another member...even one(s) where there were disagreements in the past, the playing of music together would make many of the problems go away. We miss this kind of interaction on the internet. Chas and I were mentioning playing "in the pocket" yesterday. There's no greater feeling than when you know what the other players are thinking and play off each other without saying a word.

Sharing recordings just dosen't get it.

Sadly, this will rarely happen between members, but it would go a long way towards developing better lines of communication and respect for each other.

I'm certainly not knocking the "zone", but have been really trying to put my finger on the animosity that has developed here. Musicians are, by nature, sensitive and sometimes volatile, but a lot of that dissapears if you just play together.

I hate country and bluegrass music, but have friends who make a living in those fields. Every once in a while, I'll fill in or play on a session with them. I value that interaction.

I just wish we could have the chance to do the same among the members here.

If we did, all the pettiness of the past few weeks would be gone.


Russ

Russ,

Just wondering why you dislike country music....it seems to be very popular in the last few years, & its kind of changing to a more Country/Rockish feel vs Country Western Music of years ago. I really enjoy some of the material coming out lately from groups like, Diamond Reo, Lonestar,
The Tractors, Garth Brooks, Tracy Byrd, & many others. I also enjoy some of the great lyrics in the country ballads, very heart felt songs.....Country is big business in today's music scene for sure. But we all have our own favorite styles.....btw I agree with a lot of your post also.

Russ,

I came form the Technics discussion forum about five months ago. I felt something different here, being new I felt I should read and learn before posting any comment. I fought the feeling of trying to say what I thought was right.

What has happened is beautiful, although not new to me. In the past I was always ready to fix things/problems, most of that has gone. People have a way to repair if aloud to.

What I am reading lately puts one large grin on my face, it feels good. I am happy to know that the people on this forum have so much more to offer.

Every notice when you talk to a negative person you leave with less than you came with. A positive conversation is one where everyone wins, it adds to you.

IMHO, John C.

Donny, the main reason I think I don't like country music is the lack of complex structure. I'm not an entertainer, so I get my enjoyment from playing with other musicians of equal skills, studying changes and perfecting them, etc.

I don't look down on anyone who enjoys or plays country...it just bores the heck out of me. In "poorer" days, I played a lot of country and learned to really dislike it.

After you get hooked on jazz or other difficult forms, you have a good chance of playing yourself out of a job, but once you're hooked, "you're hooked". The challenge is to figure out how to get paid for playing to a shrinking audience.


For me, I don't have any other choice but to
play other, more challenging things.

But, that's just me!


Russ

Russ.....
thanx for the reply....I know where your coming from now.

Russ,

TI think today's country players are among the best there are. The guitar players can wipe the floor up with any of the so called "best" rockers, and they do it on a "clean" setting - without the added fluff of distortion, which tends to hide a million sins !

I really respect the musicianship in today's country music scene, and even though I don't listen to it all that often - I see it as the Rock & Roll of today. It's the EZ to understand, EZ to play stuff that's also EZ to listen to if you're NOT a player. It tells a story, and I love storytellers!

It's not just 3 and 4 chord stuff anymore !

I agree totally. Most of the good country players, and I mean the really good ones, not the hacks who play in local bars, can play jazz at a very very high level. But most jazz musicians cannot play country worth a hoot. When it comes to versatility, the country musician is probably it. Country can be so many different things. A couple of years ago it was pop. Now it's more like southern rock. Then there's western swing. I know fully well that this was not a thread about defending country music, but I just had to get that in.

At the Namm show last year I was playing with a guy who used to play for Brooks and Dunn. We played a few country tunes and then he asked me if I knew any jazz. Later that afternoon I was playing guitar with John Pissano and we were playing jazz, and I launched into a country thing and he was just totally incapable. Wouldn't try taking a solo for love or money. Superb jazz player though. I was having a blast, because I don't get to play nearly enough jazz, especially with first class musicians.
As far as jamming with fellow synthzone members, has any of you tried ninjam? I haven't tried it, but I have heard some virtual jams that were recorded by some people who use it. Pretty cool.

Guys, I wasn't knocking the ability of country musicians to play other styles, I simply meant to say that country and bluegrass just isn't for me.

J.D. Crowe is a good friend...I still don't like bluegrass music. I've heard lots of studio guys who play country music and was never really impressed. For me, developing those chops was a waste of time. But again, that's just me.

"Dyed in the wool" jazz folks, I know, me included, just don't want to bother with what they consider "fluff".

The country folks I heard playing jazz had a level of competence and mastery of the instrument, but on a relatively low level in terms of improvisation, creativity on the fly, sophisticaton, etc. That's probably because of the massive number of hours learning the craft (you never finish learning), with little possibility of adequate financial rewards.

Between us, this is a difference of opinion....so what? It in NO WAY impacts the interaction, respect and sharing of knowledge and experience I look forward to each day.


All the best...


Let's keep on "pickin and grinnin".


Russ "Buck" Lay

Rory, I just visited your website (excellent job on both the site and the recorded materials, by the way). I see why and admire your strong support for the versatility of country players...gotta support the field you're in and believe it's the best.

I'm equally convinced that the superior art form...the one that takes the most talent, is jazz. I don't think the best country players could even hold the instruments of the premier jazz players. Asking them to play country, in my opinion, would be an insult.

This is actually an issue which has been the topic of heated discussions for longer than I can remember.


Guess what? Concerning our interaction, IT DOSEN'T MATTER! From your side, I see talent as a performer in the studio, and commitment.
You and I, and any other member (s) of the "zone" can have fundamental differences, but still learn from each other and enjoy the interaction. No one person needs to have the "universal" truth. Perception is reality, so what each of us believes is reality for us.

This issue is potentially much more volatile than discussions about Yamaha, Roland (or whatever) kinds of keyboards and I appreciate
how you handled things by stating your beliefs with conviction.

If we all explained our position with respect and conviction, as you have, the petty bickering of the last few weeks would disappear.

Thanks, Rory,


Russ

P.S. If time and distance allowed, it would be an honor to play music together...jazz, country...style wouldn't matter. that wouldn't be the point!

[This message has been edited by captain Russ (edited 09-07-2006).]

I'd pick jazz, simply because I get to play it all too rarely. Well, at least with other human beings; play it for myself and by myself fairly regularly. Is there anywhere online I can go to listen to you? And thanks for checking out my site. Appreciated.