Whose the best at:?????

Teddy Dupont

Most of the people I talk to outside of the genre (both jazz and non-jazz fans), say gypsy jazz guitarists of today "have plenty of chops but ........." or words to the effect that "there are too many notes". The fact is that so much of it is technically brilliant but repetitive and mechanical. The solos sound manufactured from licks and patterns rather than created from true emotion and original ideas. It can be fun in passing at a live performance but has no lasting value and soon palls after repeated listening.

I am not against technical ability. I wish I had some but most of all, I wish I could create great music. Technical prowess is highly desirable but it must be used in the service of producing music. It is required to enable the individual to express his ideas freely. If those ideas are lacking then the technique is meaningless. Often speed and pyrotechnics are used to mask a lack of real musical creativity.

Music is a sound not a physical action.

Jazzaferri

A few translations of quotes from one of my fave composers Ludwig van Beethoven that seem relevant to this thread

Music should strike fire from the heart of man, and bring tears from the eyes of woman

To play without passion is inexcusable!”

Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy. Music is the electrical soil in which the spirit lives, thinks and invents.

“Go on; don't only practise your art, but force your way into its secrets, art deserves that, for it and knowledge can raise men to the Divine.”

“Music is the one incorporeal entrance into the higher world of knowledge which comprehends mankind but which mankind cannot comprehend.”

Jazzaferri

Something else worth reflecting on...what is the most popular most covered piece that Django wrote.

I will give you a hint, it isn't Mystery Pacific

Bones

Minor Swing???

BTW, great points by all.

Jazzaferri

MS only in GJ circles. I's talkin bout the real world :twisted:

Nuages ....

Djangoslefthandman

Boulou Ferre is a very emotional player, but it seems that he would be eve more so if he had a bit more technical prowess

That's an interesting observation. Having watched Boulou provide an impromptu 3+ hour concert to a hardcore GJ audience at a festival in the UK, I can assure you he has technique to burn.

i think what you are hearing is that he is spontaneously creating music and that this tends to be less smooth than the planned solos of someone like Stochelo (who I've heard reproduce a cd note for note - which is impressive in itself). Boulou takes risks, sometimes these don't come off and how he gets himself back on track is testament to his artistry.

What I like about the best jazz players is that you can hear them thinking their way through a solo. People like Jim Hall and Sonny Rollins (amongst many). GJ and Bebop are diminshed in my view by being reduced to the application of licks in a paint by numbers fashion.

Trouble is that for an audience coming to this music for the first time the barrel organ approach is more impressive. It takes a while to appreciate a player skillfully manipulating the language and you need to be familiar with the genre. For me though hearing somebody flying by the seat of their pants is more interesting

Bones

Jazza, that was my next guess but I didn't know if I got 2 guesses...

Jazzaferri

Good on yer Mr. Bones

Bones

Ok, this seems like a joyful combination of technical pyro and musical expression to me...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VE80Sg0D6IU

Or how about:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5HLioJYVcc

Check out the technique at 2:30 in the above among others.

Jazzaferri

I listened to both....I'm probably gonna get an earful...but to me there are a some points where they are playing witha bit of passion...but also points where it seems to me to be a bunch of stock phrases put together.

I think I will run and hide now.