50 Greatest Rhythm Guitar Players...Really?

Passacaglia

klaatu wrote:

I was glad to see Denis Chang mentioned early on. I've had the pleasure of watching the Cookie Monster play rhythm for some of the top players in the genre. He always does so very capably AND modestly, never calling attention to himself and just getting the job done without fanfare. He always seems quite content to let the star BE the star - just one of the things I admire about him.

I was as well, Ben. Gratifying to see him listed with Amund's list, and totally agree on Denis's egolessness when performing, or on his DVDs/DC GJ School materials.

bopster

klaatu wrote:

I was glad to see Denis Chang mentioned early on. I've had the pleasure of watching the Cookie Monster play rhythm for some of the top players in the genre. He always does so very capably AND modestly, never calling attention to himself and just getting the job done without fanfare. He always seems quite content to let the star BE the star - just one of the things I admire about him.

[/quote]

Although calling yourself "Rhythm Bitch" could be considered self promotion....

Passacaglia

I forgot to add, I enjoy Kamlo Barre's rhythm quite a bit. He, and my experience with Stephane Wrembel, were the highlights of the teaching I got from DIJ 2013. I also love Kamlo's compositions.

ben-d

Joseph Reinhardt. Potzi.

Jazzaferri

what is the definition of rhythm guitar player

Passacaglia

Jazzaferri wrote:

what is the definition of rhythm guitar player

I believe it's a player who plays rhythm guitar, isn't it?

dennis

that's exactly what i was thinking jazzaferri! there are many many players with amazing sound and technique, and in which case, the list would be fairly extensive...

but beyond good sound and technique, there's the ability to maintain a somewhat steady tempo, or if the tempo shifts, it has to shift in a way that feels natural to the soloist... with such a criteria, the list of good rhythm players becomes much much smaller.

and then there is the idea of being able to learn songs on the spot by just listening, and being able to transpose easily... you add this criteria, and the list gets even smaller!

I often talk a lot about sound, but in the end it's just a small thing, i'd rather have a fast learner and someone who keeps a good tempo with an acceptable sound rather than a dude with "THE sound" but who constantly speeds up and takes him hours to learn a song, which is sadly the case for most GJ rhythm players out there.

I've said it before, but my favorite rhythm players are players who have some notion of lead playing.

I've never worked with him before, but i have a feeling that samy daussat fits my description very well.

Passacaglia

Passacaglia wrote:

Jazzaferri wrote:

what is the definition of rhythm guitar player

I believe it's a player who plays rhythm guitar, isn't it?

Apparently not, Puck.

klaatu

dennis wrote:

I've never worked with him before, but i have a feeling that samy daussat fits my description very well.

Denis, I had the pleasure of seeing him perform twice at L'Atelier Charonne in Paris (once as part of the Costel Nitescu Quartet, which was basically Costel and the Samy Daussat Trio). Based on that experience, I would say you're correct.

Jazzaferri

Ok wise guy what is a rhythm guitar. All 8 in my collection play chords, single notes and dyads. Are they rhythm guitars? :shock: :shock:

When Kenny Burrell is comping behind John Coltrane or Chet Baker is that rhythm guitar?

Certainly Freddy Green is playing rhythm guitar as is Nous'che.....but in all honesty I don't know where the definition ends. If I were comping behind Dennis using chords, base line single notes and dyads. At times playing a counter melody to Dennis's statement (other than the impression I get that lots of GJ players would dislike that freedom of expression) is that rhythm guitar?