| Author | Message | ||
| the_jester
Intermediate Member Username: the_jester Post Number: 142 Registered: 12-2009 |
I notice main members of the RTF are doing some tasteful acoustics Jazz music, but where's Al? Does anyone have any insight on this "pyridine" shift? Please give me the 411 on this, because I love Brother Al Dimeola's acoustics playing and it's just not right without him...  Peace and Love, Hal- (Message edited by the_jester on January 27, 2010) | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 2408 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hal - perhaps you (like my good self) fell asleep during Al's acoustic solo? | ||
| darkstar01
Advanced Member Username: darkstar01 Post Number: 205 Registered: 6-2005 |
paradigm* dimeola still plays a lot of acoustic. however, i wouldn't call it tasteful. i would call it elevator music. | ||
| the_jester
Intermediate Member Username: the_jester Post Number: 143 Registered: 12-2009 |
Austin, yes paradigm is the proper spelling of course, but I was referring to a play on words -- as in: "was the chemistry putrid as a bad odor...shifting" That's why I used quotes around the word... Thanks for the correction. But, I think Al is a Pronominal Guitarist! O-My-Goodness, you guys don't like Al? Hmmm mmm | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 2409 Registered: 6-2002 |
Dare I say I found the whole RTF reunion thoroughly missable? | ||
| darkstar01
Advanced Member Username: darkstar01 Post Number: 206 Registered: 6-2005 |
gotcha, hal.... i've never been a fan of al's. honestly, the only rtf record i like is light as a feather (before al was even in the band, and also kind of explains why i never liked stanley's electric playing). to each their own, though, right? | ||
| the_jester
Intermediate Member Username: the_jester Post Number: 144 Registered: 12-2009 |
Flora Purim vocals... Man, I was a little kid when that album came out... All music was good back in those days. But their albums "No Mystery", and "Where have I known you" were classic RTF with Al blazing... Oh my goodness what a wonderful time to play the scales. But, you know I really don't pay too much attention to Stanley unless he's with RTF members. Stanley's career started with Chic, and Lenny so seeing them being back together, is beautiful to me. I mean it's like life coming full circle for them; and for them to go back to Standard Jazz, is "SO Righteous" now. We need more children for them to motivate, and take Jazz to another level. God Bless them. Peace and Love back at ya Austin. Hal- | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 2559 Registered: 10-2002 |
Just an observation Hal... "Stanley's career started with Chic, and Lenny ". Stan was playing sessions with the likes of Art Blakey, Horace silver and Stan Getz before RTF was a twinkle in Chick Corea's eye. I for one would live to hear recordings from those days. Graeme. | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 1824 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hmm Hal, could it be a simple as Al not being regarded as a jazz musician like the other three? He wasn't in the earlier Griffith Park Collection Jazz Album from the 80's either. Just a thought. I read somewhere that Corea Clarke and White performed last year with Bill Connors playing guitar instead of Al. I most of Al's playing from the RTF days mainly, however a fantastic as his acoustic guitar playing is, it doesn't appeal to me as much as his electric guitar playing apart from the album he did with John McLaughlin and Paco d'lucia. jazzyvee | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 1153 Registered: 11-2004 |
I don't contribute here as much I used to..it has got to contrived. Band re unions are not my thing at all..if people think they can capture the 'first time' then it doesn't work. It was inspirational, awesome and magic when it was first done because no one had done it before but non of that works for me, I would rather say I saw RTF in the early days rather than now. | ||
| the_jester
Intermediate Member Username: the_jester Post Number: 145 Registered: 12-2009 |
Terry, I agree in principle, but that's only if you seen them enough times. So, from the stand point of human predictability, it's normal to eventually get bored. How many times do you ride the same roller coaster?  I am not sure anyone could define Jazz, to say Al is not a Jazz musician. Mile Davis said similar things to Stanley... The John and Paco project -- really says much about how really good Al is... Nuff said. I never cared about Stanley until he and Chic started recording. Also there were some things I loved when Stanley worked with Santana too. Other than a reference in Stanley's history, those guys Stan Getz, and others were in the center of the universe. Stanley Clarke, would have his day in time... Man, I love Getz's Sax. | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 1826 Registered: 6-2002 |
i wasn't old enough to see return to forever live the first time round, plus I didn't really get to know their music till I was in my late teens and by then the had split and so getting to see them in 2008 in London was great. Jazzyvee | ||
| benson_murrensun
Advanced Member Username: benson_murrensun Post Number: 219 Registered: 5-2007 |
I saw Chick, Stanley and Lenny at Jazz Alley in Seattle. It was EXCELLENT! I never saw RTF, so I can't compare. But there was no way you could sleep through this show! | ||
| the_jester
Intermediate Member Username: the_jester Post Number: 146 Registered: 12-2009 |
Jazzyvee, I totally understand where you are coming from. Because I too were too young to go to a concert. However, my parents were digging them and even going to see Jimi too. I missed all that great live head spinning and jaw dropping Jazz. I even still watch them on U-Tube in those early days, and ask myself what was up with American media??? Why were we hidden from this gem of material? American media SUCKS! The first time for me seeing RTF live, was in the early 80's. This was the first reunion tour at the Berkeley Community Theater. Al, Stan, Chic and Lenny were playing music all new stuff, and promised to have an album following, and it never happened. Even to this day, I can't find the stuff they did. It was amazing... OH my goodness, those guys came from Heaven that day. The concert never paused and they played for almost 2 hours "NON-STOP" and no breaks, before they broke for refreshments and libations. After that -- they played for another hour. That was crazy mad, but it was the best RTF my ears ever heard!!! I think over the years, they toned it down some. But WOW! The way they were playing in the 80's, only youth could support. However, seeing them play like that now, youth wouldn't support it. Thank God for U-Tube! (Message edited by the_jester on January 28, 2010) | ||
| crobbins
Senior Member Username: crobbins Post Number: 537 Registered: 6-2004 |
I saw the original RTF several times, and one show of the reunion tour. I enjoyed both... | ||
| pas
Advanced Member Username: pas Post Number: 228 Registered: 3-2003 |
I saw the RTF reunion as well as the Corea, Clarke & White trio - enjoyed both. The trio played a gorgeous rendition of the Bill Evans tune "Waltz for Debby"...very unexpected. Al Dimeola: very gifted guitarist, but frankly never moved me. I've seen him with his electric band - opening for Santana in 1980; saw him twice with Stanley and Jean Luc Ponty. I then saw Stanley and Jean Luc with Bela Fleck and that was a much more enjoyable...Al has just never moved me. Conversely, John McLaughlin on acoustic gut string guitar...oh my, what beauty! | ||
| bkbass
Advanced Member Username: bkbass Post Number: 222 Registered: 11-2003 |
stuck on a desert island for eternity which RTF would you most likely pick? I would choose Hymm of the 7th Galaxy. I believe it's the only one with Bill Conners in the band. Bill continued his solo career came out with a acoustic album after RTF. I liked Bill Conners playing much better than Al's. What Bill said in one note Al couldn't match with one of his 1000 note arpeggios. Al's a gifted,talented, smoking player. I just haven't heard a conversation I like from him. | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 533 Registered: 5-2002 |
I saw Bill Connors at the Telluride Jazz Festival in 2005 and it was just a wonderful set. Very straight ahead jazz. Since I was playing at the festival and had a photo pass, I got to be a fly on the wall backstage for some great meetings between the musicians and it was interesting to hear Bill and Steve Swallow catching up after years and years. Also got to witness and photograph the reunion of Ron Carter and Dave Holland, two generations of Miles' bass players! Sorry to go off on a tangent, it just brought back a wonderful weekend of music.  | ||
| pauldo
Senior Member Username: pauldo Post Number: 448 Registered: 6-2006 |
Ron Carter is cool. | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 787 Registered: 5-2009 |
That is a great picture Edwin. I went to see & hear Ron Carter play His Piccolo Bass backed up by his band of EIGHT _ yes 8 Double Bass's ! it was was awesome and very unique . I went up talked to him later when he announced that he would be willing to meet his public( he is a teacher) and he autographed the show prospectus for me, I asked him about the pickup on my Double Bass and his thoughts were that I should get a different one because he felt that the mounting system with clips on the top of the bridge was robing my Bass of its natural resonance. (Message edited by sonicus on March 15, 2010) | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 534 Registered: 5-2002 |
I've got so many great pictures from that weekend, from Scofield (with Steve Swallow) to Charlie Hunter to Lizz Wright, etc. etc. I saw Betram Turetzky at the New England Conservatory doing a bass octet set up as a gamelan orchestra. He then performed with an electronic tape he made. After the set break Max Roach came out and did a solo show. All for free on a thursday afternoon! |
