Blog-Bud Dan laid down a challenge concerning guitar greats...and Andy picked it up. Since I generally read my blogroll in alphabetical order I didn't realize Dan's challenge was all-encompassing -- I thought the challenge was limited to great bluegrass pickers (and grinners). But it's NOT.
So... just off the top o' my head... here are a couple from Leo Kottke, one of my all-time favorite guitarists.
Another:
I've seen Kottke play four or five times... always in small venues, which is to say clubs and college auditoriums where the maximum audience was perhaps 300 souls. The guy is the most self-effacing talent I've EVER seen and his stage patter is wry to the point of being bizarre. Or it used to be. It's been ten years since I've seen him.
I'll noodle on this subject a lil bit longer. Coz my B and C ranks of heroes are chock-full of great guitarists.
Guys like Kottke just really freak me out. As I have often stated, I am in awe and envy of those masters (in any genre).
ReplyDeleteI had never heard of Kottke, so Wickedpediaed him. Interesting cat! Interesting life story. Seems he was even once an "Okie from Muskogee."
Thanks for posting these, Buck. I love guitar guys. Well, we have a love/hate relationship...
Really is a shame he never hooked up with a singer and a songwriter. There’s only so much non lyrical acoustic guitar music I can listen to no matter how great, which is what he is. Rather a waste in my book.
ReplyDeleteDon’t get me wrong, to each his own and also, if he’s happy…so be it. But to have never even heard of such a brilliant guitar player…bummer. It’s like Buddy Rich playing the community college circuit for a living…all that talent…with Lady Gaga making millions.
Andy: I didn't think to look Leo up on the Wiki, so I did after reading your comment. I was surprised to see the bit about his on-stage monologues, to say the least.
ReplyDeleteApropos of nothing... I first heard Kottke in 1970 while on Pan Am Flight 002, bound for Istanbul. Vaseline Machine Gun was the tune and I could NOT believe that was just one guy, playing one guitar. I became a life-long fan...
BTW: Define a Kottke station of Pandora. You'll hear a lot guitar greats.
Small-Tee: Kottke did some vocal work, but it's an acquired taste, to say the VERY least. I really, rilly enjoyed his small-venue shows. He has a dedicated cult following, and I think that's pretty cool.
"of Pandora" = "ON Pandora"
ReplyDeleteYngwie Malmsteen. Guitar GOD. IMHO.
ReplyDeleteWhoa. Is it wrong of me to believe that having that much talent in one thing should mandate that the person should have absolutely not talent in any other aspect? It's just not fair! I don't do anything that well! It just makes me feel better to believe "Well sure, he's good that THAT, but that aside, what's he got that I don't?!" :D
ReplyDeleteBuck, check out Preston Reed: Here and Here
I'm not sure if he's quite as impressive, but certainly unique.
BUCK/
ReplyDeleteBeen a big-time Kottke fan since the mid-70s. Could listen to him for hours. The Wings? The less said the better. Painful to watch. The Spyder post? The natural result of marketing to an aging Boomer population with disposable income (empty nesters like you and me) who still think they're 25 but want the comfort that age demands. And at5'81/2" I also have
that inseam problem..
Buck, If this thing were based on song titles, Kottke's "Vaseline Machine Gun" would win hands down. And I've never seen anyone do a slide on a 12 string. I think I heard of Kottke back in the 70's but never heard anything by him on the radio, etc. He's pretty amazing. I'll see what I can find to match this (if I can!), but my post tomorrow will be late as we're in the middle of getting some painting done to the old sugar shack. Thanks again for the Kottke. Great stuff.
ReplyDeleteChristina: Malmsteen is good, no doubt.
ReplyDeleteMatt: Thanks for those links. Reed reminds me of Michael Hedges... a LOT.
Virgil: I hear ya. The Wings looked good last evening, so I have a faint glimmer of hope.
Dan: Thank YOU for the fun challenge!
Ah, Kottke...
ReplyDeleteWhat a monster, and an original in all respects. Great stuff.
It's also cool to me that I probably worked on that guitar when I did finishing and setup for Bozo Podunavac in Chicago in the '70s. Another original, for sure. He was very careful to let you know that his name was (a) Serbian and (b) pronounced Bozho Pod-nahvahtz. Never forget the day some kid called the shop looking for tickets to the afternoon kiddie show Bozo's Circus, and Bozo went nuts. "Do I look like clown, goddam?"
Precious memories.
http://washingtonrebel.typepad.com/washington_rebel/2010/01/that-toddlin-town.html
wv=wellr - "Well er uh ah dunno."
Dang, Rob! You have lived an INTERESTING life!
ReplyDelete