BBC TV Guitar Series

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: GUEST,cookie
Date: 20 Oct 08 - 08:36 AM

Well, no, because it was a series about the guitar, not guitarists.

Martin Taylor is arguably the best exponent of the particular genre he plays, but though he has made technical and musical advances in that genre, it is still at heart the music of Barney Kessel and Joe Pass. He hasn't changed the instrument or the way it is used. If you're looking for glaring omissions, then how about the man whose face appeared fleetingly as the programme moved towards it closing credits - Davy Graham, who did revolutionise and expand the capabilities of the instrument?

Cookie

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: Stringsinger
Date: 19 Oct 08 - 01:05 PM

Any BBC guitar series without including Martin Taylor is bogus.

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: GUEST,rone
Date: 18 Oct 08 - 02:06 PM

great to see Mr guitar Bert Weedon on tv there are a lot of great guitar players out there but to me Bert is the daddy of the guitar rock on Bert.

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: Zen
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 09:44 AM

I enjoyed both so far but programme two was definitely better.

Zen

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: Tim Leaning
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 05:39 AM

I thought it avoided most of the same old clips.
Well the ones I have seen anyway
Enjoyed the show again

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 05:16 AM

"A definite improvement on episode one".

I'd have said a vast improvement on episode 1. At any rate, what I saw of it was. I'd vowed never to let it enter my living room again, but while I was changing channels a clip of BB King came up. I've gotta see this bit, I thought and found I was watching a well crafted bit of television. Good meaningful contributions from the interviewees, sensible questions and no damned gimmicks. My only remaining quibbles lay with the use of a clip from Spinal Tap as though it were a piece of authentic documentary, and the fact that it appears to be focused solely on the guitar as a rock instrument. Perhaps one day the BBC will make a series telling us of its use in other genres.

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 04:49 AM

A definite improvement on episode one I thought, and certainly more enjoyable in terms of music with some choice vintage Americana making the whole thing a good deal more real somehow. Reconstructions of medieval citterns are all very well, but seeing the very first ever electric guitar was something else altogether; likewise that old red strat as used by Hank - the true cross indeed (or maybe that honour should go to Hendrix's charred axe? Gave me a bit of a chill that did). BB King, Scotty Moore, Les Paul - amazing to see these legends still alive let alone still playing; I hearby add them to my above list. I'll be watching this one again Here.

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: Piers Plowman
Date: 11 Oct 08 - 11:31 AM

From: weelittledrummer - PM
Date: 10 Oct 08 - 10:46 PM

"Moreover, I think that's why the folk revival stalled. They kicked out all the people of talent and they clung on to the conformists. You can give these people all the BBC2 sessions in the world - they will still not be able to come up with a memorable piece of music that impacts in the way Street of London, Blowing in the Wind or All Around My Hat did."

I agree with you in general, but I think "the folk revival", for lack of a better term, stalled for other reasons. One thing that really gets up my nose is when one says "I play folksongs" and the response is "Oh, Bob Dylan". No, not blooming Bob Dylan!

So-called folk music is just a category of popular music and it always was. In fact, I'm pretty sure that some folk songs and ballads derive from courtly songs, i.e., so-called "serious music". On the other hand, many of these probably derive from songs sung among "the folk", whoever they were. The closer one looks at it, the less sense these distinctions make.

It is also absurd to associate folk music particularly with the guitar. When these songs were really widespread among the folk (of course, most collecting only started when it was beginning to disappear), the guitar was not the typical instrument for playing folk music in most places. Of course, I'm over-simplifying a very complicated subject.

Of course, I speak as a guitar player and I will sing any song I choose with guitar accompaniment, whether it's authentic or not.

I don't get out much, so I don't know whether the folk scene is full of people opining about what folk is or not. However, I think much ink has been spilt on this subject, not least on Mudcat, and I'd be rather surprised if people didn't talk about it, too. After all, there's no one who can give an ultimate answer to what is folk and what's not*, so people can keep arguing about it forever and never come to a conclusion.

* Except me of course.

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: Will Fly
Date: 11 Oct 08 - 06:31 AM

One major difference between Bream and Williams (perhaps) is that Bream also played jazz as well as classical and was a keen Django fan. Williams is a superb sight-reader - someone once said that you could splatter ink blobs on a paper and Williams would read it off - but he has admitted quite openly that he can't improvise. Whether this difference affects their ability in the classical arena, I can't say. I like 'em both personally.

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: Tim Leaning
Date: 11 Oct 08 - 06:14 AM

Hmmmmmm same old things eh?
I thought the Jullian |Bream prog was ok but was it a repeat?
I too prefer his playing to JW but as they are both brilliant I dont suppose either will lose any hair over that.

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: Tim Leaning
Date: 11 Oct 08 - 05:55 AM

ONly seen part one
Thought it interesting how the guitar spread and some of the historic detail amusing.
Gonna read rest of thread now to see how it ended in partial acrimony.
LOL

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 11 Oct 08 - 04:29 AM

I guess the folk scene has changed since you buggered off! Look on the Music Well billboard or listen to Thank Goodness it's Folk - it isn't wall-to-wall Young Diddley Musician Of The Year, far from it.

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 10 Oct 08 - 10:46 PM

Well if nobody's ever disapproved of you - you're not trying hard enough!

Almost from day one of my career as a player I can recall club organisers getting a hard time for booking me. I can recall dj's getting abusive phone calls for putting my stuff amongst the jewels of the folk revival.

Basically that's why I buggered off and did other stuff - rather than hanging about to endure a life of rejection on the folkscene. That's what I'd advise any young musician to do. As the Incredible String Band said, 'if you let the pigs decide it - they will put you in the sty'. Don't let the Lilliputians tie you down.

Moreover, I think that's why the folk revival stalled. They kicked out all the people of talent and they clung on to the conformists. You can give these people all the BBC2 sessions in the world - they will still not be able to come up with a memorable piece of music that impacts in the way Street of London, Blowing in the Wind or All Around My Hat did.

Folk music - that which is adopted by and captured the imagination of the folk.

And really that's why this series looks like being a load of cack. The salient point about the guitar is not that a few smart arses have learned a few twiddly bits that defeat the rest of us. Rather it is; that it has offered a road to personal expression in a world that generally, particularly and routinely standardises us and insults our intelligences and sensibilities.

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 10 Oct 08 - 05:50 PM

they operate undercover most of the time

Maybe so, but all I've been able to see is clubs and singarounds where nobody and nothing is disapproved of or treated with intolerance, and the folk umbrella can shelter pretty much anyone who wants to come in under it.

Anyway, Al didn't say "there are people out there who hold rigid ideas about what constitutes folk in the privacy of their own heads"; he said the scene's full of people "opining - this isn't folk music and that isn't folk music". To which I can only say, in my experience, no it isn't.

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 10 Oct 08 - 05:05 PM

... I've never met the folk police; I don't believe they exist....

Oh yes they do, it's just that they operate undercover most of the time.

thanks greg, for pulling this thread back to guitar.

let's hope it stays on course from here on in ...

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: greg stephens
Date: 10 Oct 08 - 03:29 PM

Lots more guitar on BBC4 tonight. In particular, a documentary on Julian Bream at 9PM. For my money, a much more enjoyable musician than John Williams who made it on to the Yentob documentary(which is also being repeated tonight, after the Bream prog)

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 10 Oct 08 - 02:31 PM

there are people who aren't actually sold on the idea that 'traditional' is the folk music of these islands.

I know - that's my point. There are lots of people who don't believe that 'folk' equals 'traditional', and (in my experience) those people suffer no intolerance whatsoever. In fact, in my experience some of the people running folk clubs and singarounds are the most open-minded of all. I've never met the folk police; I don't believe they exist.

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 10 Oct 08 - 01:50 PM

well believe it or not Pip - there are people who aren't actually sold on the idea that 'traditional' is the folk music of these islands.

Just goes to show. Intolerance is a many edged sword.

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 10 Oct 08 - 11:31 AM

You must develop a little more sang froid about the folk scene. It is full of people opining - this isn't folk music and that isn't folk music.

Really? I've never met one. Most evenings at my local folk club you'll be lucky to hear even one traditional song from these islands.

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: Piers Plowman
Date: 10 Oct 08 - 06:29 AM

Thank you for your answer, weelittledrummer.

weelittledrummer wrote:

"Oh dear! You certainly seem to have had your share of problems!"

Yes, I have, including some I don't to want to write about on a message board, though I am well aware that there are many people with worse problems.

"You must develop a little more sang froid about the folk scene. It is full of people opining - this isn't folk music and that isn't folk music."

I know what you mean. I have a scholarly interest in folk music, and definitions are important from that point of view, but otherwise, who cares? As long as they don't call it "late for dinner".

It's a little different here in Germany, in particular people's attitudes to their own traditional music.

Much of my free time is filled with sending out job applications, something I've done more than enough of, but if I can ever stop doing that, I might try to find people to play with, perform at an open-mike night, or something like that. What I'd really like to do, though, is to use music (including folk music) in (short) animated films. Not that I'd mind making long ones, but animation is extremely time-consuming and expensive. I know there's no substitute for the experience of performing in front of other people.

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 10 Oct 08 - 04:06 AM

Oh dear! You certainly seem to have had your share of problems!

I do understand. Perhaps because in my way I have encountered all of them in a long (some would say too long!) career.

The only advice I can give you is this:-

You must develop a little more sang froid about the folk scene. It is full of people opining - this isn't folk music and that isn't folk music. And many of them are nice people, but God wasn't kind to them at their creation and he factored in a little component of their personality, which is really quite full of shit.

You must lose your cherry and become a bit of 'no never mind slag' when it comes to performing. The main thing about performance is that if it is good and confident - it has a fair chance of success. And that confidence and competence only comes with experience.

It doesn't cost a lot to go open mikes - most are free to get in - and you can by a bottle of abbey well and slip off to the toilets and fill it up - or even ask straight out for a pint of water over the bar and get refilled.

If you don't set your stall out - you won't find out if there are kindred spirits, and I'm telling you that there are. And the great beauty of the folk music scene in England is its diversity. Not amongst the professionals - but there amongst the actual folk themselves, it is a real global village.   I'm willing to be that there are people in your town that are interested in playing similar music to yourself, Piers.

the reason I know is that that i was into contemporary folk music as a kid. My family moved down to the Exmouth area - and down there the whole scene revolved around The Journeymen who had residence at the Jolly porter in Exeter. they had SO many disciples for traditional singing. I was fifteen to eighteeen and felt too intimidated and self conscious to get up and sing my songs.

So I never found out that sitting also in the sudience were Paul Downes and Phil Beer, Colin Wilson, Steve Knightley and it was only really when we were all much older and already professional musicians living in different parts of the country we had all been sitting there not knowing about the presence of each other.

Sheet music - tell me about it. I have one friend whom I press my latest cds and and sheet music on when I am feeling very drunken, expansive and generous. I sometimes go and visit my own property at his house. he has long since convinced himself that he bought them. Once he gave me back a dog eared book that he said he had just 'come across when he was sorting out' that i had given up asking him urgently for about three years previously.

At least nowadays with the internet you can get much music without paying anything. In those days you sometimes had to buy a whole book for just one song or set of lyrics you were interested in.

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: Piers Plowman
Date: 10 Oct 08 - 02:53 AM

I wrote:
"The a-capella singing on the radio usually isn't traditional music (folk or otherwise)."

Well, they might be traditional songs, but sung by professional singers. Not that this sort of music gets much airplay, nowadays.

It's a difficult question, Pip Radish. Sometimes it can be very moving, so I should have put what I said more carefully. I would certainly never perform a song unaccompanied, but then I don't have the voice for it. When they were collected, the collectors (one hopes) were looking for authenticity rather than entertainment. I suppose it comes down to what it means to be "interested" as opposed to "entertained". I think that's one of those questions that lead to the ultimate question underlying all life, as Ted Greene put it.

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: Piers Plowman
Date: 10 Oct 08 - 02:45 AM

The a-capella singing on the radio usually isn't traditional music (folk or otherwise). It also depends on why I'm listening. Some music is more demanding to listening to and I don't always feel like it. I'm not knocking unaccompanied singing; it's just not a style of music I usually like very much, so if I just want to be entertained or am listening with half an ear, I will probably switch it off.

I did switch someone off only the other day. I could happily do without long, drawn-out, overly-emotional, unaccompanied renditions of "Amazingrace" forever. Other people might love them; that's what makes ball games.

Actually, I do sometimes like a-capella singing with multiple parts, which has become popular again. I never much cared for choral music, but I always liked some, like Guilliaume Dufay. Now I've started to like more of it. Tastes change with time. It would be boring if they didn't.

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 09 Oct 08 - 05:05 PM

But how do you ever hear "the real thing" if you switch off every time you hear unaccompanied singing?

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: Piers Plowman
Date: 09 Oct 08 - 02:46 PM

eeelittledrummer wrote:
"I admit folk music without any actual folk must be a bit of a facer."

Actually, I'm interested in lots of other kinds of music, not just folk music. I rather suspect that the audience for the kind of folk music I'm most interested in is fairly small, anyway.   I must admit that I really don't like a-capella singing and many genuine folk songs were, of course, unaccompanied, at least when they were collected.

There are few things that can make me fly across the room faster to switch off the radio than a-capella singing. There may be exceptions, but I can't think of any off-hand. I could imagine enjoying Mahalia Jackson singing a-capella.

The kind of folk music I'm really interested in is that which has been collected, either on paper or as recordings. A lot of this is, admittedly, not very entertaining, and one couldn't go and perform it at a club or a festival (or anywhere else). It is (sometimes) "the real thing", however. I couldn't perform most of it anyway, because I don't have the voice for it, and most genuine folk music is in dialect and it always sounds a bit silly to sing in a dialect not one's own.

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: Piers Plowman
Date: 09 Oct 08 - 01:59 PM

There are people here; there are even musicians. I gave up looking for people to play with a few years ago. At a time when I was particularly interested in French chansons, I posted a notice looking for people to accompany. Well, my name happens to be a man's name in English but a woman's in French, and a couple of women called and were somewhat taken aback (and not pleased) to find out I was a man.

Another thing that happened is when I met a couple of people, they asked to copy some of my sheet music and I allowed them to do it (something I don't do anymore) and I never heard from them again.

A couple of people that I played music with occasionally have married and had children and one of them moved away.

Eventually, I just stopped looking for people to play with. For a long time, I haven't had the money to go to clubs, even if I had the desire to.

For a very long time, my playing ability lagged behind my knowledge about music. It's been catching up in recent years. Playing in bands in school past me by. I just plain wasn't good enough at the time.

At present, I have few social contacts, let alone contacts with other musicians who like the same kinds of music.

My goal at the moment is to somehow scrape together the equipment I'd need to film myself and put up a video on YouTube, rather than trying to find other people to play with.

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 09 Oct 08 - 01:34 PM

where are you were there are no other people. I admit folk music without any actual folk must be a bit of a facer.

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: Piers Plowman
Date: 09 Oct 08 - 12:41 PM

From: weelittledrummer - PM
Date: 07 Oct 08 - 12:00 PM

"[...] for untold thousands of us throughout England, and millions worldwide, the guitar is like the true cross used to be."

Steady on, weelittledrummer! I love playing the guitar, but it's just one of many wonderful instruments. I like those big, upright guitars with all the open strings and the pedals that you pick with both hands.

Since I was stupid enough to leave a place where I had a piano and a very good electric guitar, all I've had to play has been my classical guitar and harmonicas and a penny-whistle I bought recently. With the best will in the world, I don't find the harmonica, even the chromatic one, to be as versatile. Not that I'd rather have an electric guitar than a classical one, but my electric guitar is a much better instrument. In fact, I don't know if I'd buy an electric guitar today, unless I could just go hog wild and buy all the instruments I want (and I want them all).

I'm lucky to have an instrument at all and it has meant a lot to me to be able to play, especially during some difficult years. I would say that it was music, rather than the guitar, that's so important, but perhaps that's splitting hairs. I think music is one of the things that give meaning to life, along with literature and art. Is that close to what you meant?

What I find frustrating about the guitar is the limited range. What I'd really like is a set of guitars in different sizes, or perhaps a bass and mandolin, or a 13-course Baroque lute. The best thing of all would probably be other people to play with.

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: The Sandman
Date: 09 Oct 08 - 10:51 AM

I really enjoyed the Jimmy Page clip.

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 09 Oct 08 - 07:40 AM

Cheers, MM!

Actually, as a result of this discussion I was moved just this very morning to unearth my antique Hofner Congress (fretless since 1977) with a view to figuring out a way of accompanying traditional balladry that was more Derek Bailey than Martin Carthy. I was so pleased with the results I put it up on my Myspace page:

http://www.myspace.com/sedayne : The Wife of Ushers Well - first song on the player.

I think the results sound more Harry Partch (who he? see here) than Derek Bailey though, fixing the Shruti Box drone to the Tibetan Singing Bowl (which I'm using as a steel on the strings to set off some truly filthy resonances), and intoning the ballad to an essentially improvised modality. So some level of blues, or even Beefheart, in there too....

I don't expect this to be your cup of tea, but you mentioned wailing trad songs in your local folk club and I'm thinking maybe I should try something a little different tonight at The Steamer...

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: Andy Jackson
Date: 09 Oct 08 - 03:36 AM

There's a vice in the post!

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 08 Oct 08 - 05:47 PM

I made a list above who the few might be - Martin Carthy, Nic Jones, Micky Jones, Derek Bailey, Sonny Sharrock, Hans Reichel, Fred Frith, Daevid Allen, Robert Frip, Frank Zappa, Roy Buchanan. I like Phil Miller too, and Bernard Sumner's playing in Joy Division is sublime. My point was, as a sort of non-muso who never did get guitars, Derek Bailey's playing makes the most sense to me.

But anything - ANYTHING - even unto having my balls slowly crushed in the jaws of a vice whilst having my feet sawn off by evil pirates - than having to endure that which Miskin Man linked to above at 7.20am. You were being ironic, right?

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: GUEST,Volgadon
Date: 08 Oct 08 - 05:05 PM

I don't know who Sean's few are, I've never met him, but the point is that they are HIS few. I have my own, you have yours.
What I meant by easy on the ear was ones that you have no problem listening to, but are nothing special to you.

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 08 Oct 08 - 04:38 PM

in the great scheme of things, not important in the slightest, Ed

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 08 Oct 08 - 04:18 PM

Totally agree, Murray. It's not that important though, is it?

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 08 Oct 08 - 04:13 PM

hang about, you can't have "numerous" players who make a lot of sense, and at the same time have "a few" players who make a lot of sense.

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 08 Oct 08 - 04:06 PM

I think we need to know who the "few" are, so that we can put this discussion to bed.

What a stupid thing to say. Sean mentioned numerous players. I personally dislike "free jazz" but if Sean enjoys it, then good luck to him.

Ed

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 08 Oct 08 - 03:57 PM

"easy on the ear" ???

I resemble that remark.

None of the guitarists I named above are "easy on the ear", in fact there are times when Martin Simpson can be bloody difficult on the ear ...

I think we need to know who the " few " are, so that we can put this discussion to bed.

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: GUEST,Volgadon
Date: 08 Oct 08 - 02:50 PM

But he didn't say that Bailey was one of the few guitarists whose playing made real sense. He said that Bailey was one of the few guitarists whose playing made real sense to him.
That's entirely a personal opinion. In other words, his playing is among the few that truly touches IB, rather than just being easy on the ear. What's wrong with that?

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 08 Oct 08 - 02:19 PM

IB, I really don't want to get into a long altercation about this, but it wasn't your championing of Derek Bailey per se that made my hackles rise, it was your statement that he was "one of the FEW guitarists" whose playing made any real sense to you.

I am literally unable to count the number of guitarists I have heard whose playing makes real sense to me, but it must run into three figures, easily, and trust me, I am not easily, if ever, fooled by guitar players, I can spot a poser and a charlatan at 100 paces.

But you have seen only a FEW guitarists whose playing made real sense to you (among them Derek Bailey, ffs ) so do forgive me if I think that you are being just a tad elitist.

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 08 Oct 08 - 01:32 PM

To get back to one musician that was in the programme and shown making beautiful instruments, I refer here to Wayne Henderson, it's a pity that Yentob only showed him as a picker backing the vocals of his friend Herb Key. Apart from being a superb luthier Wayne does some amazing picking and I am sure would have pleased much of the audience with his amazing musical ability. There are a number of clips of him on you tube. On the strength of Yentob's first programme I think an hour watching various pickers on you tube must be far more rewarding provided you know who to look for and avoid jokers like Bailey.

Is anyone looking forward to the upcoming programmes on Bluegrass mentioned a month or so back? No I thought not. Bring back Anthony Wall, someone who does know real music.

Hoot

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: BanjoRay
Date: 08 Oct 08 - 12:49 PM

Doubtless you weren't, Ray. Try this, and if you still can't find it I suggest a hearing aid.
I don't think I need a hearing aid. I need something that converts a mishmash of unrelated notes into music. Sorry IB but I'm afraid our tastes differ considerably.
Ray

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: Andy Jackson
Date: 08 Oct 08 - 12:14 PM

I dropped my old piano down the stairs today and thought immediately of Derek Bailey......
What a load of pretentious TOSH. A waste of what might be a good guitar and certainly space on You tube.

Each to his own I know but I thought these threads were about music!!

Off to the Folk Club later, perhaps to wail a trad song at the ever patient members.

Andy (Fingers firmly in both ears while Derek Bailey is around.

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 08 Oct 08 - 12:11 PM

Never heard of this bloke. You can't argue with a following like that Murray. Thousands and thousands of people seem to watch him.

I don't really get avant gard jazz. I kind of disagree though IB - music like this, either its cool - or its nothing.

When so many people listen respectfully, I think the greatest probablity is, that there substance lurking beneath.

I would have been more interested listening to what he had to say for himself than Alan Yentob's collage of 'ten thousand nearly interesting facts about the guitar you will always be totally indifferent to'.

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 08 Oct 08 - 11:23 AM

Sadly, Woven Wheat Whispers folded back in the summer - there was a thread about it here. Owing to technical problems with my old PC I haven't had access to my actual website for over a year now, so it needs a thorough updating. That said, a lot of the Woven Wheat links on the Myspace sites are still in place too, so I really must get it sorted...

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: Will Fly
Date: 08 Oct 08 - 10:51 AM

IB - incidentally, what happened to the WovenWheatWhispers link on your website? Was exploring and got an error message...

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 08 Oct 08 - 10:31 AM

Actually, I do like RT's playing on the Bright Phoebus album - Danny Rose especially. Hope for us all, eh?

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: Will Fly
Date: 08 Oct 08 - 10:21 AM

Each to his own, IB - each to his own. As you saw Bailey as a teenager, I've seen Thompson many times - and each time was as different, in its way, from the previous time. Sorry you don't get him but I'll think of you the next time I play "The Dimming Of The Day" - which will be on Friday night. :-)

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 08 Oct 08 - 10:12 AM

I make a simple statement of personal taste and I'm accused of elitism? Much of my early musical education came care of my older brother who was passionate about the guitar - I got everything from Martin Carthy, Nic Jones, Micky Jones, Derek Bailey, Sonny Sharrock, Hans Reichel, Fred Frith, Daevid Allen, Robert Frip, Frank Zappa, Roy Buchanan, etc. all of whom I dearly love to this day but I still find the essence of the thing in Bailey's playing. As a young teenager I used to sit enchanted by Derek Bailey during Company Week at The Roundhouse; no sense of any elitism or pretension, just the pure beauty of sound and the craft of musicianship. Moral superiority? Wind in your neck, man!

Never did get Richard Thomson though - as musical dead-ends go they don't any deader than that, but that's just me. I like my rock out there, my jazz free and my folk trad, but each to their own, and the guitar is everyman's!

Subject: RE: BBC TV Guitar Series
From: Will Fly
Date: 08 Oct 08 - 09:31 AM

I've dipped into Derek Bailey's music, on and off, for many years and - try as I may - I can't say it moves me with any spirituality and passion. Perhaps he unconsciously - and ironically, considering he was trying so hard to break the conventional mould - moved himself into a musical dead end. I don't say that he isn't spiritualised and passionate when he's making his "non-idiomatic" (his phrase) music, just that it doesn't do it for me. If I want spirituality and passion, then just a few simple notes from Richard Thompson will do that for me.