Like many guitar geeks, my music collection consists mainly of guitar oriented substances. But occasionally I depart to stuff with no guitar, which actually exists– swear to God it does!
Right now, I’m listening to the Yellowjackets 1987 release Four Corners. The player below features the cut Mile High:
Interestingly enough, the Yellowjackets were originally assembled by guitarist Robben Ford as his band way back in the pre-Blue Line days. Ford played on a few tracks on earlier Jackets albums. Their bass player Jimmy Haslip currently also plays in Ford’s new group with Michael Landau. Lesser known is that Haslip played in a band with Tommy Bolin waaaaay back when, too far to think about.
Although sometimes associated with Smooth Jazz & New Age, the Yellowjackets are a band that continues to grow and set themselves apart from the Kenny G, Richard Elliot, Dave Koz smoothie machine fuzak. Remember that the above sample clip is from ‘87. Nowadays, some of those smoothies are still trying to tap into what the Jackets were doing then. They’ll take a tune like Mile High and get several tunes out of it by vamping off from little sections.
Today’s Yellowjackets sound completely different than the Four Corners material, and smoothie head Rippingtons fans don’t comprehend it. That’s why they have the Rippingtons. Couldn’t keep up with the Jackets. Sometimes that type of music is better with no guitar at all, and that’s where the Jackets shine. Before Spyro Gyra had guitar, they were a fun departure. Later they added really cheesy rack processed guitar stuff. Rippingtons guitarist Russ Freeman is much better on my ears on acoustic than thru his over processed signal chain.
I blame Lukather for this. Those contempo jazz cats heard what Luke was doing with Toto, and basically tried to cop his chain in order to fit guitar into contempo jazz. Rit and Carlton, although a bit more real, haven’t escaped this cheese factor. Robben Ford has done well avoiding it though, thanks to an ear for Blues, tubes and his trusty Dumble amps.
The only cat that has his cake and eats it too is Pat Metheny, who is able to create on so many levels that his audiences range from smoothies to hard core fuzies, and all points in between. If you don’t believe me, check out the demographics at an Allan Holdsworth show compared to a Metheny gig. Two completely different players, but both are badasses technically. And if you ever hear anyone copping Metheny, just put on some Metheny and the faux dribble rinses away instantly. Mike Stern is the only wide receiver qualified to catch passes from Pat Metheny.
But we were talkin’ about NON-GUITAR music. Sometimes it’s tough to stay on the subject.
What do you listen to when you wanna get away from guitar for awhile???
#67 of 75 Limited Edition 2009
Floyd Nut with recessed Gotoh Floyd bridge
Quilt maple top on alder body with “scrape” maple binding
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