Chas, I always enjoy your posts, and have the greatest respect for you as a fellow musician and a fair minded person.

I'm not that insecure about my own talent (and sometimes too obvious limitations), to feel at odds with any of your posts, and I always found them well worded, and most of the time I had a good chuckle at some of the responses, some overly defensive, and some very well chosen and interesting replies.

They sometimes hit the occasional nerve, but, they were generally thought provoking, and to me, that is a good thing.

The older I get, the more I care less about musical competitiveness, whether it be in playing skills, the number of gigs played per year or month, and how much money being made, and I always had the belief that you felt much the same, and we both shared similar attitudes towards bullshit and phoniness.

So, don't count me as a non-admirer, I have heard enough of your music to admire your substantial playing skills, and read enough of your posts to know that you never mean anyone any harm or disrespect.

Just my 3 cents Canadian (2 cents American)


Ian

Thanks Ian. I appreciate that. Now stop baiting Diki and we'll be fine .

chas

Chas, what you actually said was "Are singers musicians? .... some are, some aren't. Who cares anyway" and it is that part that was omitted was what I thought just seemed a little insulting and inflammatory, I am sure that most singers here would care. But it is no big deal now. It is in the past. I certainly apologize for my comment if your statement wasn't intended to be derogatory ... it just came across that way.

No apology necessary. My concern is/was that you may have had a flawed interpretation of my post. In the future I'll try to be more careful with my wording.

In my musical world, great singers are held in the same high esteem that I hold great musicians. Personal favorites include Joe Williams, Sarah Vaughn, Billy Holiday, Nina Simone, James Brown, Ray Charles, Joe Cocker, Tony Bennett, Mel Torme, Shirley Horn, Lou Rawls, Bobby Caldwell, Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin, Roberta Flack, Dusty Springfield, B.B. King, and lately, Ruthie Foster. Obviously, I'm all about the 'soul' and that comes from within and can be expressed through any instrument, be it piano, organ, sax, trumpet, or the human voice. As with keyboards, I always felt that the feelings and emotions behind it were always way more important than the quality of the voice.

chas

Darn Chas, I really appreciate that. I had no idea you though so highly of my vocals!

Do I make too many jokes?

Actually, I do Don. Also like the authenticity of your guitar emulations (I try to do something similar with jazz guitar (on the T2) but it's just not as effective. Maybe if I'd learned to play guitar? Oh, BTW, one of the names I left off was one of my favorites, Willie Nelson, but then I just love his whole personna. Just no accounting for who we like; some people just strike the right chord (and some don't). And no, you don't make too many jokes. Humor is one of the surest signs of a high intellect.

chas

I really like voice, style and coolness of Michael Franks. Not only writes some great tunes, but does great covers as well.

One of my favorite tunes he has arranged (or rearranged) is the tune I Love Lucy, opening theme from the old TV series of the same name.

Beautifully transformed into a ballad, it works pretty good instrumentally, but the vocal version wins the prize. Great chords, and lovely guitar and piano solos.

Franks used quite a few well known session players, and he says he was heavily influenced by Peggy Lee and Nat King Cole among others.

Another tune written by Franks, "Popsicle Toes", was covered by very nicely by Diana Krall.

Ian

Ian,
One of my favs too! I LOVE his laid back style. I use his tracks for lots of breaks. Niceeeeeeeeeeee.

YESSS ! ... one of my favorites ...