Rodney Jones and Jonathan Kreisberg are both excellent musicians. I haven't heard Rodney recently. Because of the regular gigs I had over the last few years, I really wasn't getting out much. Since that's ended (for the moment) and I've got some more time on my hands, I'm starting to get out again to see who's playing around town. Jonathan's name came up a few times, so I went to hear him at La Lanterna and we swapped CDs. He's doing a lot of originals, and also likes to do standards in odd meters ("Gone with the Wind" in 5/4", etc.) Excellent stuff.
I don't really like to talk much about other players. I'd rather listen and see what there is to be learned (and there's always something). One thing I will say is that recordings give you a very limited idea of what a player is really about. I almost always prefer hearing someone live as opposed to a recording.
The most difficult thing is not learning to play well (that's the fun part!), it's getting a gig after you can! Probably more difficult than getting a gig is getting enough people to come out to your gig so that you have a shot at getting another gig.
My suggestion: go listen to everybody you can. Support live music!
"RB" <richardbornman@ozemail.com.au> wrote in message news:1123553037.100858.43270@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...> Hi Rick,> Have you ever caught Rodney Jones? Any thoughts on his playing?>
I caught Kreisberg when I was in NY recently. He is a WONDERFUL> musician.> Do you have any thoughts on his music?>
Do you have any faves amongst the "newer" crop of players now around> NYC?>
Larry Grinnell 12 August 2005 00:44:08 [ permanent link ]
I saw Ron Affif about two years ago at the Zinc bar (a real dive, but as dives go, a great one!) at his early show. He and singer Claudia Acuna did a couple of sets--very tasty and very unlike those overproduced monstrosities she did on Verve with Diana Krall's arranger (Tony LiPuma...or something like that). She's also the one who sang "Body and Soul" phonetically on Mark Elf's first CD (a scream!). In that simple guitar-voice duet environment, she was simply delightful. Mark's playing was quite good, too!
Anyhow, it was a very enjoyable show. Just wish I could have stayed for the later show with Ron and his trio (if memory serves).
Larry Grinnell
<joemontgomery2@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:1123522195.951499.129310@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...> I'll be in NYC the last 2 weeks of August and on the prowl to hear some> jazz guitar. I'd like to take "the kid" with me, so the venues have to> be under 21.> Gonna try for Ron Affif's gig at the Zinc and Bertoncini at Madelines.>
Suggestions? In Bklyn or Queens? Please, no Staten Island suggestions> or I'll lose 24 hrs at Mandolin Bros. fondling archtops!>
