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In the Forum: Musical Discussions
In the Thread: 1st Guitar Thread
Post Subject: I am Jaded (or...)Posted by Paul S on: 3/29/2009
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Sorry to say, I have heard few guitar recitals in San Diego, and it's been many years since I heard anything I really got Class A-1 enthused about.  Guitar is SO hard to master, after all.  So few ever get to the highest level of technical ability, and still fewer have the ineffable gift to interpret, potentiate and release great music.  IMO, even the greats cannot and do not simply do this at will.  I hear about some phenom or another once in a while, and then when I finally hear for myself, I am not especially taken with it.  People hit all the notes, but it does not transcend.

But how can there be so few great guitarists at this time?  I must be missing something!  I keep getting the feeling that things are passing me by, and I HATE that feeling!  I am certainly open to new artists, always ready to hear great music.  However, I admit being rather lackadaisical in my "search", and I am both cheap and cynical about current ticket prices.

How did I get so far out of the loop?  Probably lots of reasons.  Here is a small example:  People I talk to all seem to love  and love to cite Paco de Lucia, and there seems to be a general trend to think of him as the greatest Flamenco guitarist, ever.  I'm sorry, but nothing I've heard from him has struck me that way yet.  OTOH, I absolutely love a lot of "Manitas de Plata" (Ricardo Billardo), and most of the "purists" think he is a bad joke.

Can we agree on Yepes?

I also enjoy without thinking about it things by Leo Kottke and John Fahey, whom we are not allowed to discuss around here.

Best regards,
Paul S

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