Mike said >>Many people would name [Beethoven] as an important composer or as their favourite composer without knowing much more than the opening motif (is it sacrilegious to say 'riff' here?) of the 5th symphony, or 'Nessun Dorma'<<
Fred replied >>Or even without knowing that "Nessun Dorma" was composed by Puccini! (insert your favorite emoticon here)<< Mike now says Yes, Puccini composed Nessun Dorma, not Beethoven. While writing the mail I couldn't recall the composer (Verdi? Puccini?) so I included the name of the singer of the most 'popular' version, i.e Pavarroti, not meaning to suggest that it was a Beethoven piece. Sorry if I gave this impression. Mike said >>Kenny G may 'technically' be a very good musician (damning with faint praise!) but lacks something; call it soul, call it feeling, call it what you want<< Fred said >>Here we differ: Kenny G is *not* a good musician, technically or otherwise (bad tone, out of tune, poor note choices, arrhythmic feel, bad taste).<< Mike now says Thanks Fred. I said 'may' technically be very good, and 'may' is the operative word here. As a non-musician I am in no position to judge musicians' ability, only how they appeal to me or not. I didn't realise he was so bad, though LOL. Fred said >>However, I think he does have soul, his own version of it at least (everyone does), and I think he's sincere. This goes a long way to explain his popularity.<< Mike now says Here we differ. If he has soul, it is different to what I understand it to mean. I do not doubt his sincerity. Mike said >>I love Miles Davis and happily accept that there are other, better players than Miles but he does it for me.<< Fred said >>There *aren't* better players than Miles ... there are those who may play faster or higher, but no one, on *any* instrument, plays *music* better than Miles. Of course, many musicians play music equally as well as Miles, but none better.<< Mike now says My remarks about being a non-musician apply here too. I have heard many people say that Miles is an all-time great as an innovator, bandleader, and trumpeter etcetera but did not possess the best technique (that word again). I am happy to accept this but for me Miles usually hits all the right notes. Whatever people say against him doesn't affect how I feel about Miles. Could you clarify one thing Fred, please? When you say "no one, on *any* instrument, plays *music* better than Miles" do you say this because Miles was the greatest musician or because comparisons are unhelpful, invalid, or just plain stupid? Mike said >>One of my all-time musical highlights was listening to Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock's quartet playing here in BCN in around 1994. They played a piece without bass or drums, just the two of them, a very slow, tender, beautiful piece of music which was as perfect as music can get. If I ever reach that state of bliss again I'll be very happy.<< Fred said >>Mike, if you want to achieve that blissful state again, get hold of their duo album, "1+1"<< Mike now says Thanks Fred for this information. I put on a T-shirt of the concert the other day and realised the concert took place in October 1991, not 1994! How time flies. Nice talking to you, Fred. There's so much to learn here. mike np swordfishtrombones Tom Waits
