Shred your wings ...

[uwe]

With all due respect - and I'm not someone who automatically knocks any modern guitarist because he doesn't play slow or bend enough -, but Herr Gilbert is way too nervous for a song like that. Morse, certainly no less technically accomplished, does a much better job - even in those solos where he later on starts to shred a little.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=92&v=Gx4XZRgg8EY&feature=emb_logo

It's not that I dislike Gilbert's slightly nerdy guitar style per se, but he needs quirkier material than a bluesy Hendrix standard. I think he would have done better with a Roxy Music track from their early years.

[westen44]

Most of the time, people aren't going to capture the spirit of the original song.  But it's okay to try.  In this case, they're doing exactly what Chas Chandler urged Hendrix not to do.  And that's to make the song too long. 

[uwe]

It's a NAMM jam, different rules apply, but Paul Gilbert is like a little puppy peeing all over the carpet with excitement.

Of course, the mellow(tronic!) spirit of the song was immaculately - if uncredited  - captured here!



Wonderful bass playing by the late Craig Gruber btw, his work on the Rainbow debut was much underrated. People who followed him where heavy-handed in comparison.

[westen44]

In general, frenetic stuff like that, shredded to hell and back, is just outright boring to me.  It certainly lacks soulful finesse.  Gilbert is just not all that interesting compared to many other guitarists who actually are.  Supposedly, he wants to be known more as a blues player now.  I don't want to be harsh, but I'm not feeling it. 

[uwe]

Not every lead guitarist has to be a blues lead guitarist, why are they so obsessive about it? Electric lead guitar playing has come a long way since 78 rpm shellac records! It's like as if every bass player wished to play like James Jamerson. It's fine if you want to and even better if you can, but you don't have to.

I would have put Gilbert more in the EvH, Adrian Belew, Allan Holdsworth, Rick Nielsen category - and there is nothing in the least wrong with that.

[uwe]

Another "Little Wing" version ... Craig Goldie is the guitarist here.

[westen44]

Not every lead guitarist has to be a blues lead guitarist, why are they so obsessive about it? Electric lead guitar playing has come a long way since 78 rpm shellac records! It's like as if every bass player wished to play like James Jamerson. It's fine if you want to and even better if you can, but you don't have to.

I would have put Gilbert more in the EvH, Adrian Belew, Allan Holdsworth, Rick Nielsen category - and there is nothing in the least wrong with that.

You've got to be careful about saying this because some would consider it something really bad to say.  But I was just talking about this to a friend a few days ago.  He thinks playing like Jamerson would be about the ultimate thing to do.  Jamerson was great.  But I've been around people who seemed to only want to listen to him.  I got tired of that. Even though Hendrix is my favorite guitarist, I've also been around people who seem to think he was the only guitarist who ever lived.  That's being a little too obsessive for me. 

[amptech]

I would have put Gilbert more in the EvH, Adrian Belew, Allan Holdsworth, Rick Nielsen category - and there is nothing in the least wrong with that.

That's really not fair to Allan Holdsworth! It's like putting mother Theresa in the Gwyneth Paltrow category. Shame on you!

[doombass]

Like the rest of you I think Morse had the most tasteful playing. I'll give Gilbert credit for his guitar sound. Morse had way too much effects in the circuit so it sounds awful.

Regarding bassplaying (it applies to the clip in the initial post also), play like James Jamerson if you're fortunate enough to do so but only..........IF IT SUITS THE SONG!! I would'nt have wanted Jamerson playing on AC/DC's Let There Be Rock or the Ramones  debut album.

[uwe]

That's really not fair to Allan Holdsworth! It's like putting mother Theresa in the Gwyneth Paltrow category. Shame on you!

I apologize! I just consider Allan Holdsworth pretty much removed from the Blues - and all the much better for it! His playing was stunning.

[gearHed289]

I would have put Gilbert more in the EvH, Adrian Belew, Allan Holdsworth, Rick Nielsen category - and there is nothing in the least wrong with that.

I was going to ask "How is that a category?", but I see what you're saying - "not blues".

Gilbert is definitely a little nervous or something here. Sometimes it sucks that there are phones everywhere recording your every move. Especially a NAMM jam.  I like Paul, though I've never bought any of his stuff. I've seen Mr. Big at least twice back around 1990, and I just actually learned one of their songs for a new covers project. Nice pop tune with big vocals.



And I love Catch the Rainbow.

[uwe]

I didn't want to be damning, I have no issues with Mr Big, they are a fine band.

[Basvarken]

I think that NAMM jam is dead boring. As most of them are.
But I do think Paul Gilbert has a better tone than Steve Morse.