I agree. There seems to be this stigma in jazz journalism
where the guitarists all have to look the same, play
archtops, wear fancy cloths, etc. I feel that Stern and
Holdsworth too, have fallen in between the cracks of rock
and jazz and are not given enough acclaim in the press by
either genre. A lot of people dont even consider Holdsworth
jazz. He plays over changes and comes up with amazing lines
that are certainly jazz influenced so I think it's jazz. Him
in Stern just dont fit into this Jazz guitar stereotype is
all.
Mark
--- jclarke1308@... wrote:
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Another great jazz guitarist, composer, and
innovator who has never
made it anywhere, anytime, in these Downbeat polls
is Mike Stern. I
came to the conclusion some time ago that the people
who vote in
these polls are mostly non-musicians, and/or
non-guitarists, and have
no idea what distinguishes an outstanding player
from a merely
competent one.
OK, everyone has their 'pet' heroes who they think
should have wider
recognition, but this particular ommission is
incomprehensible. Mike
Stern has recorded for nearly 20 years with a great
many of the best
modern and contemporary jazz musicians, both as
sideman and leader,
and tours constantly. Of how many players making it
in the Downbeat
poll can that be said ?
I suppose if he got himself a blazer, a haircut,
stopped using
distortion and other effects, and switched to a
Benedetto instead of
a Tele, he might become acceptable to the jazz
journalism
establishment.
John Clarke
Basingstoke
England
