Although they both play guitar, I feel that Ornette has been a huge influence on both Metheny and John Scofield. Pat Matheny has often spoken about his indebtedness to Ornette whereas so much of Scofield's repertoire has the odd, snakey bluesiness abiut it that is central to much of Coleman's work. The guitar has been the most influential instrument in music for the last 50-odd years and it is entirely appropriate that the innovations and possibilities of Ornette Coleman's ideas should be appropriated in this respect.
Metheny is a musician who I hugely admire. I think he is someone best appreciated performing live although he has issued a number of eceptional records over the years. For me, he is similar to someone like Herbie Hancock in that he has th ability to make complicated and "difficult" musical ideas into something that has the immediate impact of pop music. Small wonfer that he is one of the few musicians in jazz to attract an audience from outside the music. Recommend looking at his "Real book" where you can get some idea of the complexity of the man's ideas. As for not liking the range of sounds produced by his guitar, it is worth noting the number of different guitars he actually employed. A marked improvement on the likes of Doug Ramey, Herb Ellis , Barney Kessel or Tal Farlow who barely moved the music beyond the innovations of Charlie Christian. At least someone like Kenny Burrell was listenable and dug the blues. I think only Jim Hall offered an alterantive that in the spirit of great jazz improviation. Pre-Hendrix, the electric guiatr is jazz was practically in a state of fossilisation. Thank god for the likes of Metheny, Scofield, Abercrombie, Frisell, Rypdal, Eubanks, etc.
Metheny is a musician who I hugely admire. I think he is someone best appreciated performing live although he has issued a number of eceptional records over the years. For me, he is similar to someone like Herbie Hancock in that he has th ability to make complicated and "difficult" musical ideas into something that has the immediate impact of pop music. Small wonfer that he is one of the few musicians in jazz to attract an audience from outside the music. Recommend looking at his "Real book" where you can get some idea of the complexity of the man's ideas. As for not liking the range of sounds produced by his guitar, it is worth noting the number of different guitars he actually employed. A marked improvement on the likes of Doug Ramey, Herb Ellis , Barney Kessel or Tal Farlow who barely moved the music beyond the innovations of Charlie Christian. At least someone like Kenny Burrell was listenable and dug the blues. I think only Jim Hall offered an alterantive that in the spirit of great jazz improviation. Pre-Hendrix, the electric guiatr is jazz was practically in a state of fossilisation. Thank god for the likes of Metheny, Scofield, Abercrombie, Frisell, Rypdal, Eubanks, etc.
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