Stanley Jordan - 'Round Midnight

[ellyssian]

I remember when Stanley Jordan released Magic Touch.

Sure, people did the two handed tapping thing before Stanley. Eddie Van Halen won most of the claims for creating the technique in songs like Eruption (MP3), where the technique was used to add an extra fingertip to a blazing scalar run. Other guitarists would then point out that Allen Holdsworth invented the technique before Eddie was performing. This Wikipedia article indicates the history goes back a bit further, and, to the shame of all those Holdsworth fanatics, doesn't even mention him.

No matter whether it was Paganini or some guy in 1973* who invented the technique, Stanley was the first to receive widespread for fully using two handed tapping - where two distinct parts are played on the same guitar, often with one hand playing the bass line and/or chords, and the other playing the melody, although blending the parts at times.

Stanley's performance of Monk's 'Round Midnight (MP3), included on Magic Touch blew me away. It was certainly not the first time I heard the tune, but it was the first time it came into my collection. And, I suppose, in some ways it really was the first time I heard the tune.

I'd say this rendition is single-handedly responsible for this set of videos, but, really, it has both hands in the mix...

* While researching this, I found a page mentioning some guy who claimed to have invented the technique in 1973. This is, of course, after others had used it. Everyone wants to be first! =)

Comments

[fragbert.livejournal.com]

I heard Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top was doing right-hand taps before EVH as well. I haven't done enough research to prove or disprove the theory.

I will say, however, that EVH brought it to the forefront in 1978 and exposed a bunch of mainstream rockers to the joy of instrumental virtuosity. Allan Holdsworth didn't have that kind of audience.

I find that now with Dream Theater - a bunch of INCREDIBLY talented musicians, doomed to be popular only with other musicians.

[ellyssian.livejournal.com]

Yeah, you can't deny Eddie is what brought everyone (in the rock world) to the technique, but I think a lot of folks did it prior to that without thinking it was anything special. They were just playing guitar.

I remember when word of Dream Theater first spread - it was almost a rumor, because there was no way a band like them could exist. They were described in hushed tones as being almost as good as Fates... =)

Of course, most of this crowd thought they couldn't be a reality because that's exactly the type of band they were trying to get together... and it was tough to get it in front of an audience that polarized itself to either hair metal or thrash. That, and most of them couldn't quite remember the name - Dream Syndicate was the closest I could get out of those who had heard them, and I knew that wasn't right. When Dream and Day Unite was a tough album to find... I didn't find it until maybe seven or eight years ago. =)

[fragbert.livejournal.com]

I heard "Pull Me Under" on the radio in 2002, and that was my first exposure to them.

I couldn't believe such a band existed, either. "Images and Words" holds a place of honor in my CD collection.

[ellyssian.livejournal.com]

I love Images and Words - and when Pull Me Under first came out back in the early nineties, my vocalist was jumping up and down - "That's the band I was trying to tell you about!"

Despite all that, I think Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence might be my favorite album of theirs, although what they do with the cover tunes on A Change of Seasons would make it a close fight.

[fragbert.livejournal.com]

"The Big Medley" makes my dick hard. Pink Floyd, Genesis, AND The Dixie Fuckin' Dregs? OH-EM-GEE.

Yeah, Six Degrees is fantastic. I adore Solitary Shell.

Oh, and let's not forget The Glass Prison. Mmmm. Drums.

[ellyssian.livejournal.com]

Drums.

I keep wondering when I'll run into Mike Portnoy. Unless he moved away from the area...

A few years ago, I did poetry readings with his next door neighbor. I think I jokingly asked her to ask him if he wanted to jam. I was, and still am, looking for a drummer. =)

[ellyssian.livejournal.com]

Oh, and re: the last comment... you have to love their sense of humor with their recent collection: Greatest Hit (...and 21 other pretty cool songs)

[fragbert.livejournal.com]

Their sense of humor was a major part of what sold me on them.