Favorite musician(s)


I am first and foremost a song lover. Chords (the importance of which is not taken seriously enough by many songwriters imo. Listen to the changes in "God Only Knows" by Brian Wilson, and "What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted" by William Weatherspoon, Paul Riser, and James Dean. Glorious!), a melody (or three, if it's a fugue), harmonies, counterpoint if you're really good. For a song to be heard, you usually need some instruments to play it, A cappella being the exception. Different musicians approach the playing of a song in different ways; some view the song as merely the platform from which they express themselves via their particular instrument. Others play their instrument in service to the song itself (and/or the singer and other musicans), their talent at that assessed by how much the song benefits from their playing of it. I am a fan of the latter approach.

The players I like most can be described as "lyrical"---their parts sound like an integral element of the song---it would not be the same song without them. These type players are highly valued by the best songwriters, producers, and singers, and by other musicians who also play via that approach. Rick Hall, owner of the infamous Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, said the members of the studio's house band---The Swampers---all thought like and played as if they were producers. Exactly! When a great song is played by these type musicians, backing a good singer, the results are magical.

My favorite players are guys like Jerry Douglas (dobro), a member of Alison Krauss' Union Station and a first-call Nashville studio player. Ry Cooder and Richard Thompson, master guitarists of course. There are plenty of others, but that's enough outta me. Anyone who wants to add to my short list, may I request we keep it to lyrical/musical players, not "hotshots"? They already get all the attention (and chicks ;-) .

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One word.....Joni.

(close but no banana second to SRV, The Gadd, Jaco, Wayne Shorter, Merle, Robert DeLeo, Dwight, Scott LaFaro, Donald Fagan, Donald Hugh Henley, Duane Allman, Bill Evans, Ann Wilson, Roy Orbison, and God Rest His Soul The GREAT Glen Campbell...)

Oh yeah plus those old dead white dudes Tchaikovsky, Chopin, Schubert, Mendelssohn, and I'll B. Bach....
Robin Williamson and Mike Heron of The Incredible String Band! Check out: The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter, Wee Tam, Big Huge! Three superb recordings from this late 60's British folk duo!
I usually refer to ths as "playing in service to the song".  The opposite idea is wrapping a song around your playing.  Clapton is a good example of the former, Jimi (in my far from universal opinion) the latter.

Some guys who shine for me in this regard:

Glenn Tillbrook (Squeeze)
Todd Rundgren
George Harrison
Terry Kath
David Hidalgo (Los Lobos)
Richard Lloyd (Television, many others)
Robert Quine (Bowie, many others)
Greg Leisz
Buddy Emmons

and 

Lindsey

In the vein of backing musicians, Nils Lofgren with Crazy Horse and E Street Band comes to mind.