I think the 'pretentious wanker' crowd may be picking up on the singers body language. He looks like he's trying to be pretentious. There is something I've seen in a few videos here lately is the people not currently playing looking at whoever is soloing and following along. Sometimes it looks genuine, but a couple times it looks like they are trying to look like they are watching a great performance so that they can say, 'hey, look who I'm on stage with. Buy this record!'
Maybe it's because they are better musicians than actors. Maybe it's because I have an actor friend who is always asking for feedback on his acting videos and I'm just in critique mode, or maybe the people taking the videos are spending too much time on reaction shots and not enough on the performer actually performing. Maybe it's because this guy looks like a used car salesman.
This guy's voice is O.K. It's not my cup of tea though, but then again I never liked the Rat Pack.
Zack, 'Maybe you need to stop listening to the Wiggles', ROFL LMAO!
It is good (the harp, I agree with others on the vocals.) Its just not my cup of tea: its Jazz, and this is a blues forum. Don't be offended. The "pretentious wanker" comment comes from the movie The Committments. Its about the rise and fall of an Irish soul band. At the end, when they show what everyone is doing, the sax player is playing jazz, and the band's manager calls it "pretentious wanker music." That's all. I guess its an "in" joke, and I was the only one in on it. I really don't care for jazz too much (I once worked in a place that piped the smooth jazz station all day.) But I do realize that others do like it, and jazz musicians are top notch. My taste just doesn't run that way.
Last Edited by on Jun 19, 2009 8:05 PM
this is Weather Report playing 'A remark you made' from the highly praised album 'Heavy Weather' 1977 Anyone who can not be moved by this wonderful jazz playing by the guys on this? No harmonica but you have Wayne Shorter on sax!
Good morning everyone. I'm new to the Forum and want to say that I really enjoy reading all of the valuable information and interesting comments passed back and forth by musicians who share a common interest. Very inspiring ...thanks for sharing.
I want to point out that the mic Howard is using the Sennheiser 441. I think the 441 is the best mic for acoustic playing as it generally does little to colour the sound of the instrument.
Howard as one of the best acoustic sounds/tone in the business.
Sorry to chime in late, been on a brief anniversary vacation. In defense of the Wiggles, their horn arrangements are quite good. Listen to the Live in Sydney concert. They have a top notch band led by a trumpet player. Lots of good horn lines to learn from.
Well - I liked it! Nice- mellow - late night stuff.
Great Harp playing which is not unexpected from Levy & the singer can sing!
Glad we are all different.
Nothing wrong with the Wiggles though ie I bet no harp player has ever been as succesful. The Wiggles have it really made ie simple stuff, small repertoire and a very appreciative audience that changes every few years. Now, if only The Wiggles played Harp!!
Why people like this just blows my mind. That singer is aweful, the music in general is not good IMO. Howard Levy should start looking for another group...
Last Edited by on Jun 23, 2009 6:08 PM
I agree with Buddha. It's terrific playing on all fronts. If you don't like jazz, of course it's not good playing.
There's nothing pretentious about it. Elling is trying to do things at once: communicate general good feeling, and shape his mouth so as to create the particular tonal qualities he's looking to create. All jazz singers--black, white, male, female--can, at points, look a little strange, a little strained, because they're thinking about tone. I'm moved, actually, by the distinctive way he reconciles these two things. It's different than the way Tony Bennett does it. Carmen McRae, Ameena Claudine Meyers, and Betty Carter each had her own way.
On the Levy vid, it's awesome playing, awesome technique and I sit in awe of it. But then, at the same time, I can't sit through it, although I can enjoy a chromatic playing jazz, Phil Caltabellotta, Hermine Duerloo, etc. I just can't get into Howard Levy, no matter how good I know he is and how much people tell me I'm supposed to enjoy it. At this stage in my life, I've learned there can be separation between like and respect.
Last Edited by on Jun 23, 2009 8:06 PM
What does that have to do with anything? Blues and Jazz are styles based on improvising. You having a brother that tried to kill you is a totally different thing. Nice try...
Luckily, my children are past the Wiggles age, but I had to suffer through them for a number of years, although they did do a "Waltzing Matilda" that was nice. As a narcoleptic, I always felt a mixture of rage and amusement at the narcoleptic Wiggle.
We might laugh at The Wiggles, but they are laughing all the way to the bank.
Children, tiny tots, adore them.
I think the Wiggles love what they do. Even if they didn't then the incentive to do it is good enough reason. They make lots of children happy and their DVDs did a great job helping us as grandparents baby sit.
Lots and lots of serious adult musicians, singers and entertainers would love to appear with The Wiggles. Many have. Wouldn't put a strain on ones talent ie even if the worlds best harp player were lucky enough to land a spot with The Wiggles they would find themselves playing "Mary had a Little Lamb" or "Row, Row, Row Your Boat"!
I understand that The Wiggles have licenced their act so that non English speaking countries can now have their own Wiggles.
Look them up. They have a website in the US. Their story is a very interesting one.
That one I was thinking of was Slim Dusty with the Wiggles, it was "I'd Love to Have a Dance with Dorothy" his guitar strap said "Waltzing Matilda."
Slim Dusty, rest in peace, is pretty big stuff down there in OZ, isn't he Aussie? That Wiggles episode was the first time I'd ever seen SLim DUsty, wouldn't know who he was otherwise, but now I really like SLim Dusty.
ERH > yeah Slim was huge and is missed. He was Australias King of Country Music and produced 106 albums. Biggest ever selling artist in Australia.
Slim researched his material well and apart from penning many great tunes himself, he had great writers supplying him tunes. He also had a fabulous line up of musicians in 'The Travelling Country Band' including a great harp player - Lawrie Minson who now plays with Lee Kernaghan. Lee is our new King of Country.
Slim was very Australian ie a lot of what he sang about might not be understood outside of Australia.
Philosophy:your quote =Its good. For pretentious wanker music.
I think your making that statement from a position of ignorance. .The very words you describe most probably refer to pop music It's very funny you think that of a jazz player.
Being a jazz player is about the most unpretentious thing you can be.
To me that is wonderful playing by Howard levy and the band is working as a unit,its a body of work on it's form. A lesson for everyone on playing music, together.
Man, if you don't like the look just shut your eyes and as the great Art Pepper use to say "take yourself on a trip"
Last Edited by on Jun 27, 2009 8:09 AM
