General Music Chat

All I know of George Gershwin is the "Gershwin Tune."

Gershwin was a famous american composer and songwriter. Many, if not most, of the great jazz singers have recorded one of his songs at one time or another.

His composition "Rhapsody in Blue" is one of his most famous. It lasts like 15 minutes or more, and established him as a serious composer. He pretty much wrote it in his head on a train ride to Boston, and completed it within weeks, barely before it's debut was scheduled. He had been commissioned to write the piece, but originally didn't want to, because one of his musicals was debuting around the same time. He finally relinquished, just weeks before it was to debut, and it is considered one of his greatest works.

Irminsul could probably shed light on this, but I believe some of the piano work on the piece, is considered very difficult and technically very demanding for those without the proper technique.

The piece is complex and kind of goes all over the place, changing ideas and moods throughout, while having a cohesiveness to it all.

Gershwin claimed it was "a musical kaleidoscope of America"

You can see an orchestra performing it here:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=yiyc9Ak3EtQ

The clarinet intro is just magnificent!

It is really an amazing work, if you can appreciate such things.

Nancy was not the lead, it was Roger Fisher I believe (I had to look that up). But Nancy has played solos during the concerts and I have never seen anything quite like it. I remember she played an extended intro to Crazy On You, woo, amazing. Complex too.

I know what you are talking about. I saw a video of her doing that intro in concert. She really is a great guitarist, and also songwriter, singer and composer too. She's scored 2 or 3 famous movies. Vanilla Sky and maybe Almost Famous, not sure about that one.

That was a great movie though. Almost Famous.

The bus scene, they all start singing Tiny Dancer and Penny Lane says: "You ARE home" - gotta love it!


Makes me remember how sexy Kate Hudson is. Damn! LOL

Well. i have been in this business for too many years to mention and part of what you all have said is true.BUT...times have changed!
I personally know at least 3 female drummers in my town..virtually unknowns...who rock this town! I would fire my drummer quickly for one of them.AND..they are all young! Girls ha ve come all way musically.
Did ANY of you see the CROSSROADS concert this year?
Jeff Beck was there and had a female bass player so good..he gives her a solo and quits palying and listens to HER!! She rocks AND she is HOT!
So..Y E S...i am for female AND male ...for we are all just
M U S I C I A N S

Lmao. My mother loves that movie, Almost Famous. I believe Nancy Wilson's husband directed or produced it or something, can't remember. The best scene in that movie is when they start singing "Tiny Dancer" and the very end when you hear Led Zeppelin's "Tangerine" (Love that song).

She is a great guitarist, very very talented.

I will check out that Gershwin piece tomorrow, thanks for posting it, I am interested to hear it.

If only today's rock bands could write like the ones from the classic rock era. Tsk. Lol.

Peace out, GuitarAnatomy.

I covered the Gershwin tune Summertime with a woman I used to play with. It's in my profile. Quite a bit different than the original but it fit our band at the time.

Now... Exceptions to the rule do not disprove the rule We can all point out a handful of talented women in rock but that doesn't change the point. They are by far a minority. Most women in music overall are known for vocals and not instrumental ability. Exception being classical. I was at the Crossroads fest and Tal Wilkenfeld was awsome. Of course there were 50 or so MALE guitarists there as well. And I'm sorry Susan Tedeschi is mediocre at best. Especially when she plays with Dereck Trucks. Bonnie Raitt is good but certainly not a jaw dropping guitarist. Sure Pop music is all about the hardbellies (again vocals) but Rock and Roll is a mans world. Allways will be.

Please don't point out your favorite female artist like it changes anything.

Hey Jon, I recorded a cover of "Summertime" too, but mine is more swing, with Jeff Beck-type leads. Maybe I'll post it.

But I'm not sure I agree on rock and roll being a man's game; it was also once thought that it was a young man's game but people are still rocking into their 60's, 70's and beyond. Old stereotypes don't really do much for anyone.

Does the ugliness equals talent rule pertain to men as well? Have you seen my picture? I must be a music God!!
Seriously, if you're not into it, don't take the money. That's just crappy.
By the way, in case you haven't heard it before...sex sells.

You beat me to the punch on this one, if ugliness is talent than I should be in line to replace Geddy on the best bass player's list....

I don't really think they get equal respect, sad but true, just what I've seen.

I will say that I know a great key player that I wanted to lure away from the group he's with to try out for ours. And his wife has some pipes too, we thought it was a good package deal. But it didn't happen.

"But I'm not sure I agree on rock and roll being a man's game; it was also once thought that it was a young man's game but people are still rocking into their 60's, 70's and beyond. Old stereotypes don't really do much for anyone.

JD don't get me wrong I am the last one to want to perpetuate that kind of thinking. I think it's a shame. I just the way things seem to be to me.

Guitaranatomy, Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue was one of my "show pieces" as a pianist when I was in High School. It's an amazing work, that really put the American metropolitan touch onto the seemingly untouchable world of "serious music" back in the day.

My opinion as another female musician is that it has nothing really to do with gender .most people use the whole band thing to try to get them selves attention wether male / female and regardless of race or religion .
we probably arent takin as seroiusly becuase we are less and the ones you see are like this girl your talkin about. but have hope that just becuase most people suck doesnt mean we all suck.plus isnt music supposed to be music .i say you should take the money and run so you teach her the lesson that music is about communicating and connecting with people on a differnt level than money and greed. but i also think you should start looking past gender and stuff and just hear the music.

Have you seen and heard The Twelve Girls Band from China.
Story goes they had a Nationwide talent search for women that play the traditional Chinese instruments. Man these girls can play it is truly awsome. CD came with a short DVD. You should check this one out.

I think Bob summed it up nicely, " . . .The only thing that should matter is musical ability . . ."
.
Someone made the comment that they were surprised that more women didn't chime in.
. . . wonder why that is, do you suppose . . .?
.
I'm in contact with several female musician friends on my MySpace page, and some of them are really good.
Most of them play and sing Folk music.

Oh, by the way, it's:
.
http://www.myspace.com/alanbradleygroup

The nice thing about male players is if they piss you off you can deck them outside in the alley.

The best female musicians are stone cold ugly and filled with ability. That way, she doesn't detract from what you are trying to achieve with that hourglass figure/face of an angel.


i.e. Sex appeal does not equal musical ability and the combination of is surely enough to make your band explode with confusion and strife.

diana krall.. she can really play and she's hot......