Jimi Hendrix

GoodSpeak · December-4th-2005, 11:04 PM

The best left-handed Blues guitarist to ever strap on a Fender electric guitar.

Hands down.

No contest.

GoodSpeak · December-4th-2005, 11:05 PM

Bar none.

Lenny D.Guitarist · December-4th-2005, 11:38 PM

Goody, you gots too much time on your hands. Check out some rare cigars, some different wines, or listen to that old cassette. Maybe I should make you a new one?
You crack me up... best left handed Blues guitarist to strap on a Fender?

Interesting trivia: 1)Paul Simon's one of the many lefties who plays right-handed. 2) Although I am right-handed, I am ambidextrous in many activities.. batting, swinging a racquet, eating food. However, I cannot play play pool or shot a rifle right-handed. I play guitar right-handed exclusively.

GoodSpeak · December-4th-2005, 11:52 PM

LOL

My point is Hendrix is absolutely untouchable...on any level.

GoodSpeak · December-4th-2005, 11:53 PM

And I'd love to hear some more of your guitar work.

Where's that CD you promised to make?

Henry Mars · December-5th-2005, 01:23 AM

Goody,
Left handed right handed it makes no difference. I still laugh my ass off at Hendrix. I never really thought he was that great. I do have some old Hendrix records laying around for comic relief.
I saw him once years ago and walked out. Pat Martino was playiny in town and I didn't want to miss that. FWIW I would have walked out on Hendrix anyway. It was just a lot of noise.

John L · December-5th-2005, 01:45 AM

Uh...

...it just so happens that Otis Rush is left-handed and sometimes plays a Strat.

Back to the drawing board, Goodspeak.

By the way, Otis Rush's blues guitar is in absolute TOP form on a new previously unleased concert performance from 1975 that just came out on Delmark records. Anybody with an interest in blues guitar will want to jump all over this one:

Root Doctor · December-5th-2005, 08:00 AM

Another thing about Otis: he can sing.

Gary Sisco · December-5th-2005, 09:33 AM

I loved Hendrix while in high school, when he was current, but the only Hendrix I own now is an old, beat lp of "Band of Gypsys" that's barely audible so never gets played, and a CD-R of selected songs from the first three, about an lp's worth. I listen to him now and then on the rare occasion but it's a reminiscence-type thing. Truth is, I don't like his Experience triomates, and esp Noel Redding, one of the luckiest non-talents in musical history. Mitch Mitchell was on a higher level but never approached Hendrix's, so the records don't hold up for me well. I wish he'd lived long enough to have been able to play with real peers, but a wish and a metrocard get you a ride on the bus.

jazzy mary · December-5th-2005, 11:34 AM

Hmmm, interesting thread about Hendrix. I should show it to my daughter, Liz. Just *yesterday* we were having a talk about Jimi and that we both thought he was overrated except for his rendition of "All Along the Watchtower" which is just fabulous.

lazarus · December-5th-2005, 11:56 AM

Imo there is no such thing as "the best blues guitarist" or "the best this or that". This is about music. You can´t be best in music but Hendrix is one of my personal favorite musicians of all time. I love his playing. I even love his voice. He sounds so ultra cool. On the other hand I love Dylan´s and Neil Young´s vocals too.
I agree that he deserved a better group than Experience but I have a soft spot for Mitch Mitchell. He had a nice loose and (dare I write it) "jazzy" feeling.

GoodSpeak · December-5th-2005, 03:41 PM

Well, I think Hendrix was a master on guitar as well as song writing. His improvisations were spectaular and.....he sang just fine, thank you.

sheesh

AntManBee · December-5th-2005, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lazarus

Imo there is no such thing as "the best blues guitarist" or "the best this or that". This is about music. You can´t be best in music

Word!

jazzfiend · December-5th-2005, 04:19 PM

Hendrix reigns supreme, no doubt about it. Goody ain't jivin'!

I still play his stuff regularly, and it holds up well. I'm even high on his singing.

A. Kingstone · December-5th-2005, 04:42 PM

Nobody burnt guitars better.

BFrank · December-5th-2005, 04:43 PM

I LOVE Hinderbone*!!

* Nickname we had for Jimi in college. I can't remember why. Of course, I can't remember a LOT about college ...

GoodSpeak · December-5th-2005, 04:46 PM

Me either.

bruce massey · December-5th-2005, 07:56 PM

Count me in as a Jimi lover. He propelled pop music into a new realm. Electric Ladyland should be listened to with lysergic launching aids...it's wonderful. He expanded my ears and they still love to explore.

I thought Mich was a great, imaginative drummer.

Pete C · December-6th-2005, 01:42 PM

Nothing wrong with Mitch Mitchell.

Brian Olewnick · December-6th-2005, 01:51 PM

Hell, I don't even find anything particularly wrong with Noel Redding. Not *great* but perfectly serviceable and the bass line from 'Manic Depression' is an old fave of mine. Granted, given the choice, I'd take Mr. Cox.

btw, were I to compile a list of '10 Favorite Rock Vocalists' (which I won't), Hendrix would be there. He brought a much needed casualness to the genre and had an extremely musical voice, imho.

Pete C · December-6th-2005, 02:00 PM

John, the 2 times I saw Otis Rush live (80s & early 90s) he just coasted. Very disappointing.

Root Doctor · December-6th-2005, 02:09 PM

Hendrix was a brilliant electric guitar player, but his singing was a dull approximation of Dylan's. The Experience rhythm section was unnecessarily hyperactive and predictable, a one-trick pony.

Brian Olewnick · December-6th-2005, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Root Doctor

Hendrix was a brilliant electric guitar player, but his singing was a dull approximation of Dylan's. The Experience rhythm section was unnecessarily hyperactive and predictable, a one-trick pony.

Interesting--I can't say I've ever thought of Dylan listening to Hendrix' voice. (well, maybe except for 'Watchtower'). I just don't hear the connection between, say, the singing on "The Wind Cries Mary" (which I find quite beautiful) and anything from Dylan (I have nothing against Dylan's voice, btw).

Chris D · December-6th-2005, 02:17 PM

I agree on the vocal for "The Wind...," which is funny because the song itself is as close as Jimi the writer ever got to being realy "Dylanesque."

Pete C · December-6th-2005, 02:17 PM

By the way, there's a DVD documentary about Band of Gypsies that's quite interesting and includes B&W handcam footage from the Fillmore. A number of black artists talk about how important this short episode was for establishing Hendrix's credentials with black musicians & audience.

rollhead · December-6th-2005, 02:26 PM

He was he best left-handed, upside down blues guitar player.

bar none

Root Doctor · December-6th-2005, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete C

By the way, there's a DVD documentary about Band of Gypsies that's quite interesting and includes B&W handcam footage from the Fillmore. A number of black artists talk about how important this short episode was for establishing Hendrix's credentials with black musicians & audience.

Other than his work as a sideman with Little Richard, Lonnie Youngblood, Billy Lamont, and the Isley Brothers, "Band of Gypsies" is the only Hendrix I own. Oh, and that mixed LP from Monterey with Otis Redding.

mke · December-6th-2005, 02:46 PM

Band of Gypsys was my first Hendrix album, bought all the way back... um, a few days ago. And I've loved it ever since.

BFrank · December-6th-2005, 11:38 PM

For a flat-out, fun and loose Hendrix session, check out "The Baggy's Rehearsal Sessions" on the Hendrix family's "Dagger Records". Jimi had a tape machine rolling while the Band of Gypsys was rehearsing for the New Years shows. Great stuff.

Noj · December-6th-2005, 11:44 PM

Wow, I've got to hear that, BFrank.

My favorite Hendrix tunes:
Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
Castles Made Of Sand
Pali Gap
Villanova Junction
Machine Gun
Who Knows?
Midnight Lightning