Conference napalm::guitar

    Jon... Good idea. Just to clarify something, I think it's Steve
    Vai. (I just don't want anyone confused.. I am not nit-pikky)
    Well, the first thing I think would happen is they would both tie
    a bandana on their heads. You know, like blood brothers or something!
    Then, I think Jimi would sit and stare at Vai's guitar.  He probably
    never dreamed of having a handle inside the guitar.  Then, Vai would
    go nuts, jumping around, throwing his axe everywhere, and basically
    acting like an animal.  Hendrix, on the other hand, would just stand
    around and play away..... Smooth and calm.  How does it sound??
    I will let someone else tell that part.........................
    
    jab
    

    yep

    
    
    
    	I envision Hendrix lighting his strat and Vai's guitar on fire and
    both of them playing (harmonic double lead) "The Anthem".  May be
    Hendrix also lights Vai on fire, I dunno, <grin>

       Hendrix does a Jazz standard while Vai watches, untill his 
    fingers itch so bad that he has to join in. %^)

    
    Martian Amazon warriors burst into the studio, kidnap the pair for
    transport back to Mars as love slaves, grab the 24-track master
    tapes and sell them to Alan Douglas who mixes them down for release
    on Rykodisk as "Slimy Bars and Axle Grease", a 13-CD set.

    They trade vicious whammy bar licks until they break their strings!

Vai sits, watches, listens, and learns.......

    Jimi says, "Let's make our guitars sound like two whales having
    sex."  Steve says, "O.K."  So they do that, then Steve says, "Let's
    make our guitars sound like two people having a conversation." 
    Jimi says, "O.K."  So they do that, then Jimi says, "Here take two
    of these."  Steve does, then Bob Dylan walks in from 7th Avenue
    with Jack Kerouac and Chet Baker.  Bob says, "Hey why don't you
    guys make your guitars sound like four people speaking simultaneously
    while doing acid?"  Jimi and Steve say, "O.K.", and proceed to do
    it.
    
    Later that day they are all found laughing hysterically locked in
    MacDougal Alley while Allen Ginsburg recites "Howl".
    
    joe.

    POSSIBLY Hendrix would sit down watch,listen and learn-as any
    great musician will usually be willing to learn new ideas.
    not to say vai is better,but unique and quite eclectic.

    Yeah, and Vai has plenty of new ideas.  I would never say that Vai
    was better, but I might say that:
    
    "Hendrix wrote the book... Vai added chapters marked "Advanced Mind
    Blowers - proceed at your own risk"  Vai is the king of funny noizez.  ;^)

    I picture Jimi sittin' in the corner rolling/smoking joints while Vai 
    warms up.  Then they proceed to cut heads.  I betcha they don't
    quit for 3 days.  I also picture Jimi trippin' on Vai's rack...
    All those lights !!!!
    
    ;^)
    

    Let's invite Stevie Ray Vaughn and Eric Clapton to the session,
    and continue the fantasy.....the mind boggles 8^0.

    Me?  I'd leave Clapton at home and invite Paul Gilbert instead!

    Really...
    
    Way to go Buck.  
    
    Back to the real world folks:
    
    Invite Satriani to show Jimi who taught Vai !
    
    jc

    re.14 .13
    
      if hendrix was sitting there listening to gilbert, satriani, &
    vai he'd sh*t his pants and die all over again!

Well, first of all, Jimi and Eric would trading licks for the first 8 hours, 
while those other guys spent all day setting up their racks of equipment that 
they need......

Gilbert instead of Eric? Don't make me laugh....

Alan S.

    Guitar playing is like talking, I think.  The people that talk
    really fast don't necessarily have more important things to 
    say.

I agree that Hendrix would probably be blown away with Vai and Satriani
and a lot of other modern players.

I think Hendrix would be amazed at how the technical/virutoso area of guitar
player has progressed since his day.  I think Hendrix would impressed by the
speed of today's guitar players and recognize it as ANOTHER mode of expression
rather than a crutch.

	db

    I definitely agree with Dave.  I can't picture Hendrix bein' pissed
    about advances in technology and players' abilities.  I do believe
    that Vai, Satch, et al (of the "living") would be sufficiently in
    awe of Hendrix.  After all, he did help to change the world of the
    guitar, a true "sound innovator" (to quote Bill Evans), and one
    who will go down in the annals of guitar history.  I wonder if one
    could say the same of Vai or Satch?
    
    joe.

    1.go to berkly
    2.transcribe for Zappa
    3.join Zappas touring band at 17
    4.replace yngvie? in alcatraz
    5.replace Van Halen
    6.appear as the devils guitar player in Crossroads
    7.replace vivian campbell in whitesnake
    Vai ,I predict will continue to improve and make his mark in the
    annals of guitar history.another true sound innovator in my opinion.
    ....Jon 

    RE.16 and .17                                           
    
    Thanks for the support guys, lightning speed does not a Master make.
    Hendrix was not blindingly fast, but he had alot to say; talk about
    tastefull, meaningful licks. I can't take anything away from Satriani   
    or Vai, I have loads of respect for that talent!! Those guys make
    we wanna just quit sometimes!  I invited Eric and Stevie to the
    fantasy, and if you want me to send 'em home, I will...8^).

    and another thing.....
    
    don't forget what the "tecnhology of FX crutch" has made possible.
    Could these guys do half of what they do without 'em? I guess I'm
    stuck in Bluesville with the low tech act. I just appreciate taste
    and heart/soul as opposed to "play the most notes per second contest".
                                 
    I'll shut up now and go back to Alan's blues conference....|^(

>    don't forget what the "tecnhology of FX crutch" has made possible.
>    Could these guys do half of what they do without 'em?

Let's be frank here.  

I think all this remark demonstrates is your lack of familiarity and
appreciation for what these guys do and indicates this all-too-familiar
predisposition among certain players to reject the newer styles of guitar
playing.

Ironically, Vai and Satch are less known for their use of technology then
Hendrix!  There was a time you know when feedback, wah pedals and fuzz
buxes weren't standard issue for guitarists.

	db  

    
    
    
    	Right, Dave, (wonder if you're dating yourself, or if you've
    studied the subject up <grin>).... Hendrix, was, in fact known as an
    effects freak when he was playing... I remember a live concert here in
    Maine, where his fuzz stuff wouldn't work and he almost didn't do the
    show (1969, I think, Lewiston Armory, anyone else there??)..  First
    time I'd ever seen "walls of Marshalls" too....
    
    	Sheesh.. anyway.. I'd add to Clapton's vituosity, this new kid (new
    to me anyway) Jeff Healy... Jimi would like him... Damn, I stuck "See
    the Light" in the deck a couple of days ago and can't get over how
    goooood he is... Howcum. they didn't put Roadhouse Blues on this one
    <sigh>???
    
    
    	Off to Mountain Jam!!  Happy fourth all!!
    
    
    Steve

    >Howcum. they didn't put Roadhouse Blues on this one <sigh>???

    Probably because the album came out a long time before the movie he did
    that tune for.

    re: main subject

    It's such an amazing thought, getting some of the progressive players
    of several different times together.  I can't imagine how they'd react
    to each other, since I don't really know enough about any of their
    personalities to really guess that.  I would think that they would at a
    minimum appreciate each others skills.

    Greg

    re: .23 "lack of familiarity/appreciation"
    
    I thought I just admitted I had "loads of respect (appreciation)
    for these guys and their abilities. I happen to be familiar with
    them as well, as I use many of their techniques in playing blues
    licks (hammer on/pull off for example). By the way, we both know
    these techniques are NOT new.....
    
    I'm not rejecting this music, it's just not my bag....that's ok
    with you, isn't it??

    
    From what I've read about Jimi, he would have had one *fine* time
    jamming with the likes of Vai and Satch.  I'm sure that he would have
    loved the tapping and the whammy bar dives, as well as their speed and
    technique.  
    
    But, I think that Vai and Satch would be just as in awe of Jimi. They
    would have loved his funky chops and his scorching tone.  
    
    I think that it's pretty silly to turn this into a blues-vs-high-tech
    player discussion.  There's room for both styles of playing and I think
    that these guys would be confident enough with themselves to appreciate
    that.   
    
    I'll bet that they would check their egos at the door and just wail.
    Keep the tape recorder running.
    
    Kevin

    RE: .23 "Read my Note again"
    
    I did.  I think you should read it again but from a neutral perspective.
    
>    I'm not rejecting this music, it's just not my bag....that's ok
>    with you, isn't it??
    
    Not liking it IS fine.  I got the distinct impression that you went
    beyond that. 
    
    The suggestion that someon can't do half of what they did without effects
    is usually intended as a put-down.
    
>    them as well, as I use many of their techniques in playing blues
>    licks (hammer on/pull off for example). By the way, we both know
>    these techniques are NOT new.....
    
    Of course they're not new.
    
    I find it rather bizarre to see hammer-ons and pull-ofs being described
    as "their techniques" with respect to Vai and Satch.  Those techniques
    go way (way) back and they are hardly one of the things you would associate
    with Vai or Satch any moreso than four or five hundred other guitar players.
    
    	db

>    I think that it's pretty silly to turn this into a blues-vs-high-tech
>    player discussion.  There's room for both styles of playing and I think
>    that these guys would be confident enough with themselves to appreciate
>    that.   
    
    Well said.
    
    My point is that the true artists don't get involved in these
    head trips about what the noble way to play is (w/o effects, or slow,
    or whatever).  They are impressed with any new way of say something
    interesting with the guitar.
    
    We already know that Satch and Vai worship Hendrix.  They've said it
    in print.  But to imply that Hendrix wouldn't appreciate the way
    these guys have pushed the envelope of technique to increase their
    musical vocabulary is to let this "I'm too cool to like fast playing"
    attitude get in the way of your musical appreciation.
    
    That's what I wanted to say.
    

    I beleive that Steve has a good point here... I mean, Jimi didn't
    have a custom built MIDI rack that costs thousands of dollars...
    I mean if you were to take Surfin' With The Alien, and remove the
    midi-sequenced drummer, the midi-eq, the midi-reverb, delay, digital
    distortion and most of all the Aural Exciter stuff... What would
    you have left ??  Something more on the lines of Clapton and Hendrix
    I bet...  I don't believe Steve D meant any malice by his comment.
    
    Besides, I know for a fact that Steve HAS experienced Vai and even
    a little Metallica !
    
    ;^)

    I'll clear the air (from my stand point) and then shut up; this
    note was for another discussion, and I'm hosing it up. I think
    these newer, higher tech players and techniques are incredible.
    I listen to Satch frequently, and I LOVE it. I was defending my
    invitation to EC and SRV to this jam session thing when I began
    to support the type of music that  I prefer to PLAY on stage. No
    malice or put downs intended when I contend that some of these guys
    could not get some of those "sounds" without modern FX....That's
    a fact....not a put down. My apologies if I offended ANYONE.....
                                                      
    

        
    >I beleive that Steve has a good point here... I mean, Jimi didn't
    >have a custom built MIDI rack that costs thousands of dollars...
    >I mean if you were to take Surfin' With The Alien, and remove the
    >midi-sequenced drummer, the midi-eq, the midi-reverb, delay, digital
    >distortion and most of all the Aural Exciter stuff... What would
    >you have left ??  Something more on the lines of Clapton and Hendrix
    >I bet...  I don't believe Steve D meant any malice by his comment.

    Not to go down another rathole, but I don't agree with the above
    statement.  Does this imply that Satch, who really does have
    outstanding knowledge and command of his instrument, would be somewhat
    less of a musician without his FX?  I don't think so.  Lots of players
    these days use tons of effects...Gambale, Henderson, Rit, Lukather ...
    these guys are monsters, but I think they're using the effects as an
    extension of their musical expression.  I don't think you can put them
    in the CC Deville_I_use_effects_cuz_I_can't_play category. 
    
    On the other hand your statement could be taken as saying "I think
    Satch would pretty much sound like Jimi if all the toyz were taken
    away."  It would probably be similar, however, I don't think Satch
    without FX would sound as similar to a Hendrexisque-style as, say
    SRV or Jeff Healy.

    >I mean if you were to take Surfin' With The Alien, and remove the
    >midi-sequenced drummer, the midi-eq, the midi-reverb, delay, digital
    >distortion and most of all the Aural Exciter stuff... What would
    >you have left ??  
    
    What does this question imply?  If there were nothing "left", what would
    that demonstrate?
    
    	db

    BACK TO THE ORIGINAL concept-what do you think Vai would learn
    from Hendrix and vise versa?strengths,weaknesses and how would the
    jam start out,progress and come to an end,for example would Vai
    start with an amazing flurry of notes,displaying incredible          
    dexterity only to be countered by a single phrase or riff that
    ripped right to the heart of the matter?                                             
               
    

    I'm not exactly sure what would transpire in such a meeting.  What
    I do know is that Vai and other guitarists of this generation would
    have benefited greatly if Jimi lived longer.  Somehow you get the
    feeling that Jimi had a few more things to add to guitar playing
    before he died.
    
    Look how much others have learned from him in his short career!
    
    Mike

	Writing words about a meeting like that seems to miss the mark
	for me.  We're talking about music, right?  If you can truly
	visualize the scene, then it seems to me that you've got to be
	able to hear it, too.  Don't write the words, write the tab! *%`)

	Seriously, in order to do this story justice (while maintaining
	the credibility of the encounter) I think you'll need to do some
	major research about each artist, including: personality
	(interviews & old film or tape), influences (in detail, so that
	you can see where they came from), and their jamming styles. 

	P.S.  I think asking for input in this forum was a great idea... 

I recently saw a Nightline show where they had a hookup of B.B. King and Quinton
Marsalis (sp?) on two coasts.  At the end they had them play a bit together and 
B.B. King sounded very soulful and in a class below Marsalis.  I have enormous
respect for Hendrix, but much has been learned in the last 19 years while Jimi 
has been somewhere else.  One gets to build on the work of those who have gone 
before you.  What Hendrix played was incredible given what was being done at the
time.  Vai, EVH and Satch have had some real giants to build on.  I'm not saying
that Jimi did not not have some great guitar players for role models, I'm just
saying that today's players have more history to build upon.  I wouldn't mind
seeing Duane Allman playing backup for these guys :-).

I dig what everybody's saying about new guitarists having all of 
Hendrix, Clapton, Reinhardt, Montgomery, etc., to build on.  Certainly
this is true, it gives people like Joe Satriani and Steve Vai an edge
technically in that all the techniques are well known.  However, is
it possible we've reached a point in rock guitar (and possibly in 
rock'n'roll in general) where fewer and fewer *interesting* things will
be said, that this pop culture idiom is in decline and has settled into
the realm of the known?

BTW, a comparison between B.B. King (blues guitarist) and Wynton Marsalis
(jazz trumpeter) doesn't really make any sense to me.  I would have loved
to have seen the Nightline of which you write on which they played together.
Was there a backup band, or did they just riff "free-form" against each 
other?

They were riffing "free form" with no communication one to the other about what 
they were going to play.  There was no backup band and they were on different 
coasts with an audio (and maybe video) hookup.  I was amazed that under these
conditions that they could sound as good as they did.

As for the comparison, I know this is comparing apples and oranges.  What I 
meant to say was that Marsalis' playing (that night) moved me much more than
that of B.B. King (and to my surprise).

    
    
    
    	Have we considered what Jimi would be like today if he had lived
    when we compare him to the speed picking diatonic players?

    considering that hendrix kept getting better,tons of old
    legendary players have fallen by the wayside-consider John
    mcglouflin{sp?}or alvin lee.

    


    

     Steve Vai meets Jimi Hendrix onstage at the Montreal Rock
     festival. The crowd erupts with cheers. The two Heavy Metal
     gladiators take thier respective axe's { guitars } to center
     stage. Via lets out a screaming barrage of hammer-on,pull-offs
     fast enough to melt most fretboards. Hendrix looks shaken,but
     starts to improvise a funkin' riff. The groove is established
     and the duel begins. Vai begins to circle Hendrix , throwing in
     little riffs and tricks as he looks for any weakness's in the
     masters playing. Soon both are playing  the same tune and it's
     Jimi's turn to solo, he lets out a low gutteral growl from
     his Fender Strat that transforms into screaming feedback.
     Jimi soon finds his way back to the rythme section. Steve
     not to be outdone turns his Ibanez guitar upside down and
     proceeds to make it howl like a man possessed. Hendrix is
     smiling now, knowing that he has found a truly superior
     player to challenge him. Jimi puts his guitar behind his
     back and begins to play a scale at lightning speed,slowing
     only to accentuate bluesy bends and harmonic squeels. All
     the feelings of blues start to pour out of his amps, Jimi
     is making the faces that only a guitar player playing with
     true conviction can make. Steve cannot believe his eye's
     or ears as this man { Jimi } brings out stuccatto notes
     that sound so much like a human voice that he feels obliged
     to answer. Soon the mock conversation is at full blast
     Jimi's guitar calling out and Steves replying like so much
     information through a line. The fans are going insane , they
     are standing on thier seats and just going crazy. The crowds
     noise is drown out by the massive ampstacks and pa systems.
     Suddenly the sound of the guitars lowers to that of a wisper
     The crowd turns silent. Both men start to torture thier 
     instruments, Hendrix rams his Strat into his amps causing
     a wild scream of feedback. He grasp's the wammy bar and almost
     rips it off his axe. Vai throws his instrument to the ground and
     proceeds to play it like a keyboard. Jimi comes back to center stage 
     and starts up the chuggin riff to the tune of Voodoo Chile'. Vai    
     Joins in and adds a few tricks of his own. Hendrix's steps back
     looks at Vai and gives him the nod, Vai starts his solo slowly
     at first, weaving intricate patterns around the chord progression
     then building up to a blistering pace, Hendrix then starts to
     improvise with the chords and Steve lays back a bit rejoining
     the progression. Funky riffs are now flying fast n' furiously
     as Jimi wails some of the grungyest most obscene licks known
     to man, a sudden call and reply session comes up once again
     as the two masters of heavy metal guitar battle it out.
     BBBBBBBBBBBBBBZZZZZTTTTTTTTTTTTT
       { the alarm clock goes off  }
     
      " If life isn't all it may seem,dream a little dream "

                            Jon Taylor
                            oct. 23 1990