[Doc Sarvis]

Who would you nominate, and why? It can be a performer or composer, rock, jazz, classical, country...

Only catch is that they must still be alive (as of when you post).

My vote goes to Keith Jarrett:

1. Arguably the last major survivor of the "golden age of jazz"
2. Equally proficient in jazz and classical forms
3. Bar none the greatest improvisor since Beethoven.

 

[coolbluewater]

Vangelis

 

[blip]

That's a real tough one. I'll have to think about it further.

Off the top of my head, I'd probably say Philip Glass...

 

[asmox]

I'd probably go with Sean Malone, but it should be noted that I'm a huge fanboy.

The man possesses technical superiority and aesthetic appeal that is second to none among all the bass/stick players I've ever had the pleasure of listening to - including (but not limited to) Anthony Jackson, Michael Manning, Victor Wooten, Steve DiGiorgio, Bill Dickens, Lars Norberg, Pete Perez, Tony Levin, Billy Sheehan, etc..

His sense of dynamics is tuned to perfection, and he has an uncanny ability to turn an otherwise plain piece of music into an incredible aural experience with his always tasteful note choice and beautiful tone. He does not overplay, and he doesn't go off on wild tangents from the remainder of the band. At the same time, his bass presence is constantly huge and his bass lines are very busy, generally acting as another melodic force that raises the recording to a whole other level of tightness and coherency.

He has shown compositional skill with his Gordian Knot project (granted, the second one was seriously lacking). He has done his fair share of Jaco worship.. and IMO, has surpassed the guy. He has played in prominent ways within a variety of styles, including technical metal, progressive fusion, various forms of jazz, and on many other recordings as a session musician. He teaches University level Music Theory while working on his own Ph.D in the field (actually, I think he already has it). He has had papers and articles published on music theory and knowledge. He has offered up presentations on music theory at various reputable conferences.. and I believe he's even put out a book or two on the subject of bass, one of which is filled with detailed analyses of some of Jaco Pastorius' greatest solos.

And, of course, he was a defining member of Cynic - the band that put out only one 8-song album, disappeared, and changed the world of metal forever.

Oh yeah, and his fretless soloing is just.. mm.

 

[mbhaub]

Andre Previn.
He's an extremely fine pianist. He plays Jazz, classical and show styles brilliantly.
He is still one of the finer conductors in the world. He does all periods, genres, and in some (Vaughan Williams, Elgar, Walton) probably unsurpassed.
He is a fine composer as recent operas and a violin concerto once a again affirm.
He is a fine music educator. His ability to communicate about music is high indeed, and his absence from America to a more music friendly England is our tragic loss.
His legacy of top-notch recordings, sound-tracks, and compositions is matched by only one other musician in living memory: Leonard Bernstein, who I would have nominated had he still been alive.

 

[catscratch]

This is entirely too broad a query, and is impossible to answer. It's the same as asking "what's your favorite thing ever?" (well OK other than sex...). There is a tremendous number of very talented musicians, be they performers or composers, in a great number of genres both old and new, and trying to pick one between them is pretty pointless.

My .02

 

[recstar24]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc Sarvis My vote goes to Keith Jarrett: 1. Arguably the last major survivor of the "golden age of jazz"

Jarrett is awesome, however there are plenty others.

My two recs would be Clark Terry and Bucky Pizzarelli

 

[daycart1]

I can appreciate the versatility considerations, but I'd go with a specialist.

Martha Argerich perhaps, or Itzak Perlman (though they don't perform much in public anymore).

 

[familyman]

wow everyone here has such developed tastes for music. I have no idea who any of the musicians mentioned are. anyways i would say trent reznor.

endlessly creative

 

[Factor]

Ennio Morricone. So wonderful, SO unbelievably prolific.

 

[kwitel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by familyman wow everyone here has such developed tastes for music. I have no idea who any of the musicians mentioned are. anyways i would say trent reznor. endlessly creative

Nice call buddy...Im going to agree.
I would say Trent is the most Underrated musician alive today; most people have no clue as to the depth of his talents...he plays multiple instruments, sings, writes, produces and as correctly stated in the qoute above is "endlessly creative".
To me, a great musician must be constantly evolving; the music should be progressive (not the genre, but over time) and maybe even to a certain extent test the boundaries and/or push the envelope...in every context imaginable. Furthermore, the music should be far reaching in its influence, and should have a lasting timeless affect on all who listen to it, regardless of musical genre.
Both Reznor and all his musical efforts have maintained and exhibited the qualities mentioned above for nearly twenty years; Id like to believe the best is yet to come.

 

[MikeB06]

50 Cent without a doubt. He is a true gangsta and his rhymes and originality are unchallenged IMO. "Candy Shop" is a work of art, it is an aural masterpiece.

 

[familyman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwitel Nice call buddy...Im going to agree. I would say Trent is the most Underrated musician alive today; most people have no clue as to the depth of his talents...he plays multiple instruments, sings, writes, produces and as correctly stated in the qoute above is "endlessly creative". To me, a great musician must be constantly evolving; the music should be progressive (not the genre, but over time) and maybe even to a certain extent test the boundaries and/or push the envelope...in every context imaginable. Furthermore, the music should be far reaching in its influence, and should have a lasting timeless affect on all who listen to it, regardless of musical genre. Both Reznor and all his musical efforts have maintained and exhibited the qualities mentioned above for nearly twenty years; Id like to believe the best is yet to come.

yay, you know your s***

i have 13 nine inch nails albums and halo 17(dvd) and the special edition halo 17 2 disc funny cloth material case lol... you can blame trent for my interest in headphones. Mainly "the fragile", there's so much to listen to on both left and right. Its different everytime you listen to them.

i too, believe the best is to come

 

[vibin247]

His stuff is just memorable. Though he mainly works in film scores, they are all wonderfully unique, and really define what music should do to a movie.

 

[bobeau]

Prince.