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Topic: Bovine on Bach |
Jim Palenscar
From: Oceanside, Calif, USA
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Posted 6 Dec 2006 7:47 am
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Yesterday those at my shop were treated to our own Earnest Bovine (aka Doug Livingston) playing a Bach piece (sorry I don't remember which one) on his 12 string Zum that went on for the better part of 10 minutes. On the rare ocassion that he stumbled he'd glance at the music and be off an running again. Rick Schmidt, Russ Wever, Mike Perlowin, my new student- Steve, and I were all looking for our lower jaws on the floor when he was done. I had to push my cheeks back down to stop grinning. Hopefully Doug will play one of these classical pieces when he plays at the Arizona show next month. He said he's been playing classical pieces on his steel for about 5 years. |
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David Doggett
From: Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 6 Dec 2006 8:45 am
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Sure wish he would record some of that steel guitar Bach so we can hear it on the East Coast. |
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Roger Rettig
From: Naples, FL
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Posted 6 Dec 2006 9:19 am
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I think Doug is one of the unsung heroes of the steel guitar.
He's been a hero of mine ever since I had the good luck to play with him in London way back in the '70s.
RR |
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Dan Tyack
From: Olympia, WA USA
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Posted 6 Dec 2006 9:27 am
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Doug is certainly one of the very best musicians to have ever played the steel guitar. If Doug is playing Arizona, maybe I'll have to make it down there!
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www.tyack.com
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Mike Perlowin
From: Los Angeles CA
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Posted 6 Dec 2006 9:30 am
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It's always a treat hearing Doug play.
Occasionally he does gigs with a singer named Kathy Robertson, with no guitar, Just Kathy, Doug on steel, bass and drums- a virtual Doug Livingston concert.
Doug will be playing at the Mesa AZ show in January. That's reason enough to go.
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Warning: I have a telecaster and I'm not afraid to use it.
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My web site
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chas smith R.I.P.
From: Encino, CA, USA
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Posted 6 Dec 2006 11:57 am
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He can read piano music on the steel guitar.
Warning: he has sight reading skills and he's not afraid to use them. |
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John McGann
From: Boston, Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 6 Dec 2006 12:45 pm
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...enough to hurt my playing?  |
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Kurt Kowalski
From: Kendall, NY USA
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Posted 6 Dec 2006 4:15 pm
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Doug is a great guy, a great picker, has a great sense of humor and is a great friend.
I get a kick out of his witty humor and love just to hear him tune.
'nough said...
k |
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David Mason
From: Cambridge, MD, USA
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Posted 6 Dec 2006 4:38 pm
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One time I doofussly proclaimed, "No one could ever play Bach's 'Chaconne' from the 2nd Partita in D minor for violin on a steel guitar" so he sent me an MP3 of him playing it - that might've been the one he played, it's the one that goes "doo-dee doo-dee doo-doo" etc. I hate talented people... I had it stored away on my hard drive but that computer blew up, drat.... (hint?)  |
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Mike Shefrin
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Posted 6 Dec 2006 4:50 pm
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edited
Last edited by Mike Shefrin on 12 Jan 2010 5:21 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Kurt Kowalski
From: Kendall, NY USA
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Posted 6 Dec 2006 5:01 pm
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Last time I heard him.
He was in town playing a concert with Megan Mullaly (Karen from Will and Grace).
Yes, she is a singer, and quite a talented singer as well.
Needless to say, Doug made the band.
Also, my wife and I had the pleasure of having dinner with Doug and enjoying his humor and wit.
When I first met Doug. I was working with Bill Lawrence and Doug arrived with a pickup problem on his Zum and we worked the problem out while Doug played Bach on his 12 string and exchanged views on music, life, health, wealth and happiness with Bill... lol
k
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Earnest Bovine
From: Los Angeles CA USA
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Posted 6 Dec 2006 5:40 pm
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Thank you guys for the kind words.
I asked the guys at Pali's store to listen to a few pieces so that I could try to work on controlling stage fright. I haven't played this stuff outside of my house before, and I want to play some of the easier solo pieces next month at the show in Mesa. I think you all know that it is one thing to play something at home, and quite another to play it with a bunch of steel players watching! So I think I got some of the butterflies out yesterday. |
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Earnest Bovine
From: Los Angeles CA USA
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Posted 6 Dec 2006 5:43 pm
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BTW I can NOT sight read Bach on the steel guitar. I can only sight read easy stuff. It can take a long time to find positions where all the notes are playable. And even then sometimes I find a better way years later. For example today I found an easier way for one of the awkward parts of the Courante of the 6th cello suite.
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Jim Palenscar
From: Oceanside, Calif, USA
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Posted 6 Dec 2006 5:56 pm
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Why heck, Earnest- whay didn't you just say so earlier. Just grab a hunk of strings at the 3rd fret and mash the A and B pedals- simple as that! |
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Twayn Williams
From: Portland, OR
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Posted 6 Dec 2006 11:04 pm
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Wow, Bach on PSG. That's impressive. I know it's hard enough on classical guitar (can anyone say Lute Suite in E Major???) so I can hardly imagine playing it with a bar. Post a clip, post a clip! |
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Jerry Hayes
From: Virginia Beach, Va.
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Posted 7 Dec 2006 4:00 am
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For those who don't know, Earnest is also a very accomplished pianist. I remember once years ago I was watching a nationwide TV musical show who's guest was Jose' Feliciano and guess who was playing the keyboards for him? Nuff said.....JH in Va.
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Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!!
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David Mason
From: Cambridge, MD, USA
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Posted 7 Dec 2006 8:10 am
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Maybe I can trick him into recording another Mp3:
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"Gee, NOBODY could ever play the Prelude from Bach's 3rd Partitia for solo violin on pedal steel guitar!" |
I'm using this groove as the basis for my next rap steel video, "Ride my Pimp, Save a Caddy" so I'm hoping Earnest can give me some hints - I get all gummed up when it starts going fast, about everywhere after the sixth note I guess. (There are a lot of notes!) |
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Ron Page
From: Penn Yan, NY USA
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Posted 7 Dec 2006 8:19 am
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I have to second what Kurt said. "Ernest" has always been one of the wittiest folks on the forum and one of the most interesting to talk with at Scotty's.
I remember bemoaning having spent a fair amount of money on accessories at Scotty's a few years back. Greg asked me how many guitars I had. I said just one, and he guffawed, "Why, you're entitled to a lot of accessories". That line sure has come in handy over the years. Still only one steel, which is all my (not) playing warrants.
Now I need to find a way to apply it to golf clubs. Maybe claiming to have just two balls...
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HagFan
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John Macy
From: Rockport TX/Denver CO
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Posted 7 Dec 2006 8:37 am
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Hey Ron--Kinky Friedman's take on golf is "the only two good balls I ever hit when when I stepped on the garden rake...)
Not only does Doug play great, but he always has the best name tags at steel shows...  |
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chas smith R.I.P.
From: Encino, CA, USA
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Posted 7 Dec 2006 1:27 pm
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"BTW I can NOT sight read Bach on the steel guitar."
Next thing you know, someone's going to tell me there is no Santa Claus or Easter Bunny.... |
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Tim Harr
From: Dunlap, Illinois
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Posted 8 Dec 2006 8:58 am
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[url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=DOUG|LIVINGSTON&sql=11:gsh1z8oajyv1~T4]http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=DOUG|LIVINGSTON&sql=11:gsh1z8oajyv1~T4[/url]
Doug is a busy guy we have all heard him play but may not known who he was...
I have met Doug several times - - he is a mid-western guy like me...
He is that guy you may have wondered: "Who is playing the steel on that (movie)..?" |
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Earnest Bovine
From: Los Angeles CA USA
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Posted 8 Dec 2006 11:38 am
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Twayn,
I got the Lute suites last week from Amazon.com. Half of it is new to me, and the other half is Bach's rearrangement of solo violin and solo cello suites, with a few bass notes added. The E major one is almost identical to the violin version and works pretty well on 12 string E9 because those low E,A,B notes are open strings.
No gigs until Viva Fresh tonite. Should I practice Bach, or try to put the Sho-Bud back together? |
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Jim Palenscar
From: Oceanside, Calif, USA
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Posted 8 Dec 2006 5:03 pm
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Put the ShoBud back together- I've been holding my breath  |
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Jon Light (deceased)
From: Saugerties, NY
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Posted 8 Dec 2006 5:22 pm
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As a Brooklyn reclusive hermit, there are a lot of people I will never meet unless they knock on my door. It would be kinda cool to meet DL, EB or someone like one of them, whether it be at some NY club or it be that door knock.
I think I'll spend tomorrow listening to some Bach. |
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Earnest Bovine
From: Los Angeles CA USA
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Posted 8 Dec 2006 6:01 pm
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I just know there is a bag of nylon tuning nuts around here some place. |
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