The Steel Guitar Forum

Jeff, I finally got this thing downloaded, and the bass line on "Summertime" is incredible, as is the entirer medley! Your playing inspires, cheers, and AMAZES me. It always makes me feel good to know that folks have reached this level of mastery of their art.
I was hoping you were gonna do something for Christmas for us, since "The Christmas song" blew everybody away last year, but I was hoping for, like, "Jingle Bells," or something. One question, though----
"WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO NEXT YEAR???"
Thanks again.

I finally got these things to load. Wow. Jeff's playing and his understanding of harmony and chords knocks me totally out. Not that any of y'all disagree with me.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Dear friends, Just a big thank you for all your generous support on this thread and in your e-mails to me. For those who asked, I went to a local digital studio in a private house where I had done my other clips. "Medley Of The Seasons" was recorded direct in with the a slight drop of reverb and was mixed down into a "thick" mix and "thin" mix. The thick one was like the "Patriotic Medley" I recorded in July. I decided to use the thin mix, opting for an edgier, tighter, more metallic sound, a retro sound I associate with the steel work in early western swing playing. Also, the ride everyone is having fun with is a diminished run that goes to the 25th fret. Thanks again.

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Jeff's Jazz

I don't know what I could possibly add to this thread other than a vote of appreciation for letting us all in on your mastery and taste on the "Jazz Neck."

I had the pleasure of seeing Jeff with a female vocalist/guitarist and a fine bass player in a small pub. What a fine evening of pedal steel jazz & swing. I hope that happens again.

Downloaded the Medley of seasons last night and............. it was sooooo worth waitin for my slow PC to download the whole thing. Wonderful, great, cool, jaw-dropping, mindboggling playin on the C6 there Jeff. Thanks for this christmas gift. And for all of you that havent downloaded this 11meg mp3 file yet. Make room on your PC now and start downloading. It will get the inspiration going for sure.
My favorite among the "seasons" is the way summertime is being done.
The other seasons are also

Thanks for recording and sharing that C6 playin.

Bengt Erik Erlandsen

"Tis the Season to Be.......AMAZED"!!!
Jeff is unsurpassed in his Jazz renditions of these extreamly melodic Songs.
This is "REAL JAZZ" folks.....as most of us are used to listening to the Steel guitar play a Jazz flavor to Jazz standards or melodic songs done in that fassion. But I guarentee none of us have heard "REAL JAZZ" being played on the Steel guitar until now(well except for Rick S. clip..he'da Man too).
This is truly, ART and a Gift delivered from Jeff that is almost completely uncomprehensable by myself coming from the steel guitar as I've ever heard. But it surely shows that this man(Jeff L.) has a Vision and that's what it takes to take the Steel guitar into the REAL JAZZ artistry.
I'm your biggest Fan Jeff....and have been amazed by you ever since the first time I encountered a tab by you written out only by listening to a track; and didn't even touch your steel guitar....>Now that is amazing.
Ricky

Whoa....Dang, Jeff! As I listened, I was inspired to drape a tablecloth over my steel...in preparation for its future as a coffee table...Thanks for the great music - and sealing my decision to spend the rest of my life on E9! : )

Hi Jeff-I finally got it downloaded and listened to. Well!! All the guys have said it all.

You will have to find a special Jazz club to play it and show them what can be done with a so called "country" guitar.
Happy New Year....al

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

Yes Jeff, just got through talking to you on the phone, everything everyone has said about how good these clips are is true. These guys are appreciating you the way I do. You are a fine player .
bobbeseymour

Jeff,
There is not much I can add to all the other praise. You deserve every word of it! I could and will listen to the clip over and over. The time has come for you to begin providing CDs for sale. I'll keep hoping.
Clyde

Since all the well-deserved superlatives have already been used, let me just say "ditto"...that's some fine pickin', Jeff.

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GFI S-12 extended E9

Jeff, EXCELLENT!!

Jeff:

I, and I'm sure others, want to see some of your playing tabbed out. Maybe one well-known song. I'm going to try to tab your Danny Boy, but I don't think I can do it, although I have all the changes you have. difference is that I raise and lower (1/2) both A's. Might be a big difference, huh?

Would you show use of a 7b5b9 chord as a sub for something more basic?

I’m late to the party, as I have been away from my high speed connection for the last week, but I want to say Happy New Year to you Jeff! This is a great work and I am very happy you decided to record it for us all to enjoy. All the best in 2004!

Jeff I've said it before, YOU GET IT!!! The thing that gets me is how, unlike some other players, You're not trying to play steel guitar you're trying to play MUSIC!!! You realize the instrument is but a tool, a way to communicate. <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Jerry Hedge on 03 January 2004 at 06:26 PM.]</p></FONT>

I received your e-mail last night Bob. You had posted several questions on this thread the other day and I just now had a chance to provide some thoughtful answers. With regards to tabbing any of my clips, I have not received substantive interest, other than from yourself and a couple of others. With that being said, if there is a small passage (20-30 seconds) that is stumping you or that is a particular favorite on one of the clips, e-mail me the name of the clip and the start and end times and I’ll try to help you out. I know it’s not much, but it’s the best I can do for now. And since I imagine that we’ll have some discussions about the subject, it’s best to do it through e-mail rather than use this thread. As far as your point about you lowering and raising BOTH the 4th and 8th string A notes, since I only do the 4th string, that will stand in the way of some chord runs, but it is not a critical factor if you want to play my clips. And as far as subbing of the 7b5b9 for something more basic, the 7b5b9 is an extension of a dominant 7th chord, and a very unstable sound at that. It could be used to sub for a dominant 7th (V7) chord. The b9 note is a no-brainer and can be used almost at will if you like the sound. The b5 requires a little more care since it would sound bad if the melody note is the 5 note of the chord, which would be quite common over a V7. For example, in the key of C, if you have a G7 chord, while you could often play a G7b9, I probably would only play the G7b5b9 if there is no D note in the melody and I wanted a tense sound. One place where you can effectively use the 7b5b9 is in a turnaround. I’ve done this in my clips on a couple of occasions. In those cases, where the turnaround is of the form III,VI,II,V, I use it on the VI and/or V chords. You can also use the 7b5b9 over the VI chord, such as in “Days Of Wine And Roses” over the word “Roses”. Another place where the 7b5b9 will work is over a diminished chord to take away a little of the sweetness of the diminished sound. So if you have a progression like C,C#dim7,Dm7, G7, you can play A7b5b9 over the C#dim7. This is effective since it introduces the A and Eb notes into the diminished chord, both of which are in the C# diminished scale. Keep in mind that an A7b5b9 also spells out an Eb7#11, so tri-tone substitutions are possible. That’s it for now. Perhaps if you or anyone else has other theoretical questions, you can start a separate topic and we can start a discussion going. I’d contribute as well as a number of other players. Thanks for asking and thank you and everyone else for your support. .. Jeff

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Jeff's Jazz

Thanks, Jeff...

I will print tyhis and add it to my "Theory" folder. My problem is that I don't know enough of musical theory aside from figuring out what notes would be in a chord. On a keyboard, it would be a lot easier. On the steel, I have to stop and think where the chord is on the nec....and I don't do that on the fly very well. So, to not drive myself crazy, I only learn a little at a time.

I'll send the clip to someone who can put it on a CD. Thanks for doing all this for us!

It took me awhile to get to this, but very beautiful and impressive work. Makes me think that someday, maybe in a few years, I'd love to approach the C6. Then maybe 10 or 20 years after that I can try one of these. Thank you Jeff for bringing my attention to this thread.

Bob Porri

Jeff. as usual, you have amazed me! Real Jazz! Like my friend, awesome steeler Mike Perlowin, I am green with envy!!!! Super!