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Posted: 28 Sep 2006 2:36 pm
by Mike Perlowin
Calvin, ny feelings arent hurt and I'm not offended that you don't care for my stuff. Disappointed maybe, but that's all.

You are entitled to like whatever you like, and have the right to play whatever you choose to play, and nobody can tell you otherwise.

I was concerned however about the workbench comment, because the implication is that I and others like me who are exploring other kinds of music don't have that same right.

Your comment de-legitimizes my efforts and those of players like me.

It is difficult being out on a limb. The whole time I was working on my first CD I was afraid that all the steel players would reject it because it's not country, and the classical music community would reject it because it's steel guitar. In fact some people in both communities did just that. However there were also many people in both communities who embraced my efforts.

I feel there should be room for everybody. it's important that some players keep traditional coutry steel playing alive, but it doesn't follow that EVERYBODY has to.

Likewise, it doesn't follow that everybody should explore new ideas and genres. But there has to be a place in the steel guitar community for players like me and Joe Goldmark and Bruce Kaphan and Robert Powell and Hal Merril and David Phillips and Dan Tyack and Bob Taillifer and Demola Adepoju and Robert Randolph and even for Susan Alcorn.

It's all steel, and it's all good.

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Warning: I have a Telecaster and I'm not afraid to use it.
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My web site

<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Mike Perlowin on 28 September 2006 at 03:38 PM.]</p></FONT>

Posted: 28 Sep 2006 2:42 pm
by Brint Hannay
Les, I'm just curious, when you speak of avoiding "sneaking in country licks or sounds", what kinds of things you were avoiding? What particular phrases or techniques are "Country Only"? Surely the best thing is not to worry about whether something "is country" or not (and that would apply equally to trying TO be country, or trying NOT to be country) and just listen, feel, and play what feels right?

Posted: 28 Sep 2006 2:48 pm
by Mike Shefrin
I've started mixing country licks into jazz
tunes. I'll start playing a jazz lick and then end the phrase with a country lick. It
sounds pretty hip. Not much different than throwing in blues licks when playing jazz.. Who cares if it's country,jazz,rock or whatever,as long as it sounds right to you.As far as I'm concerned there's only two kinds of music...good music and bad music.Just my two cents worth.<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Mike Shefrin on 28 September 2006 at 03:49 PM.]</p></FONT>

Posted: 28 Sep 2006 4:30 pm
by Bob Hickish
A world were No Country is Allowed !! ????

That would be an empty place !

The Steel can do anything ! BUT !

No Country Allowed ??

Like life with out Air !

Posted: 28 Sep 2006 5:16 pm
by Frank Parish
How'd you like to play steel in a band like the Mike Snyder string band on the Opry? For me I probably wouldn't be playing if it weren't for country music but my interest doesn't stop there.<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Frank Parish on 28 September 2006 at 06:22 PM.]</p></FONT>

Posted: 28 Sep 2006 9:08 pm
by Jim Sliff
"but you can't take country out of pedal steel."

I disagree.

The instrument, bare and alone, doesn't have "country" in it. A lot of the players do.

There are plenty of players working at pedal steel with no country in their music.

Posted: 29 Sep 2006 3:19 pm
by Mike Archer

great playing larry bell
and by the way i lived in sanford fla
a long time

Posted: 29 Sep 2006 6:51 pm
by David L. Donald
Music is music.
If you can play something on an instrument go for it.

If you limit yourself to one genre,
then
you just limit yourself.

Posted: 29 Sep 2006 7:16 pm
by Mike Shefrin
Just want to second what Mike Archer just said. Nice work, Larry. Sounds good.

Posted: 30 Sep 2006 2:46 pm
by Franklin
I love to play music and my instrument of choice happens to be a steel guitar. With me, the love of music comes before the instrument. I'm amazed with the diverse tones a steel guitar produces.

Paul<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Franklin on 30 September 2006 at 04:00 PM.]</p></FONT><font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Franklin on 30 September 2006 at 06:51 PM.]</p></FONT><font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Franklin on 30 September 2006 at 06:53 PM.]</p></FONT>