The Steel Guitar Forum

Hello all
I've been deeply immersed in listening to Joaquin Murphy lately, To my ear it sounds like Joaquin really liked the playing of Buck Clayton,(trumpet player in the Count Basie band), I really hear him emulating Buck's phrasing at least in terms of dynamics . . .Anyone else agree/disagree?

I am far from being an expert for brass instruments, but for me Joaquin's style, with the heavy use of single string improvisations, always showed a heavy jazz influence. I think Bob Dunn was the first to heavily rely on the single string improvisations, he for sure saw the instrument as a lead jazz instrument, his phrasing often reminding me of trumpet players.

Kind Regards, Walter

www.lloydgreentribute.com
www.austriansteelguitar.at.tf

Murph liked Benny Goodman.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Thanks for the replies gents, Ok Mr. Steiner I'll give a listen to Benny again I think I can hear that too now you mention it . . .
Tanx again!

I think it's called playing "music" or "melodies", as opposed to playing convenient combinations dictated by the tuning. It's really easy to fall into strumming notes that simply don't suck too bad, as opposed to playing with intent. Some instruction material for C6th even advocates playing this way, that a lot of notes will sound OK enough if you happen to hit them accidentally. Listening to just about any melodic instrument other than other steel guitarists can help raise the bar, I think.

David,- hats off to you!!

Steinar

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www.gregertsen.com

Transcribing the Joaquin book was a real eye-opener for me- there's no doubt Murph thought "music" rather than "steel guitar". It may not be the easy way out, but the results speak for themselves. Murph's playing is classic and timeless.

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http://www.johnmcgann.com
Info for musicians, transcribers, technique tips and fun stuff. Joaquin Murphey transcription book, Rhythm Tuneup DVD and more...

When I was subbing in Spades bands, the guys that played sax doubled on clarinet. I remember on breaks during rehearsals, Joaquin would get together with a certain guy on clarinet and he would do the clarinet runs along with him on steel. I wish I could remember the sax mans name. He was in one of the Goodman bands I believe but moved to Cal and got a job in the aircraft industry in order not to be drafted as others in the band did and played music at night. I guess this is one of the reasons Spade had 3 or 4 bands going as all the guys worked shifts and coulnd't show up all the time so a lot of substitutions were made all the time. CC

CC , did you ever play with Tex Williams,I see you played for Spades band thought you might have known Tex.Me and Tex are from the same home town.

The only time I ever played with Tex(Solly) was when he was with Spade. Ron Parker reminds me of Tex as they are both "pickers singers". I am orig from Granite City IL. Tex thought the world of Joaquin. He called him "little Buddy" much tothe chagrin of Joaquin. CC