ahhh, under her spell once again...

[johncomic]

Comments

[ginsu.livejournal.com]

Lately I'm on a Shawn Lane kick, thanks to the discovery of bootleg vids of him on Google and YouTube.

Examples:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRJASxBRITY
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5686619768616750784&q=%22shawn+lane%22

I think those are both absolute epitomes of technique as expression.

[johncomic.livejournal.com]

[nods sagely] Ever cool.

I confess, the name is completely new to me... but as usual, you display discerning taste in matters of guitar wizardry. I will investigate Mr. Lane further.

[ginsu.livejournal.com]

I first ran across Shawn Lane when I read a quote from Paul Gilbert to the effect that Lane was a terror. I then bought Lane's Powers of Ten -- a superb title for a CD from him -- and thought Paul had undersold him.

A long time ago you wrote me about saxophonist Chris Potter, who is similarly terrifying in my book, and I thought you might like Lane too. I consider his phrasing distinctly... saxophonic at times.

Among the better clips:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoqRENuuLrs&mode=related&search=

The amazing thing here is the way he alternate-picks at about 16 nps while holding the whammy for subtle phrasing. The passage starting around 1:30 is particularly breathtaking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJwJq-jT4a8

Lane covers the Weather Report number "Black Market." His sheer chops are just not to be believed in this one.

[traypup.livejournal.com]

elvis costello will kick your ass.

[johncomic.livejournal.com]

He's welcome to try.

[Actually, it's pretty hard to miss... even if he wasn't wearing his glasses...]