Jan Hammer appreciation thread
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Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Bands, Artists and Genres Appreciation
Forum Description: Discuss specific prog bands and their members or a specific sub-genre
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=44692
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Topic: Jan Hammer appreciation thread
Posted By: Guests
Subject: Jan Hammer appreciation thread
Date Posted: December 21 2007 at 17:39
| A big influencer... Fans? |
Replies:
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: December 21 2007 at 18:36
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Any help: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=44121&KW=jan+hammer ------------- The best eclectic music on the Web,8-11pm BST/GMT THURS. CLICK ON: http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php - http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php Host by PA's Dick Heath. |
Posted By: jammun
Date Posted: December 21 2007 at 19:24
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What's interesting to me is that Jan Hammer, while playing in the original incarnation of Mahavishnu, did not even have a synthesizer. I had the good fortune of seeing a Mahavishnu/ELP double bill, way back when. Jan's only instrument was a Rhodes, though he had some ring modulator effect box attached, which he used to approximate the bends of guitar notes. He was quite accomplished, but of course we weren't there to hear Mahavishnu and were just biding our time until ELP took the stage.
 However I remember my guitar-playing friends being slack-jawed...
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Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: December 22 2007 at 05:39
However, by the mid-70's Jan Hammer's development of the Mini-Moog meant his style of playing and indeed his sound were most distinctive. Remember last year Moog presented him with a lifetime achievement award for his work on their synths. Besides who could afford synths at the very beginning of the 70's - Moog seemed to be restricted to recording studios, Walter Carlos or Keith Emerson? Fender Rhodes was one of the keyboard instruments of choice - btw great to hear Alan Pasqua's new album The Anti-social Club (also his DVD withAllan Holdsworth - Live At Yoshi's), utilising the latest genration of Rhodes, in this recording. ------------- The best eclectic music on the Web,8-11pm BST/GMT THURS. CLICK ON: http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php - http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php Host by PA's Dick Heath. |
jammun wrote:Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: December 22 2007 at 06:33
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I don't want to knock the guy, because I am a long time fan. But that whole synthesizer as guitar thing grew old after a while. Then it seems he was trying too hard for commercial success and the music suffered. For me he really went down hill after Oh Yeah. The Miami Vice soundtrack certainly bought him some commercial success and it's OK though I don't have it in my collection. I am really happy that his earlier discography has come out on CD. One of the more pleasant surprises for me has been discovering "Highway Made Of Glass" from Hammer number two. Sounds like a Porcupine Tree song.
------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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Posted By: Woodbridge
Date Posted: December 22 2007 at 22:36
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It's sad that I consider myself a progger and my only Jan Hammer experience, is his two collaboration albums with Neal Schon.
I LOVE the two Schon & Hammer albums, some experimental arena rock, right up my alley.. great music. I'll need to delve into Mahavishnu and his solo offerings someday soon.
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Posted By: prog4evr
Date Posted: December 23 2007 at 02:07
Since you went 'off-topic' with this, Dick, what is it about the guy writing in the liner notes of Holdsworth's original solo release (1976) basically saying that Pasqua was a mediocre keyboardist 'going nowhere' with his career? Is this because Pasqua landed in Nashville for a while (during the 1980s and 1990s) and played on some CCM (Contemporary Christian Music) albums (e.g., Twyla Paris)? I think Pasqua is one of the finest, most under-rated keyboardists in the jazz-rock genre. I mean anyone who gets to play consistently with Allan Holdsworth (!) has got to be pretty good...
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Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: December 23 2007 at 03:41
One of his proggiest post Mahavishnu albums is the duo with Jerry Goodman, Like Children. I'd start there if I were you. ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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