John Stowell...Days Of Wine And Roses on a Soloway Guitar

[TheSouthbreeze]

John is very good and obviously well read in music, but I don't hear anything remotely resembling the song until the end. He's kind of fun to watch, but it stopped being about the song and more about how wonderful the player is. The old 'Cat In The Piano' adage applies here. Otherwise very good, but not real listenable.

[agnarlamhauge]

Beautiful!

[JackOrion0670]

No doubt a master, but thankfully jazz is better better listened to then watched. Monk excluded of course, he is equal in all respects.

[mateo2711ify]

Im more into playing metal but I dig this..

[Rexicano]

Terrible;

The ballad is sweet and melodic...but here we get all these altered scales that wander into dead ends. It's just blah blah blah.

Sounds like he's typing notes instead of playing music.

[lolailosman]

@Rexicano Moron

[Rexicano]

@lolailosman

Right...and I'm sure someone from American Samoa is a brilliant jazz expert.

[lolailosman]

@Rexicano Of course you want to believe that I come from American Samoa (, and you need to think that only people like you know anything about jazz or music. I'm a pro musician and music teacher, and one of the very first things I've learned (and now try to teach) is respect. Something that you, pretentious Albany dude, need to start working on urgently. Done with you, this is boring.

[quencho092]

@Rexicano I have seen Stowell play live a good couple of times and honestly much of it has been hit or miss, especially in combo settings. He played with two of my professors and TBH I felt bad because it looked to be an embarassing performance and everybody was on different pages. Especially for my profs who typically have stellar performances and clean interplay, it seemed like they were pulling teeth to get through the set.

[AirBRanger]

is that a PRS??! its beautiful especially played well (like that) lol

[solowayguitars]

@AirBRanger It's a custom Soloway Swan that we built specifically for John. The body is heavily chambered and the scale length is 27". He tunes it down to C. - Jim Soloway

[AirBRanger]

is that a PRS??! 

[manabozho]

This tune's an arranging technique he likes--tell the audience you're skipping the introductory melody, and will play the melody at the end. Invite them to see if they can get the tune before you play the melody. John's been my teacher for many years, and occasional duo partner for just a few. His posture, melody-chord interaction, fingering, and astounding harmonic map are things that evolved slowly. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts, which are pretty awesome by themselves.

[jokeob]

Where is the wine and the roses??

[JazzMac36251]

I'm sure the tune is in there...somewhere.

[hammilcar77]

@JazzMac36251 Not sure what makes you so sure. Sounds a bit self-indulgent to me.

[metalcore929]

Great playing, bizarre posture. 

[6stringdaveyM]

I saw John with David Freizen (sic) in Boston 30 years ago and he was astounding then. It is nice to he has kept his conviction.

[guitarjerry1126]

Excellent and so beautiful, You're playing is!

Jerry

[easguitar]

This cat is BEYOND Lenny Breau!!!

[zebopper]

Golly. My chord melody playing is as square as a box compared to this cat.

[JolsSugerFree320]

@zebopper jazzy bread

[DeepSeaSeamus]

really cool

[mmmgjl]

I like the movement of the inner harmonies! Really nice!

[gutplucker]

fabulous stuff! keep on posting!

[angeloamericano]

Larry Coryell just was on the same bill as you and raved about your playing! Are you in a drop d tuning here?

[khbgkh]

its a special baritone guitar, so the entire guitar is lowered

[bebopchess]

what amplifier are you using john? is the extension cab for more bass response with the lower tuning? (is it a 12" or a 15" speaker?)

[wbges175]

Perfect balance between intuition and intellect. Thank you for posting.

[drainard]

John, you bring it together so personally. I could go on about your technique and know-how forever but what impresses and inspires me most is that you are the music you play. I would know your sound and sensibilities anywhere. I've recently heard them cropping up in other young players you've taught. It's so great to hear you continually developing your own sound and to see that your fan base is growing. Bravo!

[scooteroo]

Mr. Stowell's technical mastery and knowledge of complex harmonies is extremely impressive. I don't really get the guitar thing, however. The whole 27" scale length -- sounds more like a baritone to me. I can't say I really enjoy the tone. Just me, I guess.

Awesome player, though.

[babinm]

You drove to Sacramento about 10 years ago and taught a group of us asspiring musicians at Deborah Smaller's house. You were inspiring and let us all play with you it was great.

[Micahb2]

Very inspring music. His "Resonance" CD has changed the way I think of Guitar-Playing and "Genres" It really doesn't matter if it sounds like this!

[JSGuitar7]

Hi Micah,

Thanks for watching, and for your kind words.

Regards,

John Stowell

[pauldil]

John, that's a gorgeous, masterful rendition and that Soloway sounds so incredibly rich. There aren't enough stars to give this wonderful performance!

Regards,

Paul

[JSGuitar7]

Hi Paul,

I appreciate your watching, and glad you like my Soloway.

Regards,

John Stowell

[takauya]

simple but beautiful tone

[valdrighi]

simply amazing!

[zinwah]

How good is this!! This guy's playing is 'hard' to figure out because of his oblique harmonies and Picasso like melodic single note runs. Listening need real attention (for me at least) but is so very worthwhile. Mr Stowell is a true artist and original and a masterful technicial as well.

[Gregorypeckory]

Hi,

Your comments and kind words are much appreciated.

Regards,

John Stowell