Neal Schon's "Piranha Blues"

[ProgRocker53]

There are different flavors of blues, just like there are different flavors of rock.
I think 'Piranha' blues fits the album perfectly...definitely some jazz/fusion there...heavy blues with a bite.

If you wanna sit over here on the river in Clarksdale and listend to John Lee Hooker and Pinetop Perkins all day, then fine. I do that often. But I also like the jazz influence (Crusaders) and I like the mexican influence too (Santana). Blues is a heavy wide-spectrum emotion, not a simple definitive playing style.

Now then, I will say that I was surprised the first time I listened to Piranha Blues and I too was feeling kind of miffed, but over the years of festival going (Texas folk to New Orleans jazz to Memphis blues), I've realized tons of different flavors, and I've gone back to PB for a whole new appreciation. I love that album.


later~

thank you.

WHY O WHY is it necessary to compare and rank? it's good, he's good, others are good. nuff said. good grief.

I'm done. I'm glad you ike it prog. it will be a favorite in your library for a long time, I'm sure.

In a way I agree with the statement that it's not necessary to always compare and rank, and just like good music for what it is... BUT...

It's so damn fun to compare and rank sometimes! I'll have to admit I'm slowly growing tired of constantly engaging in musical one-upping debates, it's something I'm very guilty of but I'll try to ease up on it.

Yeah, I liked it. I think Piranha Blues will end up being my favorite quasi-Journey project.... I think it's interesting that minus the vocalist, it WAS all Journey!

[Journey/Survivor]

Again, I'm not saying that he plays traditional Blues like BB King or Albert King, but if your talking about Blues Rock then he is without question one of the best players in the world.

Neal is a great guitar player. But he is not really a blues-rock player. I does it here, and on a few occassions like with Paul Rodgers. But since he is not a 'full-time' blues-rock player it is very difficult to put him on that list of greats. There are FAR too many others...

Hell, Neal has a hard enough time being recognize for his guitar playing at all, but to marginalize it to blues-rock is not fair or accurate.

By no means was I trying to make Neal out to be just a Blues Rock player. One of the things that makes Neal the greatest Rock guitarist ever IMO is his ability to master almost every style of guitar. The guy can shred, play emotional and melodic, you name it he can play it.

But I can't think of very many guitarists that can play Blues-Rock better than Neal Schon. And I am very knowledgeable about great guitarists, and I myself have been a guitarist for over 20 years now. I don't mean for that to sound arrogant! But I don't want anyone getting the idea that I don't know what I'm talking about.

[koberry]

What are your thoughts on this offering?

I thought the disc was poorly named, as I don't hear blues when I hear this record....more like blues/jam rock. But we're not talking Stevie Ray and Buddy Guy....so when I first heard it, I was like WTF? blues? come on!

But this is also coming from a guy that Perry had announced as the "best blues guitarist in the whole wide world"
But when pitted against real blues artists, he forgets what key he's in!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upQiz1pyO9I&

Yuk, I could have gone without seeing/hearing that... how could he not hear that he was so off? Reminds me of a clip I saw a couple of months ago of EVH trying to play along with the opening of (I think it was) Jump. But the tape of the keyboards was slightly speeded up, so Ed went hunting/pecking for the key to play along in... but at least he was trying to find it...

[(Crazy)Dulce Lady]

What are your thoughts on this offering?

I thought the disc was poorly named, as I don't hear blues when I hear this record....more like blues/jam rock. But we're not talking Stevie Ray and Buddy Guy....so when I first heard it, I was like WTF? blues? come on!

But this is also coming from a guy that Perry had announced as the "best blues guitarist in the whole wide world"
But when pitted against real blues artists, he forgets what key he's in!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upQiz1pyO9I&

Yuk, I could have gone without seeing/hearing that... how could he not hear that he was so off? Reminds me of a clip I saw a couple of months ago of EVH trying to play along with the opening of (I think it was) Jump. But the tape of the keyboards was slightly speeded up, so Ed went hunting/pecking for the key to play along in... but at least he was trying to find it...

if you have ever played on stage before, with LOUD instruments, you might understand that if the monitor is whacky, it is impossible to play together--or in the same key. my only salvation sometimes is being able to see hands and where they are landing. he prolly couldn't see or hear cuz he has a fabulous ear. he probably thinks the same thing about that song and says oh well do better next time. aren't ya glad it didn't make him quit???

[FishinMagician]

What are your thoughts on this offering?

I thought the disc was poorly named, as I don't hear blues when I hear this record....more like blues/jam rock. But we're not talking Stevie Ray and Buddy Guy....so when I first heard it, I was like WTF? blues? come on!

But this is also coming from a guy that Perry had announced as the "best blues guitarist in the whole wide world"
But when pitted against real blues artists, he forgets what key he's in!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upQiz1pyO9I&

Yuk, I could have gone without seeing/hearing that... how could he not hear that he was so off? Reminds me of a clip I saw a couple of months ago of EVH trying to play along with the opening of (I think it was) Jump. But the tape of the keyboards was slightly speeded up, so Ed went hunting/pecking for the key to play along in... but at least he was trying to find it...

he was really drinkin again

[conversationpc]

Yuk, I could have gone without seeing/hearing that... how could he not hear that he was so off? Reminds me of a clip I saw a couple of months ago of EVH trying to play along with the opening of (I think it was) Jump. But the tape of the keyboards was slightly speeded up, so Ed went hunting/pecking for the key to play along in... but at least he was trying to find it...

I thought it was pretty well established that he hit the headstock of the guitar on the floor and knocked it out of tune?

[Gordon from Edinburgh]

Again, I'm not saying that he plays traditional Blues like BB King or Albert King, but if your talking about Blues Rock then he is without question one of the best players in the world.

Neal is a great guitar player. But he is not really a blues-rock player. I does it here, and on a few occassions like with Paul Rodgers. But since he is not a 'full-time' blues-rock player it is very difficult to put him on that list of greats. There are FAR too many others...

Hell, Neal has a hard enough time being recognize for his guitar playing at all, but to marginalize it to blues-rock is not fair or accurate.

By no means was I trying to make Neal out to be just a Blues Rock player. One of the things that makes Neal the greatest Rock guitarist ever IMO is his ability to master almost every style of guitar. The guy can shred, play emotional and melodic, you name it he can play it.

But I can't think of very many guitarists that can play Blues-Rock better than Neal Schon. And I am very knowledgeable about great guitarists, and I myself have been a guitarist for over 20 years now. I don't mean for that to sound arrogant! But I don't want anyone getting the idea that I don't know what I'm talking about.

How about Jeff Beck/Gary moore/Eric Bibb or even Preston Reed?

[nikki]

No, NOBODY should touch Riviera Paradise!!

+1

Ever!

Frankly any of Stevie Ray's work should be considered sacred ground and never even touched upon. Especially someone as un-blues as schon.

Agreed!

[conversationpc]

No, NOBODY should touch Riviera Paradise!!

+1

Ever!

Frankly any of Stevie Ray's work should be considered sacred ground and never even touched upon. Especially someone as un-blues as schon.

Agreed!

I think a good jazz guitarist could do that song justice.

[(Crazy)Dulce Lady]

Yuk, I could have gone without seeing/hearing that... how could he not hear that he was so off? Reminds me of a clip I saw a couple of months ago of EVH trying to play along with the opening of (I think it was) Jump. But the tape of the keyboards was slightly speeded up, so Ed went hunting/pecking for the key to play along in... but at least he was trying to find it...

I thought it was pretty well established that he hit the headstock of the guitar on the floor and knocked it out of tune?

really??? are you serious??

[koberry]

Again, I'm not saying that he plays traditional Blues like BB King or Albert King, but if your talking about Blues Rock then he is without question one of the best players in the world.

Neal is a great guitar player. But he is not really a blues-rock player. I does it here, and on a few occassions like with Paul Rodgers. But since he is not a 'full-time' blues-rock player it is very difficult to put him on that list of greats. There are FAR too many others...

Hell, Neal has a hard enough time being recognize for his guitar playing at all, but to marginalize it to blues-rock is not fair or accurate.

By no means was I trying to make Neal out to be just a Blues Rock player. One of the things that makes Neal the greatest Rock guitarist ever IMO is his ability to master almost every style of guitar. The guy can shred, play emotional and melodic, you name it he can play it.

But I can't think of very many guitarists that can play Blues-Rock better than Neal Schon. And I am very knowledgeable about great guitarists, and I myself have been a guitarist for over 20 years now. I don't mean for that to sound arrogant! But I don't want anyone getting the idea that I don't know what I'm talking about.

I agree. I've played guitar for 25 years and am a huge fan of the blues genre and Neal is definitely a stud. His solo on Sittin on the Doc of the Bay still does it for me every time... btw, those of you in the Bay Area should check out Chris Cain at JJ's Blues in San Jose some time - that guy is smokin.