Can Vai play jazz?

Dee · #1 03-14-2008, 11:32 AM

Just a quick Q to the Vai fans: can / does he play jazz? If so, please name a track or two. Cheers.

Davey · #2 03-14-2008, 11:40 AM

I distinctly remember reading that he said although he respects it, it's not his bag. Same with blues.

**jim777** · #3 03-14-2008, 11:41 AM

I'm sure he can, since he was with Zappa for so long and went through Berklee. He does seem to think jazz is one of the worst of the 4 letter words though. At this point I can't tell if it's schtick when he yells "no jazz!" on stage or if he has an actual problem with it. It would be cool to see him play with Hiromi, though

guitarkatana · #4 03-14-2008, 11:47 AM

I remember that live album where he breaks a string, and while it's being fixed the band does various stuff to keep the audience entertained. They band started playing jazz music, and Steve was all like "stop this instant, that sounds like jazz". lol

I share his pain. I can't stand jazz or blues.

kotornut · #5 03-14-2008, 11:48 AM

Who cares? He doesn't need to he is doing what he wants to do.

This competitive guitar ideal is stupid.

Can Guthrie Govan play death metal? Can Michael Amott play country? Does it matter? Do they need to, to be considered good guitarists?

I don't think so. Yes, versatility is one of the most important factors, but mastering every style isn't necessary to being a good musician and certainly not to being a successful one.

Jazz is not the pinnacle of music, neither is metal or rock or anything it's music not sports betting. It's not a competetion.

I apologize to Dee if his post wasn't trying to goad anyone into this type of discussion at all and I misinterpreted him.

OLIE_ROCKS_THE_80'S · #6 03-14-2008, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee

Just a quick Q to the Vai fans: can / does he play jazz? If so, please name a track or two. Cheers.

Tender surrender is very Jazzy!

Davey · #7 03-14-2008, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLIE_ROCKS_THE_80'S

Tender surrender is very Jazzy!

You do realise some Jazz guy is gonna start whining about how it's nothing like Jazz now don't you?

Dee · #8 03-14-2008, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLIE_ROCKS_THE_80'S

Tender surrender is very Jazzy!

Come off it! It's NOTHING like jazz!

Dee · #9 03-14-2008, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kotornut

Who cares? He doesn't need to he is doing what he wants to do.

This competitive guitar ideal is stupid.

Can Guthrie Govan play death metal? Can Michael Amott play country? Does it matter? Do they need to, to be considered good guitarists?

I don't think so. Yes, versatility is one of the most important factors, but mastering every style isn't necessary to being a good musician and certainly not to being a successful one.

Jazz is not the pinnacle of music, neither is metal or rock or anything it's music not sports betting. It's not a competetion.

I apologize to Dee if his post wasn't trying to goad anyone into this type of discussion at all and I misinterpreted him.

Well, at least you apologized.

I was asking a question with genuine interest. I haven't heard him play jazz, but on the other hand, there are still quite a few Vai albums I haven't heard yet. I thought maybe there's a sneaky jazz-tinged track in there somewhere...

Yes, Guthrie Govan can play death metal. To know this, I don't even need to speak to G and ask if he can. Guthrie can do anything on guitar because he is probably the single most versatile guitarist on the planet.

I agree with you that jazz isn't the pinnacle, but I do believe some of the most talented musicians are jazz players. By the way, I am in no way a fan of "trad" jazz. I like parts of it, but fusion kicks it's ass all day every day.

PS: There's no need to get so protective of Vai. No need to lash out, Kotornut. This is not a boxing match. If it was, you'd be on the canvas in the first round.

**jim777** · #10 03-14-2008, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guitarkatana

I remember that live album where he breaks a string, and while it's being fixed the band does various stuff to keep the audience entertained. They band started playing jazz music, and Steve was all like "stop this instant, that sounds like jazz". lol

I share his pain. I can't stand jazz or blues.

I've seen him do it live as well, which was why I was saying I think it's just schtick at this point. I don't know if he says it at every show, but I wouldn't be surprised if he does it at half of them

**jim777** · #11 03-14-2008, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kotornut

Who cares? He doesn't need to he is doing what he wants to do.
This competitive guitar ideal is stupid.
Can Guthrie Govan play death metal? Can Michael Amott play country? Does it matter? Do they need to, to be considered good guitarists?
I don't think so. Yes, versatility is one of the most important factors, but mastering every style isn't necessary to being a good musician and certainly not to being a successful one.
Jazz is not the pinnacle of music, neither is metal or rock or anything it's music not sports betting. It's not a competetion.
I apologize to Dee if his post wasn't trying to goad anyone into this type of discussion at all and I misinterpreted him.

Is there a lot of caffeine in Japanese coffee?

DEADTUNES666 · #12 03-14-2008, 12:24 PM

My partner is a graduate of Berklee (back in the day when it was a tougher school), while his main focus was 80's shred and metal. They pushed a lot of Jazz on you...It is a jazz school. He doesn't play much jazz stuff but he can. Not like Benson or Metheny but better than the rocker wanna be...

As for Steve, who didn't graduate from Berkelee, I would think he's poking fun at his old professors. Like an inside joke

I would love to see Benson, Metheny, Vai, Satriani, Scofield do a few Ibanez sponsored sampler tracks showcasing the sig guitars.

kotornut · #13 03-14-2008, 12:25 PM

Anyways, I'm not protecting Vai I just hate the jazz vs. metal or any genre mentality. I thought you were going to say stuff like "so and so sucks because he's not fusion." I hate that. I agree, some of the best musicians are jazz players, but I don't think that jazz makes them automatically versatile. In my opinion fusion players of any instrument are often very stagnate.

Vai is my least favorite guitar virtuoso to be honest. I'm not into his stuff a few songs here and there, so this isn't a defense.

And you might be suprised by my physical abilities

. You just never know what someone is really like. I could be a light heavywieght MMA champion for all you know. I mean I do live in Japan, and I ain't here 'cause I like Manga and Anime. You never know.