RE: [JPL] Shades of Felicano & Hendrix in the 60s. René Marie stirs it up

[Jackson, Bobby]

Ed wrote ........
 
"True enough. He could just as easily (and just as well) done it with any 
song. He wasn't playing the national anthem, he was riffing on a melody."

Ed


Dick Cavett interviewed Jimi Hendrix on his television show once and talked with Hendrix about his interpretation of the Star Spangled Banner and to paraphrase Cavett he thought of it as somewhat bizarre.  Smiling, Hendrix replied something to the effect of, "I don't agree with you Dick,  I thought it was beautiful.  
 
I remember Dexter Gordon once saying that in order to interpret a tune correctly as an instrumentalist, it's important to know the lyric.  Jimi Hendrix obviously knew the lyric and utilized all that guitar eedback after the verse,"and the rockets red glare" mimicking bombs soaring, dropping on the ground and "bursting in air."  The song was originally written and inspired by a battle that lasted through the night and witnessed all around Francis Scott Key.  I thought Hendrix captured that sentiment perfectly.  You might think he was just "riffing" on a melody.  I think he was hearing the lyric in his head and played the song very appropriately based on the times he played it, what was going on in Vietnam, in the streets of the US and what young people were into during the psychedelic 60's.  I thought it was genius even if he was high.  I also think he would not play those same riffs on just any song, Ed.  Hendrix was the greatest and most imitated rock guitarist of his time.  History has and will always give him more credit than you are in these posts on JPL.  I suggest you listen again and try to put aside your personal notions of what you perhaps think he should or should not have done.  It was a masterpiece and is a true reflection of the times and circumstances it was created in.  I think perhaps Iraqui and Afghani veterans who've been in war will relate to that song and the emotional honesty Hendrix displayed in his interpretation moreso than any of us talking about this will.
 
Aloha,
 
Bobby Jackson
 
________________________________

From: jazzproglist-bounces at jazzweek.com on behalf of EdBride at aol.com
Sent: Thu 7/3/2008 12:29 AM
To: jazzproglist at jazzweek.com
Subject: Re: [JPL] Shades of Felicano & Hendrix in the 60s. René Marie stirs it up



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In a message dated 7/2/2008 3:41:52 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, 
eric-jackson at comcast.net writes:

<<..To me, Hendrix version is a masterpiece, an
incredible  piece of music, even if you disagree with the idea of
"adorning" the Star  Spangled Banner. I'm talking about a musical 
evaluation..>>

True enough. He could just as easily (and just as well) done it with any 
song. He wasn't playing the national anthem, he was riffing on a melody.

Ed







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