From: owner-good-noise-digest@smoe.org (good-noise-digest) To: good-noise-digest@smoe.org Subject: good-noise-digest V3 #102 Reply-To: good-noise@smoe.org Sender: owner-good-noise-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-good-noise-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk good-noise-digest Wednesday, November 1 2000 Volume 03 : Number 102 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: get this? [Wayne Renardson ] Re: The John Gorka Music Page [Twhobar@aol.com] Gorka 101 [ThePsyche@aol.com] Re: Gorka 101 [Matthew Bester ] e-mail address change [JSJPMize@aol.com] Re: Gorka 101 [Martin ] my 2 cents [Martin ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 05:58:24 -0600 From: Wayne Renardson Subject: Re: get this? One fine day Martin H said: MH> get this? I think the monitors may have ditched us....:^} Possibly....nothing quite as boring as a bass player:) And Matthew Vester, thank you for the tip on Zuly. MH> I borrowed "Bottom Line" once and remember it fondly, but don't own it. Just took the first step in fleshing out my Gorka collection by ordering it. And I am on just the opposite end of the spectrum. I know only "BL" and "Blue Chalk", a real piece of work from 'Between 5&7' on MP3. That might be Manring playing on it, but I do not know. MH> What I can say about Gorka *keys* is he is a piano player too. I would bet he writes on the piano, which lends itself more to said keys. He also uses some alternate tunings and often a capo. I had guessed this. It might be my CD player or engineering/mastering trix, but I enjoy going thru Gorka's tunes in Ab or whatever. Makes no difference to me. Since, as you point out: MH> This does present a challenge to bass players (those wood clamps as capos just get in the way.....smiles) but I think it's good training in hand memory. Teaches you the groove in the various scales. Exactly. However...... MH> So I wouldn't say his key choices are offbeat - more refreshing. I agree. My choice of 'offbeat' was not accurate. As an aspiring jazzer I play in Bb, Eb etc. Also being an ancient folkie I have worked thru a lot of the genre and rarely do you fine Ab as a center-- - --A yes, and plenty of C-G-D tonal centers. As a former acoustic gi'tar picker I am used to a capo. The damned thing does not appear to work very well on my G&L 2000 :) MH> Once you get the scale down and aren't looking so much at the fretboard, it's really quite freeing. Precisely...I go for the scale/mode immediately and it does make life easier. And looking at a fretboard is what I studiously avoid :) But this bit is most interesting.... MH> I've found so many new scale blends, bass chords, and harmonics playing along with John Tunes, that have transferred to my playing in general. Exactly what I am enjoying doing with Bottom Line. I am especially fond of 'Promnight in Pigtown' and 'Italian Girls' for their changes, structure, and harmonic possibilities. The changes I found (find) most difficult were on 'The Sentinel' And gee whiz, I do hope this is not too analytical: :) After all, music is to be enjoyed and not taken apart like a clock to see what makes it tick. Wheeeeeeee. MH> I'm sure it's why Michael likes playing with him. And yes, you are definitely in for a treat the first time you hear Michael echo John's beautiful voice and sentiment with his bass. Use da headphones!! One of my goals was to buy '5&7' this weekend. I failed miserably. MH>As to your remaining points: MH1) Love Maura O'Connel but have not heard her rendition of 'BlueChalk'. Will look for it. Mary Black has covered a few Gorka tunes. 'Treasure Island" comes to mind (on Jack's Crows). It is on 'Stories' (1995). I was not aware Ms Black had done Gorka's tune....knew the usual suspects Nanci G, Shawn C, Mary Chapin, etal. Have 3-4 of her albums laying around so will check out Treasure. NONE GORKA CONTENT follows - ------------------------------------------- MH> 2) Take your friend to a Vic Wooten solo concert sometime (or Michael,for that matter). That oughta do it. I live in Nashville and Vic (along with his very talented brothers) plays at a bar (3rd & Lindsey) often enough. Caught him with Bela Fleck a few times. MH> 3) You tryin' to set me up with your former wife? That long drive home from Valdez would be a killer, not to mention *Handsome* women (like Big Hair) scare me. ~smiles~ Naw....you seem like someone who does not need any help. And I do my best not to be a pimp :) Tho I will suggest that it is not her big hair (nonexistent---long, straight, dark) but her big brain that might be a tad scary this halloween. MH> 4) Finally - the Pipeline is infamous, as is the Exxon Valdez and the unrequited damage it did. I have been known to hide behind ice- bergs in my *yak* and cast spells on boat motors, the owners of which, are drinking and generally being obnoxious.....was that you guys? But Guinness is good :^}. There must be a Gorka song relevant to all this. Be Well ~Martin The young man (18) who was piloting the MOB (sp?) was drinking Schnapps at 8am. I was sober, then. Once I hit solid ground and the Pipeline, I was not :) And I have no doubt Gorka could make a fine tune out of pints and quarts of Guinness. But I am too drunk to have a clue about it's relevence. Wayne Renardson ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 14:16:16 EST From: Twhobar@aol.com Subject: Re: The John Gorka Music Page My turn to check in - I'm Tammy, 31 from the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania, John's home away from home. I started listening to Gorka music about 10 years ago when an ex-boyfriend introduced me to "Stranger with your Hair". The boyfriend is gone, but the music stayed on, and I think my love affair with Gorka began when that relationship ended, on long nights of listening to the songs on Land of the Bottom Line and healing my soul. My love of JG's music was cemented when I saw him in concert at Godfrey Daniels, the club where he started his career (You all must trek out here to see him play there). I have since seen him 10 or so times, and each time is magical - I feel totally mesmerized by his music and long for the concert to go on forever. I have also seen him play during a local music festival, Musikfest, in a concert hall at his Alma Mater that seems as though it was designed for his music. I have met John face-to-face on two occasions, and during both I made quite a fool of myself. He is, however, an incredibly talented gracious man. I am a first-time mom with a beautiful 13 month old daughter who is my soul. During her colicky period there was a time when the only thing that kept her from crying was repeatedly playing "Branching Out". So I believe she's inherited a piece of John too. I cannot bring myself to choose a favorite Gorka tune. I love many, but Raven in the Storm, Blue Chalk, Down in the Milltown, and Where the Bottles Break are standouts. In the right mood Love is Our Cross to Bear can consume me. In concert I love to hear him play You Don't Know Me and of course, the Body Parts Medley. Already my entry has become longer than any other, and so I'll end it here. I'm glad to have found this list, because it is nice to know there are people who love John Gorka's music the way I do. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 15:11:52 EST From: ThePsyche@aol.com Subject: Gorka 101 I got this on my David Wilcox email list and would be curious what all of you think. If you wanted to introduce someone to John's music, which would you choose and why? Her questions follow: It's me...Denise, from the DW list. I have two favors to ask... First, can you recommend a Gorka and a Kevin So album for a beginner? I just read your post and I'd like to get both of the So discs that you recommended, but I'd also like to hear some Gorka. I've never heard either. Pitiful, huh? I'd like to just get them all, but I'm not independently wealthy! Thanks, Denise (Kevin So is my newest music discovery and his CDs are getting all my ear time the past two weeks) Adios, Bryn ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 14:55:45 -0800 (PST) From: Matthew Bester Subject: Re: Gorka 101 I thought I would respond to a couple of messages at once: I am Matt, 30, a lawyer (yes, we actually have musical souls) and have been listening to Gorka since Temporary Road. I am also an amateur folkie guitar player, and have learned A LOT of his catalog over the years. What makes his music so great is that it stands so well on its own: the lyrics are beautifully written and the music is simple and strong. A band would simply overpower the inherent magic in his songs. To Martin and Wayne -- as far as I can tell he does not use alternate tunings. I'd be interested to hear if you know of otherwise, but I have figured out a lot of his songs and haven't found one yet. He does, I'm sure, go through many capos in a given year. Also, to another poster from NC, I think, (I'm sorry, I can't recall your name) thank you for your transcription of Semper Fi -- I was stuck on one chord! As for the question below, I would recommend to any Gorka newbie to buy any cd John Jennings has produced. That is the last three cds. His touch really brings the songs alive. Sorry for the long message. You know lawyers! Matt Quoting ThePsyche@aol.com: > I got this on my David Wilcox email list and would be curious what all of > you > think. If you wanted to introduce someone to John's music, which would you > choose and why? > > Her questions follow: > > It's me...Denise, from the DW list. I have two favors to ask... > > First, can you recommend a Gorka and a Kevin So album for a beginner? I > just > read your post and I'd like to get both of the So discs that you > recommended, but I'd also like to hear some Gorka. I've never heard > either. Pitiful, huh? I'd like to just get them all, but I'm not > independently wealthy! Thanks, Denise > > (Kevin So is my newest music discovery and his CDs are getting all my ear > time the past two weeks) > > Adios, Bryn > > - ------------------------------------------------- Created by Zkey.com - http://www.zkey.com Awarded PCMagazine's Editors' Choice ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 19:22:45 EST From: JSJPMize@aol.com Subject: e-mail address change please change jsjpmize@aol.com to Jnsmisner@aol.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 17:39:08 -0900 From: Martin Subject: Re: Gorka 101 Matthew wrote: > To Martin and Wayne -- as far as I can tell he does not use alternate > tunings. I'd be interested to hear if you know of otherwise, but I > have figured out a lot of his songs and haven't found one yet. To Matthew~ come to think of it, you are right. I've seen him drop his E to a D before, but other than that, pretty straight-forward tuning. Maybe someone else out there can shed some light on John and alternate tunings. Wayne wrote: Exactly what I am enjoying doing with Bottom Line. I am especially fond of 'Promnight in Pigtown' and 'Italian Girls' for their changes, structure, and harmonic possibilities. The changes I found (find) most difficult were on 'The Sentinel' And to Wayne~ still waiting for my 'Bottom Line' so I can converse on all your points on those songs. As for Mary Black covers: "Treasure Island" is on The Holy Ground, and "All That Hammering" appears on Circus. I would be interested in anyone else who covers John's songs ?? Finally ~to Anyone~ did my response to Bryn's *Who's Who?* come through? It never made it to my screen but seemed to send fine. If it didn't I'll re-post. Was a nice idea Bryn, for those of us in the wings. So nice to get to know some of you. Til next time ~Martin > ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 18:48:35 -0900 From: Martin Subject: my 2 cents Thanks Bryn for the quick response. Here's what I wrote some days ago...wonder who actually got it? Greetings Good Noisers~ Martin here in Anchorage Alaska. I first subscribed to the list about 2 years ago, and am wholly guilty of *Silence*..."Whoa" (inadequate, but is quoted from jacket). I've recently come out of the closet with Wayne's posts regarding Gorka bassists/bass-playing, etc. I play bass and acoustic guitar with roots back to the 60's. Have always been swayed by singer/songwriters from Joni Mitchell, Ralph McTell, Kate Wolf, as well as swing/bluegrass/jazz/R&B....as a bass player ya gotta love doin it all. But when John came on the scene, wrapping poetic phrasing with such tasteful acoustic music, he became an all time favorite. Other Life: reluctant teacher, poet in progress, enthusiastic climber/tele-skier/rafter/kayaker/fly-fisherman. Wishes: would like John to agree to let us back him up on a set, next time he visits. That's all for Me.... "He played a little slower as Hell froze over, but he played..." ------------------------------ End of good-noise-digest V3 #102 ********************************