Bilbo

I have a wooden cabin and find it more than satisfactory. Too hot/cold is managed by a fan and a heater. Otherwise, it is dry and I see no evidence of condensation after 4 years. Mine is a tiny bit too small at 8x10 feet but I have a PC, double bass, two electrics and five guitars in there as well as books and cds. No problem. Cost about £1600

At the moment, it's Ralph Towner because I am working on becoming self sufficient as a composer and performer and he has that down to a fine art. His choice of instruments is also eclectic and he can play simple things alongside intensely complex compositions. like everyone else, though, my influences are many and varied and always transitory.

There is stuff on YouTube.

I saw Gordon Giltrap last night and he played one of those Paul Brett Vintage Viator travel guitars. It sounded beautiful. I am gassing for the 12 string version now.

I love it when everyone gets a vote.

I have some very personal theories about the relationship between tone and swing that I discuss in my Paul Chambers biography. In short, imagine what Kind of Blue would have sounded like with BS's tone heard here. Not wrong but starkly different.

If you put 'brand management' before the music, you are part of the problem. I do not, however, think that BS is making a bid for Jazz credibility!

It's a kind of thing. It's almost impossible to swing with a tone like that and the drummer isn't helping but it's not without merit. It's the wrong gear as much as anything :-D

Ooo, look! I came first!

And then worked with George Martin who DID study music. The 'music theory stunts your creativity ' argument is a justification. Any knowledge empowers you. A lack of knowledge will not improve creativity, it will be irrelevant to it.

I find this a challenging thread because I agree, in principle, that the answer is no but my experience tells me that the best players I have ever worked with tend to be those with massively deep training on their instruments. We all can reference the occasional savant but, in terms of advocating an approach, I would always recommend the tried and tested route.

Function Jazz gig last night. Played like a tosser.

Great sound.

Anyone know who the guitar player is?

My wife turned me on to this last night. Monster groove.

I came up with this. I was trying to get a medieval vibe. I was working with my newly downloaded Sibelius 8 and am still finding my way around the sounds etc but this is close to what I was hearing. What you are hearing here is literally the Sibelius file with Sibelius sounds etc i.e. no external VSTs or acoustic instruments.

Have you TRIED moving around with a double bass? I can do it but not whilst playing

I always thought that it was Colin Hodgkinson from Back Door.

I 'm thinking. I 'm thinking!

I can now go to my grave happy. Now I have to find a bloody picture for April.

Weird. Nearly 500 views and only 10 voters!

I convert everything to pdf already, Wolf. Always have. Good advice.

One more voter than participant. Grim.

I do try to avoid the obvious but also have a bit of a downer on VSTs and drum machines at the moment which forces me to think within my limitations as a player. Glad people like the results.

Voted myself in the foot.