This is a real treat. There are some very tasteful licks here coupled with a strong melody and moving lyrics. I would love to hear your thoughts. I am thinking it should be right up Winston's alley.
Well Peter............ I am not quite sure who this person is or how you found this track but it's a good one.
I rather enjoyed Mr. Thompson's approach to playing blues.
Looking at him from my perspective as a seasoned blues musician, I suspect that this genre is not his usual one. Why do I say that?
At times his improvisation seems somewhat unplanned and as a result there is the odd time that he is very slightly out of key on some of the bends. The tasty licks that he plays however far outshine the almost imperceptible losses in concentration that I mentioned.
The song itself is a beautifully crafted and well arranged piece. It is delivered with authority and conviction. The vocals are strong and melodic. All in all this is a winning combination IMHO. Again for a variety of reasons, I suspect this man is a professional player, albeit in another genre altogether.
Re: Steve Thompson
Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2011 6:24 am
by admin
A great spidey sense Brian. You have your crystal ball in top form. Steve Thompson is the guitarist for Gerry and the Pacemakers at present and was with Mike Pender's Searchers for a brief time and before that with Brian Poole's Electrix. He is part of the duo "Soul Journey" with Tony Young who plays keyboards with Gerry and the Pacemakers.
Re: Steve Thompson
Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2011 12:30 pm
by winston
Thanks Peter,
As many of us know, playing the blues is not quite as easy as it seems. You cannot just let your fingers fly all over the board, because that sort of playing does not convey the deep down feelings that the genre is all about. Lead solos and rhythm parts on a guitar must sound smooth, effortless and tasteful. For the most part, they must be in the pocket and must carry you away to another place in your mind rather than jar your senses.
In my experience, it takes most "new to blues" players many years to develop that sort of instinctive, smooth and laid back approach to playing guitar. Most of which is just a result of "paying your dues"
That in essence is how I guessed correctly about Mr.Thompson. The minor flaws and imperfections in his craft tell me that his dues are not quite paid up yet.
