One of the world's guitar titans died a few weeks ago, a man who revolutionized flamenco guitar: Paco de Lucia.

A couple of Forum members have mentioned my quick hands and I call that a "Crocodile Dundee" moment. In the movie, Croc and his girl, visiting New York City, are accosted by a mugger brandishing a switchblade. Croc's girl gasps and warns, "He's got a knife!!" Croc says, " 'At? At's not a 'noif! 'Iss is a 'noif!" He pulls out this monster hunting blade and slices a Zorro cut through the mugger's shirt without touching any skin. Mugger runs for his life.

Now, why this story? You want to see fast hands on a guitar? I implore you to watch this video. Paco de Lucia is the one on the right, the only one of the three guitarists not using a pick. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_5YZbmLI4c

These fellas make me look like molasses dripping inside a refrigerator. So, I can't offer up anything like Paco to pay homage. The closest I can come is just pulling out a nylon guitar and playing what I think is Wayne Shorter's darkest, most enigmatic creation. Paco de Lucia was very jazz influenced and I think he might have liked this:

RIO https://soundcloud.com/aleckrand/rio

Really nice one, Dean!

The nylon string guitar suits your playing style really well - sounds great!

Nice production and a good mix. Enjoyable. Smooth...

floyd

Very nicely played, well mixed and arranged, thanks for sharing!

Hi, Dean !

I listened to the Paco video and.....
I was so mesmerized that I had to watch
it till the very end !:))
I am not sure I will touch the guitar
for a while after that treatment !!

I still hold you for one of the best
guitar players in the world !:))

Rio is also just wonderful !:))
Gracias mi querido amigo !


Cheers
tu amigo
Dani

Dean, very sensitively portrayed. I reckon you have delivered this track really well.

The way Wayne used dissonant harmonies in his composing demonstrated his creative abilities to constantly push boundaries.

And a nice tribute, too.

Thanks for the listen.
Trevor

Very nicely done Dean. Yes, a great loss. Although IMHO not a purist as a Flamenco player, but surely learned from the bests in the world. He without a doubt had his own style leaning a lot toward progressive jazz. I've seen some of his performances and sometimes I wondered if he had more that 10 fingers!

Later

Mike B.

Hi Dean,

you need not hide behind the original.
This is superb playing.
I enjoyed everything.

Guenter

Nice tribute to a stellar musician whom I would have never known of had it not been for this post.

Enjoyed the playing and the arrangement. You've made me a fan of nylon strings.

Excellent musicianship there Aleck! Your guitar technique is second to none!

I have that CD you mentioned. You are right in the fact that those three are extremely fast guitarist. The problem is have with the CD, if I remember correctly, is that all of the songs sound the same! That is nothing but rapid rifts with few melodic lines. If I’m wrong I’m sure someone will let me know and I’ll give it another listen.

Look Ma no pick. Great video. Very nice work on this song. You expand our musical horizons with every post. It is a great education just listening to your originals and covers. Thanks and keep up the beautiful work.

Sounds like the stringbuzz of a Fretless Nylon in there, Aleck.


--Mac

Mario,

You're a guy who knows how to hit the nail on the head.

With McLaughlin you can start at any point in any solo and hear a machine-gun burst of notes. At least that's what I hear. He does not seem to be a melodist as an improvisor. In other words, I can't imagine singing or even remembering any "licks" that might make me say, "yeah!" The only feature I can tell you about what I hear is that it's fast, not that it's, say, bluesy or Trane-like or has the same quality X that that other guitarist over there has, etc.

Paco, on the other hand, seems to deliver melodic ideas along with the speed. From my point of view, speed devoid of ideas is like a double-talk artist who can do it at high speed. So, er, whad 'e say?

Dean

Mac,

Now there's an idea: a fretless nylon. Every so often, I've heard of guys playing fretless guitars, or fingerboards that are scalloped instead of equipped with frets. Then there's Charlie Hunter who plays an 8-string guitar using a (nonparallel) fretting system that lets him play bass on the top three strings. Few have followed in these directions, though.

Aleck Rand (aka Dean Clark)

Floyd,

You have the ears to understand a tune like this, which I think is at the outer limits of harmonic intelligibility. At least it was for me and that's why I became obsessed with it. I had to understand it. What I'll never understand is how Shorter came up with these changes. I can't trace any of it back to anything familiar. I mean, it ain't "Girl from Ipanema," that's for sure.

And thank you for the kind remarks.

Dean

Guenter, my ever probing friend:

I'm not sure if "hiding behind the original" is right, but I'm not saying it's wrong either. I admit to having been obsessed with this tune and a subconscious motive for posting the original was possibly to show Forum members what they're up against if they're trying to understand a tune like this.

And, of course, I appreciate your positive response.

Dean

Hi Trevor,

Thanks for your kind remarks. Of course, you're right about Shorter. His penetrating insight into harmony and instinct for the "hip zone" haven't been matched by anyone else I can think of.

Dean

Hi Janice and Bud,

Thank you for your kind remarks on Rio, a difficult tune if there ever was one. Glad to hear you're liking nylons (strings, not stockings). That inspires me to get that same sound into my next post.

Dean

Thanks Mike,

You're quite right. Give me old Carlos Montoya anytime, but there are some new and brilliant Flamenco players around that I've just discovered. For instance, check out Don Cortes Maya: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=359Bxg4Tp1w

What a sound he gets out of the instrument. The whole thing is just jaw-dropping. Some of those fire-breathing licks of pure Spanish soul can blast your clothes off. I hope you and others get to see that video.

Dean

Tommy,

Special thanks for those generous and kind words. In fact, I do like to add a little extra to a post if I can. Whenever I find a link that I feel people have just got to see, I'll include it, even if it relates only tangentially to the music I'm posting.

Hearing that you find them a source of new knowledge and possibly inspiration is a real thrill.

I hear you got a rep now as the blues guitar king of the Forum. Buddy, you can add my vote to that.

Dean

Thanks Dani and PGF,

I'm going to quote from my reply to MarioD about superfast guitar players:
Dean

hi dean great sound on guitar loved it very well done thanks for sharing eric

Dean...

I love things out of the ordinary, and this fits the bill. I play a little Gypsy Jazz, well...until my fingers so "not any more" because of the Focal Dystonia...and I admire fast but with grace and emotion, nor just fast for the sake of fast. This guy has it and your music does, too.

Terrific music, my friend! Loved every note...and the intro was super! Thanks for the YouTube link.

You never fail to impress me. It's always a pleasure clicking onto one of your songs! best to ya...

Al & Di

Hi Dean,

"Very stylish, very classy, so smooth, musical ambrosia" were just some of the phrases that faded in and out of my mind as I listened. There's no doubting the fact that you are a talented composer, arranger and performer. I loved the bass intro and the bending note.

I can't believe that 3:54 disappeared so quickly.

In a nutshell, this work was a delight to listen to.

All the best,
Noel

I listened to this fine composition the other day, Dean, and again this morning. You are so technically and musically advanced, I struggle to find something to say. Looking through the comments, I think Noel captured my sentiments.

Languishing on a "Procrastinator" album seems appropriate. I know of Wayne Shorter mostly from Steely Dan tunes. I believe he also played on THE END OF THE INNOCENCE for Don Henley, and did beautiful work for Joni Mitchell on TURBULENT INDIGO. This is a great tune, and I love your take on it!!! Very sweet indeed!! Keep posting. Take care. Greg

Hi Olemon,

You have paid me such a profound compliment that I, myself, don't know how to respond other than to reply with a deeply felt Thank You.

Dean

Thank you Noel.

Did you notice that RIO does not have the AABA form, but it's one of those exceptions that prove the rule. I've been thinking about your interesting comments on the AABA structure, so the next post will have this feature. I think you'll like it.

Dean

Al and Di,

Hi folks. I hope all is well. Such wonderful compliments. Thank you so much.

Dean

Greg, I wish I had thought of that ironic twist . I'm very pleased that you liked my take on it.

Dean