My nominee for the most eclectic artist

[Unseen]

I can't think of one more eclectic. This girl plays just about every style (on violin). I've assembled a few clips (there are dozens more on YouTube because she's quite famous outside the US).

I'll state the very obvious before you begin, which is that she's VERY easy on the eyes and takes every advantage of it, so don't lose sight of the fact that she's a very accomplished musician who recognizes few musical boundaries and, as in the last selection, isn't embarrassed to put down her violin and shake her booty:

Classical (Bach's Toccata & Fugue):


Pop (Mason Williams' Classical Gas):


Country/Western (trad Cotton Eye Joe):


Reggae (Mason Williams' Classical Gas):


Tango (Walter Taieb's Tango de los Exilados):


Rock (sitting in on The Scorpions' Still Loving You):


Techno/Dance (Donna Summers' I Feel Love):

[klasaine]

I'm in a surly mood so don't take this the wrong way ...
She's a hack.
She's very cute, I'm glad she's got no problem marketing herself (nor do I with her marketing herself - go get that money!), and she puts in a lot of work. But she's really not very good at any of it. Not offensive (which is actually even worse) but just not really much of anything going on.

[Roli]

Can she improvise?


.

[Unseen]

Originally Posted by klasaine

I'm in a surly mood so don't take this the wrong way ...
She's a hack.
She's very cute, I'm glad she's got no problem marketing herself (nor do I with her marketing herself - go get that money!), and she puts in a lot of work. But she's really not very good at any of it. Not offensive (which is actually even worse) but just not really much of anything going on.

I can't take offense because you're ignoring my point: I said she was the most eclectic performer I was aware of, not that she was the world's greatest at everything she did.

I do think "hack" is a bit hyperbolic, though. I think she a journeyman on the violin if not a master, not a hack.

And let's measure her by the standard she obviously strives toward: she may be a journeyman violinist, but she's a master entertainer. Compare her more to a performer like Liberace than one like Itzhak Perlman.

[winny pooh]

Nah, Neil Young is IMO a pretty eclectic musician, Rock, folk, proto-punk, electronic music and Rockabilly. Not quite the same as being a jukebox when you write your own music.

[holndav]

Can't see the vids b/c they're blocked at my work but if we're using the term in its purest sense, is she selecting the best from various styles to use in her own style or is she just playing different styles?

My vote for most eclectic both musically and personally would be David Lindley

For artists who combines lots of styles into one, think Leftover Salmon, Bela Fleck, or maybe even Sam Bush.

I'm not a huge fan but from what I've seen the String Cheese Incident is also pretty eclectic.

JMHO...

David

[Telemaniac]

Originally Posted by klasaine

I'm in a surly mood so don't take this the wrong way ...
She's a hack.

On what basis? Vanessa Mae may market herself in a provocative way, and she may not "only" play pure classical music, and she may be successful (a guarantee that she will be slated by many here), but I don't think that I have ever heard her described as a hack violinist. In fact, the reverse, according to most crtical acclaim that I have read or heard. I don't profess to being able to define the difference between a very, very good violinist and whatever the next level up is so I would be interested in hearing why you felt that she isn't any good.

How would you describe Nigel Kennedy?

[FMA]

I don't know about this girl, but I'd second David Lindley and add Ry Cooder.

[rand z]

bill frisell

[Stackabones]

Tommy Tedesco.

[Unseen]

Originally Posted by holndav

Can't see the vids b/c they're blocked at my work but if we're using the term in its purest sense, is she selecting the best from various styles to use in her own style or is she just playing different styles?

My vote for most eclectic both musically and personally would be David Lindley

For artists who combines lots of styles into one, think Leftover Salmon, Bela Fleck, or maybe even Sam Bush.

I'm not a huge fan but from what I've seen the String Cheese Incident is also pretty eclectic.

JMHO...

David

Lindley is one of my favorite musicians. He plays originals and covers, and the strange thing about his originals is that (because he's such a student of American musical idioms) the first time you hear one of his songs, you have this funny feeling of familiarity, even when you know you're hearing it for the first time.

He was in Kaleidoscope, I believe, a band roughly from the same era as The British Invasion. That was a very ectlectic band, so he was off to an eclectic start right from the beginning.

BTW, I have a friend who goes to DL concerts whenever he can, and he goes to lots of concerts. He tells me DL's concerts are the loudest concerts he's ever attended.

[Unseen]

Originally Posted by Telemaniac

On what basis? Vanessa Mae may market herself in a provocative way, and she may not "only" play pure classical music, and she may be successful (a guarantee that she will be slated by many here), but I don't think that I have ever heard her described as a hack violinist. In fact, the reverse, according to most crtical acclaim that I have read or heard. I don't profess to being able to define the difference between a very, very good violinist and whatever the next level up is so I would be interested in hearing why you felt that she isn't any good.

How would you describe Nigel Kennedy?

Yeah, I think it's the jealousy of success thing one runs into here where if someone is popular and successful, it must be because they're a hack. If you go to YouTube, you'll find her playing a few Paganinis, not music a real hack could bring off very well. They are among the acid test pieces for violinists.

Vanessa Mae suffers from a prejudice many have against sexy girls being successful at performing. You run into the same attitude toward Shania Twain here. People don't like that she's a crossover artist and has become phenomenally popular to a wide audience and didn't limit herself to just being a country artist. But, to me, she has the most heavenly female voice on earth and if one sees her in one of her several live performance videos, one realizes she's one hell of an entertainer, too. Charisma out the wazoo, charming as hell, and she sounds as good live as she does in her recordings.

[Slow Reflexes]

Meh.

She certainly isn't bad; obviously she plays the instrument quite well. Just doesn't really seem to have anything special on it.

[neocaster]

I was just getting disgusted today about a hate thread for Celine Dion. Some established musicians refuse to participate here due to the hate/jealousy BS. It seems like the greater the scope of success, the more disrespectful the expression of hate or distaste becomes. I don't remember reading in the forum guidelines that the "respect other people" thing was reserved for how we treat one another. It's sickening.

I had occassion a few years back to walk into a room when somebody had their back to me and was saying some really mean things about me. I try not to hate, but I was kinda happy when that guy took a summer job roofing and got hurt really badly when he fell off a ladder. Broke his back, I was told. One of those guys who worked his butt off just to be cooler than everyone else. I don't need to put down the haters. Sooner or later, they'll do it to themselves. Maybe the same awaits me. Who knows.

The point of that story is that since then, I try not to say things about people that I wouldn't say to their face, their parents, or their children. Try it.

[klasaine]

I just don't think she's very good at ANY of the things she's doing - not too mention the absolute tastelessness of those orchestral arrangements. Hence, 'hack'. *My opinion only*. I got no issues with her success - awesome, go for it!
But there's a million 17 year olds out there doing the same thing. And many are a lot better at it. Frankly, her 'legit' (classical) playing wouldn't get her into a conservatory or high-end university music program.

Doing a lot of different things - all mediocre - does not make you eclectic.

Picasso was 'eclectic'. Bill Frisell is 'eclectic'. Frank Lloyd Wright was 'eclectic'.

I have no problem with her being sexy or hot or whatever. And, personally, I really like Shania Twain. Shania "sings" and has a unique thing that helped to define the 'modern country' genre. You recognize her voice when you hear it.
Vanessa Mae is like River Dance, or all that other pseudo-Celtic pablum that's on public TV.

[Unseen]

Originally Posted by klasaine

I just don't think she's very good at ANY of the things she's doing - not too mention the absolute tastelessness of those orchestral arrangements. Hence, 'hack'. *My opinion only*. I got no issues with her success - awesome, go for it!
But there's a million 17 year olds out there doing the same thing. And many are a lot better at it. Frankly, her 'legit' (classical) playing wouldn't get her into a conservatory or high-end university music program.

Doing a lot of different things - all mediocre - does not make you eclectic.

Picasso was 'eclectic'. Bill Frisell is 'eclectic'. Frank Lloyd Wright was 'eclectic'.

I have no problem with her being sexy or hot or whatever. And, personally, I really like Shania Twain. Shania "sings" and has a unique thing that helped to define the 'modern country' genre. You recognize her voice when you hear it.
Vanessa Mae is like River Dance, or all that other pseudo-Celtic pablum that's on public TV.

Once again, I think you're missing the point: She's an entertainer and an eclectic pop artist more than a classical soloist. And I think while she's not at the absolute pinnacle of musicianship, calling her a hack is just being milquetoasty to the nth degree.

She's an entertainer, she's fun to watch, she's obviously having fun. I don't see a need to pee on her parade and insist that every violinist be competition for Itzhak Perlman. Let's face it, not even Allison Kraus or Doug Kershaw can live up to that standard! And Allison has been ecllectic enough to be recording and playing with Robert Plant (Led Zep) lately. And I don't think Allison would blow VM off the stage. In fact, I think she'd love be on the stage with her and trade some licks.

I just don't get your hostility.

[mellecaster]

Originally Posted by Unseen

Yeah, I think it's the jealousy of success thing one runs into here where if someone is popular and successful, it must be because they're a hack. If you go to YouTube, you'll find her playing a few Paganinis, not music a real hack could bring off very well. They are among the acid test pieces for violinists.

Vanessa Mae suffers from a prejudice many have against sexy girls being successful at performing. You run into the same attitude toward Shania Twain here. People don't like that she's a crossover artist and has become phenomenally popular to a wide audience and didn't limit herself to just being a country artist. But, to me, she has the most heavenly female voice on earth and if one sees her in one of her several live performance videos, one realizes she's one hell of an entertainer, too. Charisma out the wazoo, charming as hell, and she sounds as good live as she does in her recordings.

As I'm sure you already know...you pretty much nailed it, I've seen these type of threads around here for quite a few years...and Acts that most have never heard of, or sorely lacking in Talent, are often praised to the Skies...for the sole reason that they haven't "Sold out Man"..... ....it comes a lot from the Sandal wearing Ponytail Crowd....ever wonder what they Really listen to, when no one is around ???