Best Instrumentalists?

[state of hockey]

What's the difference between instrumentalist vocalist and simply vocalist/singer?

What's the difference between an instrumentalist guitarist and a guitarist/guitar player?

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

Re: Best Instrumentalists?

Yes, vocals are an instrument. You can practice/train with them, therefore they're an instrument. Doesn't mean you can't be born with a leg up on talent, though.

Vocalists not mentioned: Geoff Tate, Chris Cornell, Rob Tyner, James Hetfield, Jeff Keith, and since I'm a bit ashamed I haven't named any women yet, let's go with Shirley Manson, Dusty Springfield, Mia Zapata, and if we're delving into other genres, then I'll add Annie Lennox and Mary Chapin Carpenter.

Aretha, Diana, and Whitney don't even need mentions.

[unofan]

What's the difference between an instrumentalist guitarist and a guitarist/guitar player?

I don't know. I'm asking.

[solovsfett]

Re: Best Instrumentalists?

Dan Kubinski for vocals, he and Cornell were shredders!

https://youtu.be/efrVb2Ec-zU

[The Rube]

Re: Best Instrumentalists?

Dan Kubinski for vocals, he and Cornell were shredders!

https://youtu.be/efrVb2Ec-zU

For vocalists, there are singers (Aretha, Prince, Freddie), and then there are wailers (Bon, Janis, Cornell). It's a difference in detail, but a big difference in definition, IMO.

[solovsfett]

For vocalists, there are singers (Aretha, Prince, Freddie), and then there are wailers (Bon, Janis, Cornell). It's a difference in detail, but a big difference in definition, IMO.

True. We should define the parameters of the argument more narrowly then? I agree on Aretha, Prince, Freddie, MJ (not mentioned yet), Adele, and hey! Streisand has a hell of a voice and now that o think of it, fuggen Art Garfunkel was great!

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

Re: Best Instrumentalists?

For vocalists, there are singers (Aretha, Prince, Freddie), and then there are wailers (Bon, Janis, Cornell). It's a difference in detail, but a big difference in definition, IMO.

That's very true. I thought about making that comparison between Tate and Cornell, TBH, as I feel Tate was more balanced.

I also feel like Myles Kennedy is the well-rounded best of the former two, with a strong whiff of Jeff Buckley on the lighter stuff.

While we're on the topic, I was just listening to The Bangles, and I feel like we can add Michael "Micki" Steele to the list of bassists (she previously bolted from The Runaways when she sensed that Kim Fowley was going to be a piece of sh*t - which he was). Some of those tracks on Different Light have a strong bass element that would ruin the song without it, particularly "Walk Like an Egyptian".

[The Rube]

Re: Best Instrumentalists?

That's very true. I thought about making that comparison between Tate and Cornell, TBH, as I feel Tate was more balanced.

I also feel like Myles Kennedy is the well-rounded best of the former two, with a strong whiff of Jeff Buckley on the lighter stuff.

While we're on the topic, I was just listening to The Bangles, and I feel like we can add Michael "Micki" Steele to the list of bassists (she previously bolted from The Runaways when she sensed that Kim Fowley was going to be a piece of sh*t - which he was). Some of those tracks on Different Light have a strong bass element that would ruin the song without it, particularly "Walk Like an Egyptian".

IMO, and here we go, have at it, it's tougher to be a great wailer. There has to be that balance of screaming/wailing, and singing. Watched the "90s" series on CNN via Netflix, and someone put it perfectly: Kurt Cobain could scream in tune. That is the definition of a wailer.

Edit: "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" (Unplugged) is a good example of that.

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

Re: Best Instrumentalists?

IMO, and here we go, have at it, it's tougher to be a great wailer. There has to be that balance of screaming/wailing, and singing. Watched the "90s" series on CNN via Netflix, and someone put it perfectly: Kurt Cobain could scream in tune. That is the definition of a wailer.

Edit: "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" (Unplugged) is a good example of that.

I've...I should say...grown to love Cobain, but that depends on your idea of "tune".

[The Rube]

Re: Best Instrumentalists?

I've...I should say...grown to love Cobain, but that depends on your idea of "tune".

Fair point. Bon wailed in tune. Janis, same. Kurt, almost had it, I'd say close enough. There's a younger artist, Jade Bird, that won't reach HOF status or anything, but she can sing AND wail, and color me impressed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytDVXNOu06c

Come to think of it, the band of the moment, Greta Van Fleet wails. In tune.

[Slap Shot]

Re: Best Instrumentalists?

Gin Wigmore.

[walrus]

Re: Best Instrumentalists?

Was watching a Chicago show from 1970, at Tanglewood, and the guy was a monster.


They were going wimpy before he died, but his death sealed the end of that band

Just bought that CD, another great tanglewood show is Santana, its a must watch.. Add Santana to great guitarists

[LynahFan]

Are you saying the voice isn't an instrument?

Yes.

Why not just say best musical performers if you want to invlude singers?

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

Re: Best Instrumentalists?

Yes, vocals are an instrument. You can practice/train with them, therefore they're an instrument. Doesn't mean you can't be born with a leg up on talent, though.

Merriam-Webster:

2a : a means whereby something is achieved, performed, or furthered


Vocal chords are an instrument. Sometimes, they're a gift of nature/genetics/a god/whatever you want to think. We're done here.

[solovsfett]

Re: Best Instrumentalists?

Layne Staley

https://youtu.be/qR0K0mmm6R4

Ann Wilson
https://youtu.be/HnhOv2PC68w