Nonpareil Instrumental

One of my friends recently asked me who my favorite musicians were. I did ask to clarify if they were asking about vocal, non-vocal, or both. They confirmed on non-vocal. (I think they were baiting me in hopes that I would nerd out in some fashion. I did.)

Well, first off. My father and my grandfather were both responsible in capturing my musical ear. Playing drums, piano, accordion, and guitar. They were the ones that got to me first. Baptizing me into the world of “music instrument” magic. Teaching me each one in turn… though I didn’t want to learn the accordion. Sorry Mr. Yankovic.

Now, that being said. They both might have started the fire in my soul. But there are quite a few that are responsible for fanning the flames into a rapture blaze super nova inferno.

For me, Billie Holiday is at the top of the list in music (as stated in a previous post). But not part of the following list. Since the following artists are ones that play a physical instrument. I will say though that to me, none are “better” than each other. To me they are all equal in stature. Very different in talent and genre impact. So, I will name these people in order of when I learned of their existence. My all time top 5.

Paco de Lucía (guitar)

Freddie Hubbard (trumpet)

Martha Argerich (piano)

Neil Peart (drums) -Rush

Les Claypool (bass) -Primus, Colonel Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade, Oysterhead, The Claypool Lennon Delirium

Now those are my top five. But to be honest, there are so damn many that I adore. That the list would be ridiculously long. Including artists that have surfaced not 5 years ago. I will add to that “top 5” list though. Only because this artist actually inspired me to learn an instrument my father never considered to teach me to play. So top 6? It was the musician Ian Anderson. The music spiked my brain one afternoon when my dad brought home a new record. I had never heard of Jethro Tull before and was immediately hooked. Not one year later I was playing flute in a concert recital.

I do have to give honorable mention to David Byrne though. Not a dizzying guitarist like Joe Satriani, or Tony Iommi. But, his artistic style, musical intuition, and overall music theory vision floored me. Never saw or heard anything like his music back then, or since.

Ok. You know that artists come and go. Old musicians are great and for the most part pass on the torch to another musician that can play just as good or even better. The newer one sometimes being able to mimic the former’s style and expand on it, to make it their own.

There is one musician that I do not believe can be matched. To me, he is one that stands apart from all the others in his specific profession. His name is Les Claypool. When you hear Les play. You know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is him. No other musician played like him. No other currently can, and not be considered a cover. He even tried out for the bass position for Metallica back in the day. According to James Hetfield, Les didn’t get the gig because he was too damn good. Not long after, Primus released the album Frizzle Fry. The rest is history gold.

After that question was answered in ridiculous fashion. My friend asked me what my favorite bands were.

I just gave them the bird.