mka800 (August 29, 2008 at 8:32 am)

Damn straight! He just took us to school. Problem is, I the only lesson I learned was I'll never fucking be able to get close to this.

papineauta (August 25, 2008 at 7:05 pm)

that's how you play

zwrdl (August 24, 2008 at 4:30 am)

Oh, I have no quarrel with what you say about the emotional content. I'm just stating a preference for the more traditional approach for this type of song "in this place," as you out it. But I am not the man with the instrument. I think there is room in the realm of great music by superior artists for both renditions. also think that if Tony had decided that a traditional interpretation was what his mood dictated, I have no doubt it would be among the best. I simply wish he had.

JoJaDaRu (August 24, 2008 at 3:58 am)

Some of what you say is true. There is a time and place for traditional interpretations though. And Tony has done that plenty of times with all the same "longing, poignancy and sadness" but this is not that place. A man is taking an honest feel for a song he has known all his life and applying all he has learned to the art of re-realizing this piece in a way that represents him. If you can' t see the "emotion" in that then I can't help you.

rickumali (August 23, 2008 at 2:16 am)

Boy, that's a shame. I didn't realize this. His album "Me & My Guitar" won me over, and it wasn't just his astounding guitar playing, but his voice as well.

ottlakerambler (August 18, 2008 at 12:41 pm)

Unbelievable -- notice he's both flatpicking and fingerpicking.

conan1dave (August 9, 2008 at 4:51 am)

Regarding Tony's voice, I believe he suffers from a condition called dysphonia, wherin the vocal cords collapse. Unknown cause, no permanent cure. No drug problem that I've heard of. Twas a great voice in days gone past.

zwrdl (August 7, 2008 at 7:08 pm)

See previous post. Also compare to Jo Stafford's version on YouTube. (Robeson's version is there as well.) You can see that the sung version is almost in a different genre. The orchestra behind Stafford does not complicate the melody, nor approach the complexity of the jazz version. Maybe I'm on the wrong track here, or maybe it's just personal preference, but I like to hear old ballads interpreted instrumentally with the same emotional tone as the "originals." It can be done.

zwrdl (August 7, 2008 at 6:44 pm)

No question that Mr. Rice is a master. No question that his interpretation and arrangement are brilliant, his playing flawless. But if you have ever heard Shenandoah sung as the simple ballad it is by, say, Paul Robeson, you realize that Rice's version has sacrificed the feeling of longing, poignancy and sadness for a display of virtuosity which he could hang on *any* melody. IMHO, his rendition is no longer Shenandoah, but a jazz piece based on it. Good version, but not the same song.

jonnythewaffleman (July 26, 2008 at 8:22 pm)

Awesome