It's hard to imagine Jimi Hendrix at 75 years of age. In our collective consciousness he remains 27 -- an iconoclastic, bombastic showman who changed the course of modern music.
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix) came to the world on November 27, 1942. He was known as Jimi Hendrix from 1966 until his death in 1970. Prior to that time he worked often under the name Jimmy James as a session guitarist and supporting musician for several R&B acts.
Here he is as Jimi James working as a backup guitarist in 1965
He was an electrifying performer who understood the power of showmanship, but he was also a uniquely gifted guitarist, a cutting edge audio innovator, and a perfectionist and wizard in the studio.
A Year Later on German TV as Jimi Hendrix in 1966
What's left to share about Jimi Hendrix, one of the most iconic rock musicians who ever lived? Some of you might not know this. According to Jimi Hendrix’s imdb bio, his father considered left-handedness a sign of the devil and forced him to write with his right-hand. His bother also recounted that he played guitar right-handed when his father was around. He is reported to have retained the ability to play guitar right-handed, and also to play left-handed without restringing if he had to.
A Year Later His Big American Debut in 1967
Perhaps some jazz lovers aren't aware that Jimi Hendrix and Miles Davis jammed together on a few occasions at Davis' apartment, and had planned to record together. But it gets even more interesting. At the Hard Rock Cafe in Prague there is a telegram on display from Jimi Hendrix to Paul McCartney, sent to Apple Records on October 21, 1969 which reads:
"We are recording an LP together this weekend in NewYork. How about coming in to play bass. call Alvan Douglas 212-5812212. Peace Jimi Hendrix Miles Davis Tony Williams." It's doubtful that McCartney received the telegram as he was on vacation, but talk about a super-group.
Miles Davis also wrote in his memoir that at the time of Hendrix's death, he and Gil Evans were in Europe planning a recording session with Hendrix. The mind reels at what might have been.
At His Absolute Best
Here is Jimi Hendrix's cover of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower"—an extraordinary achievement. Hendrix spent six months overdubbing and substituting tracks trying to get the perfect sound. Proving that necessity is the mother of invention, after trying everything in sight, he used to lighter to get the slide sound he was hearing in his head. The web has a wealth of information and audio outtakes from this song, but be warned, you may get lost in a cyber rabbit hole.
The lead photo is a highly altered version of a Billboard photo -- effects by @roused
Portions of the text from my AllAboutJazz article and my Jazzamatazz article Left-Handed Blues
All Along The Watchtower is on of my favourite songs. Just the intro alone is killer!
His vocals aren't always the best, and some people dislike them. But I think his voice fits his way of playing the guitar.
Good post!
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Completely agree. Given the technology 50 years ago, it is an amazing achievement. You're right, the intro in and of itself is extraordinary, and his voice fit what he did, no doubt about it.
Thanks for stopping by!
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Für viele ist er der "Gitarrengott", jedenfalls war er einer der größten und einflussreichsten Musiker!
Jimi Hendrix & Miles Davis - klingt vielversprechend! Schade, dass es nicht mehr zu einer gemeinsamen Aufnahme gekommen ist.
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Jimi, Miles, & Gil Evans who did the arrangements for "Miles Ahead", "Porgy and Bess" and "Sketches of Spain." :-) That would have been amazing.
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I meant to write about him for his birthday but just couldn't find a moment. So happy to see your awesome tribute to a dream musician, a man I would love to meet on the other side of the rainbow bridge :)
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I'm guessing he is jammin' with an amazing group ;-)
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A forever outstanding artist! Thanks for this great article about him!
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Negative Feedback - Die volle Breitseite :)
Gut, man wird mich jetzt hassen. Man wird mich ausgrenzen, ausstoßen und - diskriminieren. Man wird mich foltern oder gar elektrokutieren. Aber ich sage meine Meinung: Jimi Hendrix war ein absolut mittelprächtiger und ausgesprochen primitiver Straßenschläger.
Ohne Notenkenntnisse, mehr schlecht als recht rein seinem Gusto nach, nur frei nach Gehör; und mit dem Daumen die E-Bass Saite greifen. Wie viele andere seines Genres konnte auch Hendrix nur das spielen, was er sich selbst ausgedacht oder lange abgehört hatte. Das ist keine Leistung, keine Kunst, das ist Simulation. Ich würde ihm zu gerne eine von Bachs leichten Etüden in die Hand drücken. Die Antwort wäre... wie ein Affe hinter den Ohren kratzen?
Saunt, Saunt, Saunt (ich weiß, man schreibt es Sound), kuhl (ja, ich weiß es doch, cool), geil, brutal jaulend. Distortion. Overdrive. Wah-Wah. Die Gitarre anzünden, zertrümmern, kuhl! Aber - - warum eigentlich? Weil er mit seinem Latein am Ende war? Hey Joe, you are boring.
Selbst unter den Straßenschlägern gab und gibt es viele, die rein technisch mit höherer Begabung gesegnet waren oder sind. Nein, keine Namen, das ist kein infantiles Quartett. Es geht mir auch nicht um Geschmack. Kein Aber. Wenn auch in verzerrter Form, so schlug Eugene Jack Butler mit Paganini. :) Für Hendrix wäre das vollkommen, total, absolut und jenseits aller begründeten Zweifel völlig unerreichbar gewesen.
Aber was machte Hendrix aus? Die Segnung seiner indianisch-afrikanischen Abstammung vielleicht? Ein früher SJW? Seine Dekadenz? Der Rauschgiftkonsum? Seine Grobschlächtigkeit im Umgang mit dem Instrument? Sein früher Tod? Weil er ein stammer Vietnam-Veteran gewesen ist? Alles zusammen: das bizarre Image! Er war und ist einer der kraushaarigen Spinner der 68er. Die Ikone der Asozialen, die sich mit buchstäblich nichts außer dem Wohlwollen der Produzenten an die Spitze jener Zeitgenossen gefickt haben, die heute unser Land zerstören.
Ich kenne eine Zwölfjährige, die den Riff von Fire schneller und sauberer spielt als er, um danach, in aller Kontemplation, klassische Gitarre zu üben.
Jimi, https://tinyurl.com/y7qksuny
;)
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