You hit a nerve here- I really liked the first three Tull albums, played in some bands that did covers, but lost interest in them rapidly after the marvelous "Benefit." Do you want to get to the roots of Anderson's flute playing? Then step outside of rock and dig up some Rahsaan Roland Kirk. That's where he got it all from, but Kirk was about a million times better on the instrument. Go listen to the flute solo on "Three for the Festival" if you want my point proved. I was a flute player, very serious about it, and pretty good. After the first time I saw Kirk live, I went home and threw up, I was so rattled by the intensity of his talent.
There was a group called Focus that did Tullish stuff, too, but I never warmed up to it.
There was a group called Focus that did Tullish stuff, too, but I never warmed up to it.
SY, I'm the same as you - loved the first three albums, hated the rest. I was so disgusted when "Aqualung" came out.
Ditto the Rahsaan recommendation too. And just as I was writing this, about to give a Blodwyn Pig recommendation, I refreshed my browser view, and there you already posted the same thing!
For jazz flute, Dolphy's "Far Cry" has two songs with unbelievable flute playing.
Ditto the Rahsaan recommendation too. And just as I was writing this, about to give a Blodwyn Pig recommendation, I refreshed my browser view, and there you already posted the same thing!
For jazz flute, Dolphy's "Far Cry" has two songs with unbelievable flute playing.
Haven't heard that one. I will definitely check it out though.
Back to the Tull thing, I still remember the first time I heard the song We used to know, which is still one of my favorite rock 'n roll songs ever. It gave me goosebumps and made the hair on my arms stand up on end, like static electricity. I was listening to it on a portable RCA stereo with a plastic tonearm. This thing folded up like a suitcase. The turntable part had a little latch which you'd release, and it would swing down to the horizontal position. The speakers were on hinges, and you'd rotate them 90 degrees to face you when you were ready to play it
Back to the Tull thing, I still remember the first time I heard the song We used to know, which is still one of my favorite rock 'n roll songs ever. It gave me goosebumps and made the hair on my arms stand up on end, like static electricity. I was listening to it on a portable RCA stereo with a plastic tonearm. This thing folded up like a suitcase. The turntable part had a little latch which you'd release, and it would swing down to the horizontal position. The speakers were on hinges, and you'd rotate them 90 degrees to face you when you were ready to play it
I was lucky and saw Tull on their first swing through the US. They were the warm-up act for a double-bill of The Who and Zep. They opened with "My Sunday Feeling" and I thought, "That guy ain't a great flute player, but I've suddenly got an idea about how to get a bit more work with local bands..."
To the original question, one other possibility is some of the earlier Fairport Convention stuff, especially if you're trying to recreate Tull in their pseudo-balladeer-rut phase.
To the original question, one other possibility is some of the earlier Fairport Convention stuff, especially if you're trying to recreate Tull in their pseudo-balladeer-rut phase.
And all this time I thought I was the only Tull fan that actually preferred their first couple albums over the rest of their work.....
This Was = one of my all time favorite albums. As for Andersen's playing abilities, I think his gritty, un-polished, improvisational style is exactly what makes it so appealing.
Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll check them out.
This Was = one of my all time favorite albums. As for Andersen's playing abilities, I think his gritty, un-polished, improvisational style is exactly what makes it so appealing.
Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll check them out.
Theodossii Spassov
This Bulgarian is my current favorite flute player. His instrument of choice is the kaval, which is an end-blown shepherd's flute.
His style incorporates the odd time signatures and melodic structure of traditional Bulgarian music with western jazz traditions. He won a Grammy in 1994 as part of the "Mysterious Bulgarian Voices" recording.
He does some amazing things with his kaval.
I remember one quote that compared his Trio work to a jam session between Thelonius Monk and Ian Anderson.
Cody
This Bulgarian is my current favorite flute player. His instrument of choice is the kaval, which is an end-blown shepherd's flute.
His style incorporates the odd time signatures and melodic structure of traditional Bulgarian music with western jazz traditions. He won a Grammy in 1994 as part of the "Mysterious Bulgarian Voices" recording.
He does some amazing things with his kaval.
I remember one quote that compared his Trio work to a jam session between Thelonius Monk and Ian Anderson.
Cody
I have to say that I actually like most of Jethro Tull's music, though I agree that Benefit and This Was are two of their best.
There was a Canadian band in the early 70s that sounded quite Tullish, but more like their middle work. The band's name was Gentle Giant. I recommend the album "Octapus."
There is a record by Sonny Fortune called Awakenings, on which he plays a flute with a wha pedal. It's pretty neat.
There was a Canadian band in the early 70s that sounded quite Tullish, but more like their middle work. The band's name was Gentle Giant. I recommend the album "Octapus."
There is a record by Sonny Fortune called Awakenings, on which he plays a flute with a wha pedal. It's pretty neat.
Check out anything from that Great Irish band from the 70's, Horslips.
Especially their album, "Book of Invasions: A Celtic Symphony"
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...67236/sr=ka-2/ref=pd_ka_2/103-4299848-9615811
Great stuff.
Especially their album, "Book of Invasions: A Celtic Symphony"
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...67236/sr=ka-2/ref=pd_ka_2/103-4299848-9615811
Great stuff.
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