Interesting article about this from Slate Magazine

[www.slate.com]

The whole article is worth a read but the extract below particularly intrigued me


John likely enjoyed talking with Brian, perhaps the most musically gifted and deeply knowledgeable member of the Stones. When the two fell into conversation they discovered that they both had infant sons named Julian. (Lennon’s son was only six days old.) But Jones’ musical knowledge could also be intimidating. Years later, Lennon recalled the moment that night when Brian asked him whether it was a harmonica or a harp that he’d played on “Love Me Do.”


Oblivious to the subtle distinction between the two instruments, Lennon answered, “A harmonica with a button,” meaning a chromatic harmonica, of the type that was used by the jazz and big band acts of the ’40s and ’50s. (Lennon had shoplifted it from a music store in Arnhem, Holland, in 1960.) A “harp,” or diatonic harmonica, offers fewer notes, but allows players to get a wailing bluesy sound by bending pitches. All the classical bluesmen used harps, and an aficionado like Jones likely would have regarded chromatic harmonicas as passé.


Brian, perhaps the most musically gifted and deeply knowledgeable member of the Stones

mmmm-debatable!

From what I've read, Brian knew music theory and probably music reading, having studied the Clarinet and maybe other instruments, and he was into Jazz early on.

Seeing that Brian knew music theory, it probably helped him when he was jumping instruments, although he only played these instruments in a basic/intermediate way and was not really a specialist on them.

The Julian name is from Cannonball Adderley.

Brian got onto the Blues after Jazz and etc etc.

Someone knowing music theory and music reading, doesn't mean that they can write songs which the Stones were more about after their Blues cover start off period.

Keith would have known none or hardly any theory and wouldn't have been able to read music and Mick would have been the same as Keith but they could bang a song together.








Edited 6 time(s). Last edit at 2013-04-17 15:27 by howled.

Quote
ozziestone
mmmm-debatable!

The author does not disagree with you, hence the use of the qualifier "perhaps".



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013-04-17 18:16 by Goldsmith.