Is It Jazz or Something More Seditious?

[Elderguilder]

League of Crafty Guitarists

I just came across this 1988 video of Robert Fripp, of King Crimson fame, and his group "The League of Crafty Guitarists."

One of the comments read "Fripp is like Phil Spector, but without the gun fetish and emotions. He's a highly functional sociopathic musical genius." That probably sums up this musical style, which is quite mesmerizing. Amazing guitar work!!!
John

 

[walrus]

I hope they got a deal on all those Ovations!

The craziest thing is they are all playing in Fripp's "New Standard Tuning".

https://geargods.net/tutorials/robert-fripp-new-standard-tuning-guitar/

walrus

 

[Brad Little]

Sounds like they've been listening to Terry Riley, at least the opening part.

 

[geoguy]

Reminded me of Leo Kottke.

 

[awagner]

My first guitar teacher was a member (the bearded one playing on the third song). Fun to see this again after several decades.

 

[richardp69]

My first guitar teacher was a member (the bearded one playing on the third song). Fun to see this again after several decades.

You don't do anything half way do you.

 

[awagner]

I wasn't learning that stuff.

 

[Guildedagain]

Buddy of mine that organized all the open mike jams - and wanted me there - all over town and farther way back in the day had an Ovation, and would tell him, his guitar there on the stand "Mike, you got a standing Ovation". I just really never got tired of that joke ;]]]

In the first few seconds of the video it's immediately apparent that guitars can really sound awful when taken too far out of the classical or blues context, and that if I had woken up as Steve Howe one morning, that is probably exactly what I would sound like. For me, he was prototypical, others came later, Yes was just far enough out there for me that it was still very enjoyable music.

 

[jp]

It's a cult.

 

[Bernie]

League of Crafty Guitarists

I just came across this 1988 video of Robert Fripp, of King Crimson fame, and his group "The League of Crafty Guitarists."

One of the comments read "Fripp is like Phil Spector, but without the gun fetish and emotions. He's a highly functional sociopathic musical genius." That probably sums up this musical style, which is quite mesmerizing. Amazing guitar work!!!
John

Robert Fripp is a great guy, nothing to do with Phil Spector. I had the chance to take a 5 days course with him and the League of Crafty Gentlemen (I definitely recognise the guy in the middle, first piece - not sure about the other 2 -), and that was a very important experience in my musician's life. Probably the only person I think I met that was really a teacher (others would call that a master - "masters teach you how to be yourself, teachers teach what [or the little] they know" some would say)... It still brings me things to know after all these years ! www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhKJgqxNDD8

 

[walrus]

And now he does this:

(had to find an episode that would be considered "appropriate" for LTG)



walrus

 

[geoguy]

Walrus, I appreciate your diligence in carefully reviewing all of Robert & Toyah's videos that would be inappropriate for LTG.

 

[walrus]

Walrus, I appreciate your diligence in carefully reviewing all of Robert & Toyah's videos that would be inappropriate for LTG.

It was my pleasure!

walrus

 

[Uke]

I wonder who the "20th Century Schizoid Man" really was -- the guy with the guitar who usually sat way over to the side of the band, mainly in the dark?

 

[Uke]

And now he does this:

(had to find an episode that would be considered "appropriate" for LTG)



walrus

And I thought John and Yoko were a bit creepy at times!

 

[Bernie]

Robert Fripp usually plays Gibsons (when it comes to electrics), and this ain't a Gibson, so I dare think this is an imitation...Otherwise thinking that being in love could turn such a wise man into becoming this way, gosh !!!

 

[Prince of Darkness]

Robert Fripp usually plays Gibsons (when it comes to electrics), and this ain't a Gibson, so I dare think this is an imitation...Otherwise thinking that being in love could turn such a wise man into becoming this way, gosh !!!

Although he did historically play Gibsons, Robert Fripp now mainly plays a custom Fernandes Les Paul copy.

 

[Guildedagain]

Sir Robert?

 

[Bernie]

Possibly just stuck without being able to tour...More than seditious?, yes sidvicious. Toy plays boy, enjoy.., Boyb (the nap might be hot) !

 

[Midnight Toker]

Glad I got to see the last ever US Crimson show last year.
This was their last ever post show bows in Japan from Dec 8th. Have to admit, I got a bit choked up watching this when it was first posted. The look on Fripp's face tells it all. Thank you sir for all the great music!!



First time I saw him was on the Beat tour at Merriweather. Then the next year I saw a poster in Georgetown "Robert Fripp @ Georgetown University. We bought tickets right away thinking it was for a concert. It wound up being a 1 hr lecture and demonstration of "Frippertronics". Wound up being one of life's better disappointments.

(Btw, I just can't stand the tinny sound of an ovation. Never could, never will. )