Nels Cline

[IceTre]

This guy keeps popping up everywhere. Everything I read about him is good, but I've never heard his music. Somebody give me a Nels Cline 101 Class Syllabus. And a CD buying list. Yes, I'm weird, I still buy CDs. I'm ok with the guy making a little bit of money.

 

[Chrome Dinette]

He's done a lot of great music. Try Initiate. It's two discs, one studio, one live and ranges from quite accessible to out-there.

 

[Misterbulbous]

probably the most popular example here...

 

[Roccorobb]

I would suggest giant pin as an introduction. Great album, classic Nels Cline singers.

 

[vanderkalin]

Mike Watt, "Contemplating the Engine Room" I think it's called. Beautifully pitchy, dawg! Listened to it a lot back in the day. Oh yeah, and Merry Christmas!

 

[seiko]

"Chest" is the best of the Nels Cline trio records.

 

[randall g]

He was 2 years ahead of me in high school - always was very good. He and his brother played in the High School jazz band which took some real chops. He had a walnut 335 and was really into Yes, which is how I first started talking to him - very nice and humble guy. Go see him whenever you can. Nice to see a true music fanatic making it.

 

[direwolf]

 

[pacemaker]

Mike Watt, "Contemplating the Engine Room" I think it's called.

This is a personal favorite of mine - works especially well if you're into the Minutemen. I think this kind of music is a better showcase for Nels' style than Wilco, where he seems more a square peg in a round hole...

 

[fitz]

Although Nels playing is a little tame in Wilco, it sure fits in with the band. He is a unique talented guitarist with incredible chops.

 

[RickC]

Four musicians I appreciate and admire, from completely different contexts. Would never have guessed in a million years they had done something together. Wow

 

[seiko]

Four musicians I appreciate and admire, from completely different contexts. Would never have guessed in a million years they had done something together. Wow

Nels frequently guests with Campilongo on his regular Monday night show at Rockwood. He played with Jim a couple of weeks ago, they played a delightfully twisted version of "Caravan" amongst a bunch of other stuff.

 

[Prof.Fuzz]

The Banyan records are pretty great too. Nels. Mike Watt. Stephen Perkins (Jane's Addiction).

 

[tedm]

Here's a vid my bud Ray took, I can definitely pick out some specific effects:

 

[IceTre]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll get on it!

 

[cubistguitar]

being a coltrane fan I was always taken with his Interstellar Space revisited record

 

[rwe333]

Great thread... Yeah, start w/ those "Impossible Germany" solos and then check the myriad cool recs in this thread.

Saw him a couple of summers ago at The Stone in NYC w/ Elliott Sharp.

 

[Bassomatic]

Loved his work with Jenny Scheinman's Mischief and Mayhem.

 

[marvin cobain]

being a coltrane fan I was always taken with his Interstellar Space revisited record

and since I'm a huge fan of Andrew Hill I really appreciated "New monastery". Maybe more the idea than the music, but it was great to see someone playing Andrew Hill, that isn't something that happens very often, and even better to see it done with an electric guitar for me.
Anyway it's clear that Cline it's not one of those guys that is just a player, he really loves music and he has wide and interesting tastes. I discovered Attila Zoller reading an interview with him.

 

[Avenger]

I'm a huge fan. Here are some of my favorites:

Solo: Coward

Nels Cline Singers: Initiate, Macroscope

With Julian Lage: Room

With Medeski, Martin and Wood: Woodstock Sessions Vol. II