When you're young, the most important musicians are the one's you can see live. Famous
musicians could be in town every weekend, but I couldn't afford to see them. Live beats
famous all day long when your only option for the famous is what you have at home to play
them on.
Although we can't all share the local musicians I saw every weekend, I can tell you about
them, and you can tell me about the musicians where you are. Of course Frogman is exempt
since he lives in New York.
"Leo's 5" was one of my favorite groups, along with the "Trio Trebien", I saw them quite
often; this is when I was much younger in the 60's, and that certainly made a difference.
"Sam Lazarr" was a local musician I enjoyed. This gives you an idea of what I heard. Nothing compares to being on a live set with friends or a beautiful lady, all dressed elegantly in the fashions of the day. It seems I particularly liked the warm sound of guitar and organ when it was below 0 and snow outside. There's something exhilarating about an organ that can not be duplicated on the set up at home, even when it's "high end".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-tAMbi54-0"Eddie Fisher" was an artist I saw often, he could work that "Third Cup" in and out so many different ways for an hour, and nobody would be tired of it; that's the mark of a great musician. Everybody knew Eddie Fisher was a great musician except "Eddie Fisher".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuAQFFOuy3cAs I'm listening to it, what it means to be on a live is coming to me; easy going soft conversation about the music and musicians, nothing ever loud enough to disturb the music. That warm feeling you get when you're in the company of like minded people.
Alex and Frogman, you both came up with so many "truths" in regard to why some people make the grade in regard to great, that you agree on, why don't you let me deal with what you don't agree on.
Enjoy the music.