Voting for Solo of the Month (SotM) #34

stratman3142

Welcome to the voting thread for Solo of the Month (SotM) #34

Voting will end on 11.30pm 31st March 2018.

Feel free to vote and comment in this thread.

Vote for your top 3 entries! If you're an entrant you can't vote for yourself.

1st choice gets 5 points

2nd choice gets 3 points

3rd choice gets 1 point

You can find all the entries the playlist below:

https://soundcloud.com/thefretboard/sets/sotm34-2018-03

stratman3142

Below is a link to the chat thread which gives some info and comments on the submissions.

http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/126270/solo-of-the-month-sotm-34-chat/p1

There are the following entrants, but you don't have to be an entrant to vote or comment. It's open to everyone.

@flying_pie ;@Bellycaster ;@stratman3142 ;@Rowby1 ;@Brad ;@mudslide73 ;
@DulcetJones ;@fastonebaz ;@ChrisRG ;@markv ;@Veganic ;

flying_pie

That was really tough to choose just 3. Great playing all round and licks worth stealing from every single entry. I'll go with 

5 points - @Bellycaster ;
3 points - @Brad ;
1 point -   @ChrisRG ;

Rowby1

Short on time again so no time for a detailed score today I’m afraid. 

@Brad - 5 points.

@stratman3142 - 3 points.

@ChrisRG - 1 point.

Well done all round though folks.

fastonebaz

@Rowby1 = 5 points

@Brad = 3 points

@Stratman3142 = 1 point

I liked elements of all of them and there were some gems of phrases littered throughout. In particular though:

Rowby1 - THis was the biggest ear worm for me, that James Bond-esque tremolo effect over a simple riff stuck with me.

Brad - Now there's a guy who clearly knows his jazz scales.  Every not sounded deliberate and as important, no, more important than the one that preceded it.

Stratman3142 = Sounded very well composed with some nice phrasing.  I'm sure he could play this again note for note without any trouble.

cheers

mudslide73

@Brad ; = 5 points

@stratman3142 = 3 points

@Rowby1 = 1 point

Again Brad shows his greatness in an understated way. Some really lovely touches without beating us all up too badly. You've shown a real understanding of the track too.

Stratman3142 - Fits the piece really well - again demoing how to be understated but showing you've got the chops if you need them. Great as always.

Rowby1 - I agree with @fastonebaz in that it could be a detective show theme. Another lesson in listening to the music and playing something understated and memorable. If this were a themed brief you'd have had 5pts from me all day.

Some great stuff all through this month again.

DulcetJones

5  Points - @fastonebaz ;

   3 Points - @stratman3142 

  1 Point - @Brad 

Fretwired

5 points to @Rowby1 - loved this sounds like a big old Gretsch with a bigsby .. cool

3 points to @Brad - cool solo with some great runs and jazz flavoured chords

1 point to @DulcetJones ; - a slow burn solo

fastonebaz

@Rowby1 ; = 5 points

@Brad = 3 points

@stratman3142  = 1 point

I liked elements of everyones, there were some gems of a phrase in most pieces but the reasons I choose these:

Rowby1 - I found this was the biggest earworm for me.  That James Bond-esque tremolo effect over a simple riff caught in my mind.

Brad - Now there's a guy who knows his jazz scales, i like jazz scales, each note sounded deliberate.

Stratman3142 - This piece was well planned out and composed and I'm sure could be replayed virtually note for note each time. I liked it.

fastonebaz

@Rowby1 ; = 5 points

@Brad = 3 points

@stratman3142  = 1 point

I liked elements of everyones, there were some gems of a phrase in most pieces but the reasons I choose these:

Rowby1 - I found this was the biggest earworm for me.  That James Bond-esque tremolo effect over a simple riff caught in my mind.

Brad - Now there's a guy who knows his jazz scales, i like jazz scales, each note sounded deliberate.

Stratman3142 - This piece was well planned out and composed and I'm sure could be replayed virtually note for note each time. I liked it.

fastonebaz

Not sure why i voted 3 times. Technical glitch there. 

Brad

@Rowby1 5 points - Moody and atmospheric. Great tone, phrasing, note choice and restraint. Very tasty as per usual!

@ChrisRG 3 points - Lovely statement that you played off against during the first half of the solo, from there building up intensity with some great lines. A nicely developed and cohesive solo.

@fastonebaz 1 point - Pure, unashamed shred! Reminds me a little of Satriani in places and sounds like this just flowed out, I like that kind of honesty in a solo.

Some good stuff again and really tough to narrow it down to just the 3. Maybe we should allow a 4th entrant to share a score?!

flying_pie

Brad said:

Some good stuff again and really tough to narrow it down to just the 3. Maybe we should allow a 4th entrant to share a score?!

Agreed. And I think that's a good idea. 2 third places each with a point?

Brad

flying_pie said:

Brad said:

Some good stuff again and really tough to narrow it down to just the 3. Maybe we should allow a 4th entrant to share a score?!

Agreed. And I think that's a good idea. 2 third places each with a point?

Yeah that's the idea, or the joint score could be in any position, but only at the discretion of the voter. So if a voter feels it's pretty clear cut, no need for a joint score. So it's to be used wisely. But there have been many times where I've felt solos deserve at least a point, many 3 points and some sharing 5 points occasionally. 

stratman3142

Brad said:

flying_pie said:

Brad said:

Some good stuff again and really tough to narrow it down to just the 3. Maybe we should allow a 4th entrant to share a score?!

Agreed. And I think that's a good idea. 2 third places each with a point?

Yeah that's the idea, or the joint score could be in any position, but only at the discretion of the voter. So if a voter feels it's pretty clear cut, no need for a joint score. So it's to be used wisely. But there have been many times where I've felt solos deserve at least a point, many 3 points and some sharing 5 points occasionally. 

I have enough trouble making sure I've added up the scores correctly as it is, so I'll definitely get confused it the scoring gets too complicated

But when there are a large number of entries, I'm happy to add a fourth (or even fifth) place as well.

Brad

@stratman3142 haha I totally get that, and it is at the risk of overcomplicating things so I understand if you want to keep it as it is.  

Just to be clear, I'm not suggesting a 4th or 5th place, keep it as the top three highest scores as usual. Rather just including one additional solo on the scoring spectrum at the voters discretion. 

markv

5 points @Brad - lovely sound, beautiful note choices (particularly the chordal bits).
3 points @Rowby1 - gorgeous tone, maybe a tiny bit same-y towards the end but with a tone that luscious it's easy to forgive
1 point @mudslide73 - a nice sense of space around this one.

stratman3142

@Brad - 5 points: I think this might be my favourite ever SotM entry. Wonderful jazzy lines and feel. Some real goosebump moments which had me shaking my head and saying 'Whoo' out loud a few times Absolutely love it. Blown away.

@Rowby1 - 3 points: Big sounding spy theme guitar sound. Tones and lines that fitted the backing well. Something a bit Johnny A about it.

@markv - 1 point: Nicely understated octave playing that fits the backing really well. Love the harmonies at the end. Again something a bit Johnny A about this.

sticker

@Brad - 5 points , some great stuff,  very mid 70's L.A Jazz scene (Carlton/Benson/Ritenouresque). 

@Rowby1 - 3 points . Superb alternative take on the track , very languid and decadent tone . 

@mudslide73 - 1 point . Reminded me of Carlos Sanatana's (decent) earlier stuff . 

well played to everyone who contributed . some great solos !

stratman3142

Voting will end tomorrow (31st March 2018) at 11.30pm.

ChrisRG

Great playing everyone.  Loads of different ideas.  1st place was an easy choice for me but there were 3 or 4 people fighting over 2nd and 3rd. 

5 points - @Brad - Love the jazz feel.  Great playing, great note choice and great tone.  Well played sir.

3 points - @stratman3142 - Trademark smooth playing and great tone.  As has been said above, playing seems effortless.

1 point - @fastonebaz - And the prize for the most notes goes too........  Obviously there's loads of technique there but I really liked how there was still some good melody too.