rogifan said:

PeteSilas said:

People seem to want to believe that Prince was a better dancer than Michael and James, a better guitarist than Page and Hendrix and whoever else and a better drummer than jon bonham.

I don't know who these people are outside of maybe die hard fans. My point with starting this topic is I think it's ridiculous to compare Prince to the absolute greatest on a particular instrument as a way to diminish his talent. When people talk about Elton John as a great pianist do they compare him to some phenomenal jazz pianist and say well he's not as good as so and so? I would never argue that Prince was the greatest guitar player ever but sticking him in the 30's behind Johnny Ramone on a greatest list is ridiculous IMO.

I agree with your above remark, as it seems like a very valid observation to me. In any case, quite often, when it comes to guitar, Prince is being compared to specialist guitarists like Vai, which seems a tad unfair to me.

I doubt anybody fell for Prince and his music, because they thought he was a virtuoso pianist. Who cares if he couldn’t play like McCoy Tyner? Somebody shared some old footage on Facebook (maybe circa 1990?) of a soundcheck where he was playing Gershwin’s Summertime, and I loved it. He had his own voice on piano, and he recently proved himself capable of playing entire spellbinding concerts, using just a piano and his voice. I kinda view his piano playing as yet another color to his palette/string to his bow.

I wonder how many of the top session musicians are able to write a string of whole albums of songs with great merit that connect with so many people around the world. Prince couldn’t just compose the music; he could write the lyrics, and had the talent to realise the whole vision in the studio all by himself, if he so wished.

We diehards all know only too well just how unique and special our hero was, not least when it came to live performances. In my experience nothing has compared favourably with Prince in concert. Even just his ability to hold a crowd in his palm was something to behold. On the occasions I ended up in a production seat with a side-on view, it was amazing to watch how he worked the crowd, and see their reaction.

I’ve been to quite a lot of gigs by many very gifted artists over the years, yet I can’t think of many that could even hold a candle to Prince live. I’m also wondering out loud here whether it may be quite unusual to be able to play guitar to such a high standard whilst being able to sing so well, because asides from Prince, of the folks I’ve heard live, only George Benson and Robert Cray are coming to mind. I’m sure folks here can probably list hundreds, but I’m struggling to come up with ones that I’ve heard off the top of my head.

I’ve always loved Prince’s voice too. Asides from Mavis, I only ever really wanted to hear Prince sing his own songs (didn’t mind him duetting though…recently I thought his voice sat quite nicely alongside Andy’s and I really like the song ‘Elixir’ with Bria). As for the sub-topic of vocal range, it’s not something I put much focus on. Somebody mentioned Mariah Carey. I’d like to lock her in a room for 24 hours with a few old Sandy Denny and Dusty Springfield records.

I can only say that I sincerely hope that Prince felt he did get the respect and love that he deserved from us firstly, but also from the press & public too. To be frank, I think our tabloid and music press could be less than flattering to him at times. I sure am glad Paul McCartney lived to a ripe old age, because he seemed to get the most awful time back in the 80s, when he was widely ridiculed as ‘fab, wacky, thumbs aloft Macca’.

Come to think of it, Paul’s somebody else that can pretty much do it all, and has shared some of the most fantastically melodious music ihmo. I couldn’t help but think, as I typed, that that is the kind of highest company in which I hold Prince as belonging albeit as a biased diehard fan (ie. Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder), but do his peers, music critics and the general public hold him in such high regard?

And I suppose in a way that question kind of brings me full circle back to the original post, doh!

Well, whatever the answer, I think it would be really lovely, if those that are now responsible for Prince’s music are able to ensure that they fulfil his wish to be remembered as one of the world’s most prolific songwriters (although personally I think he surely should have received that recognition LONG ago).

Here is how I put it


how many guitarist are as good or better than Prince?


then out of those how many are as good or better at Bass? At piano (keyboards synthesizers)? and Drums? Have the same or wider vocal range? Have composed words and music over 1000 songs? Recorded over 1000 songs? Produced over 1000 songs?


that seems to do the trick....

GrayDorian said:

that Steve Vai quote might be the nicest thing ever said about a fellow musician..(on the night of his own concert too).

rogifan said:

Militant said:

The Clapton quote has been debunked, but Steve Vai said this when playing in Vancouver on the same night as Prince...

Eddie Vedder said the same thing right after Prince's passing. Like I said I think he was more respected by his peers than the public at large. Though if the estate would allow more live stuff out there public perception might be different.

OnlyNDaUsa said:

Here is how I put it


how many guitarist are as good or better than Prince?

then out of those how many are as good or better at Bass?

At piano (keyboards synthesizers)? and Drums? Have the same or wider vocal range? Have composed words and music over 1000 songs? Recorded over 1000 songs? Produced over 1000 songs?

that seems to do the trick....

sly and stevie are two motherfuckers as far as talent. Prince got more done though, the drugs burned Sly's career short and stevie hit a creative wall circa 1987, Vocally, stevie and sly are amazing. sly had a fantastic range going way way down and way up high. Stevie, i don't think could sing that low but he had a great range, control and a style of his own. As instrumentalists, Sly was a multi instrumentalist but I do not think he did anything spectacular on bass, i think that was the work of Larry Graham. Stevie, of course, played almost all the instruments except for the stringed ones (I always assumed because he didn't wan callouses killing the sensitivity of his fingertips.) and definitely had a richer harmonic sense than just about anyone in pop music. Prince, not just for quantity but also for the quality of so much of his work surpasses them. I never got the feeling that Prince was having problems creatively. There was something worth listening to on each and every release and I cannot say that for anyone else, not Elvis, not Michael, not Stevie.

MD431Madcat said:

OnlyNDaUsa said:

Here is how I put it


how many guitarist are as good or better than Prince?

then out of those how many are as good or better at Bass?

At piano (keyboards synthesizers)? and Drums? Have the same or wider vocal range? Have composed words and music over 1000 songs? Recorded over 1000 songs? Produced over 1000 songs?

that seems to do the trick....

so those 3 play guitar, bass, and paino?

MD431Madcat said:

jdcxc said:

MD431Madcat said:

Wasn't his point that it had to be the same person?

ok if they say they play them all as well or better... now to catalog....

petalthecat said:

I've thought about this in the past and I think it's partly because he wasn't known for just one thing. If someone is lead guitarist in a band they will often get acknowledgment for being a great guitarist. Because P was great at so many things it seems to water down his accomplishments somewhat. And because ur average music listener knows P from prancing around in a few music vids, they probably haven't really seen how skilled he was on the guitar or piano.

.

That's a good point - I was saying something related on another thread. A big part of the reason many people don't recognize or know about Prince's musicianship is that he didn't really showcase it that often on record. That makes it very easy to overlook his instrumental skills.

.

It also doesn't help that his instrumental-only albums didn't really demonstrate a very complex harmonic conception on his part. For the most part, P's instrumental work is atmospheric and easy to digest - mostly like a "smooth jazz" record - but they don't make a strong case for him as an inspired soloist. (Not to say he didn't play inspired passages elsewhere, just that when he went into strictly instrumental mode his music turned, quite frankly, boring. I would argue that anyone who feels otherwise simply hasn't been exposed to - or given enough time to - truly transcendent instrumental music.)

.

Prince was an incredible rock musician. Some may not like that qualifier, but it is absolutley necessary. There's no evidence to suggest Prince could've survived at a real cutting session with serious jazz musicians - but then again, it's absolutley necessary to distinguish that P was NOT a jazz musician. In a rock and/or pop setting, Prince could - and DID - mow quite a few people down.

.

While it might sound a little "music snob"-ish, it's a point of fact that non-musicians generally have a hard time accessing instrumental skill level. Most of Prince's songs were built around fairly uncomplicated chord sequences. Which is fine - that's a hallmark of most pop music. One interesting way to measure the potential for harmonic complexity in a pop songwriter's oeuvre is to look at how many of their tunes have been absorbed and adapted by the jazz community. Look at how many Stevie songs turn up in jazz musicians' repertoire vs how many of P's songs do. That's not a jibe at P, just a reality.

.

Instrumental playing can hit on a gut level without being technically accomplished. And vice versa. Sometimes it's both, but Prince's music generally goes for emotional impact. Which is fine, of course. But it makes "who's the greatest [fill in the blank]" discussions hard to have - because parameters need to be set. Prince will never be mentioned in the same company as Wes Montgomery, Grant Green, Stanley Jordan, Al Di Meola, George Benson, or countless others. Rock and jazz are not on the same plane - jazz is a fine art, whereas pop and rock are forms of entertainment. Those guys I just mentioned could certainly have lowered themselves to pop standards (Benson certainly has, in order to become a rich, world famous star - Montgomery and other jazz greats have made plenty of easier-to-access pop leaning records as well) and played absolute circles around anyone in that genre. But not many in the pop world can or could transition up into jazz.

.

If Prince could - we have yet to hear the recorded proof. While pleasant to listen to, the noodlings on 'Xpectation' or 'N.E.W.S' or the other records like those he made are not convincing arguments for Prince being more than a very skillful pop player.

.

As Seinfeld once said, "Not that there's anything wrong with that." (Yeah, about a very different topic, but it applies in this unrelated context too.)

i wrote a long reply and my battery died-

i dont feel like re-writing it...

Prince is Great...

BUT..

there is no such thing as the Greatest!

most of Prince's musical ideas were done before Prince did them!

OnlyNDaUsa said:

jdcxc said:

MD431Madcat said: Wasn't his point that it had to be the same person?

ok if they say they play them all as well or better... now to catalog....

MD431Madcat said:

i wrote a long reply and my battery died-

i dont feel like re-writing it...

Prince is Great...

BUT..

there is no such thing as the Greatest!

most of Prince's musical ideas were done before Prince did them!

OnlyNDaUsa said:

ok if they say they play them all as well or better... now to catalog....

oh i agree. my point was more of range and versatility

MD431Madcat said:

i wrote a long reply and my battery died-

i dont feel like re-writing it...

Prince is Great...

BUT..

there is no such thing as the Greatest!

most of Prince's musical ideas were done before Prince did them!

OnlyNDaUsa said:

ok if they say they play them all as well or better... now to catalog....

all due respect, you put it all together, we had the most prolific, the most ambitious (strictly in terms of music/dance/film) in history.

PeteSilas said:

MD431Madcat said:

i wrote a long reply and my battery died-

i dont feel like re-writing it...

Prince is Great...

BUT..

there is no such thing as the Greatest!

most of Prince's musical ideas were done before Prince did them!

all due respect, you put it all together, we had the most prolific, the most ambitious (strictly in terms of music/dance/film) in history.

that is my point... not the best at anything persay but put it all together and who is his peer?

art is subjective.

Many people people that i know would rather listen to Stevie, Marvn, Curtis, Sly, earth wind and fire, slave, Tupac, Biggie, Nas, Epmd, Roxy Music, ect

over Prince any day of the week!

They all 'get' that he's been marketed from day one as

some kind of 'Stevie Wonder-ish'

Genius..

But.. as one of them -

(a highly respected label owner/producer)

once told me..

'

"He's obviously very talented but... His music doesn't really speak to me."

PeteSilas said:

MD431Madcat said:

i wrote a long reply and my battery died-

i dont feel like re-writing it...

Prince is Great...

BUT..

there is no such thing as the Greatest!

most of Prince's musical ideas were done before Prince did them!

all due respect, you put it all together, we had the most prolific, the most ambitious (strictly in terms of music/dance/film) in history.

ya man, but anyone can say that about anyone. I never got too into bob dylan either but he's got a few that blew my mind, namely the hendrix version of watchtower. Lots of people who have lots of fans leave others going "what's the fuss". a good song though, no matter who or where it comes from has a power of it's own that is undeniable. I don't like much rap but there are tunes that give me the same amount of emotion as any other style.

MD431Madcat said:

art is subjective.

Many people people that i know would rather listen to Stevie, Marvn, Curtis, Sly, earth wind and fire, slave, Tupac, Biggie, Nas, Epmd, Roxy Music, ect

over Prince any day of the week!

They all 'get' that he's been marketed from day one as

some kind of 'Stevie Wonder-ish'

Genius..

But.. as one of them -

(a highly respected label owner/producer)

once told me..

'

"He's obviously very talented but... His music doesn't really speak to me."

PeteSilas said:

all due respect, you put it all together, we had the most prolific, the most ambitious (strictly in terms of music/dance/film) in history.

there can be no winners in this peaceful debate.

PeteSilas said:

ya man, but anyone can say that about anyone. I never got too into bob dylan either but he's got a few that blew my mind, namely the hendrix version of watchtower. Lots of people who have lots of fans leave others going "what's the fuss". a good song though, no matter who or where it comes from has a power of it's own that is undeniable. I don't like much rap but there are tunes that give me the same amount of emotion as any other style.

MD431Madcat said:

art is subjective.

Many people people that i know would rather listen to Stevie, Marvn, Curtis, Sly, earth wind and fire, slave, Tupac, Biggie, Nas, Epmd, Roxy Music, ect

over Prince any day of the week!

They all 'get' that he's been marketed from day one as

some kind of 'Stevie Wonder-ish'

Genius..

But.. as one of them -

(a highly respected label owner/producer)

once told me..

'

"He's obviously very talented but... His music doesn't really speak to me."

CAL3 said:

petalthecat said:

I've thought about this in the past and I think it's partly because he wasn't known for just one thing. If someone is lead guitarist in a band they will often get acknowledgment for being a great guitarist. Because P was great at so many things it seems to water down his accomplishments somewhat. And because ur average music listener knows P from prancing around in a few music vids, they probably haven't really seen how skilled he was on the guitar or piano.

.

That's a good point - I was saying something related on another thread. A big part of the reason many people don't recognize or know about Prince's musicianship is that he didn't really showcase it that often on record. That makes it very easy to overlook his instrumental skills.

.

It also doesn't help that his instrumental-only albums didn't really demonstrate a very complex harmonic conception on his part. For the most part, P's instrumental work is atmospheric and easy to digest - mostly like a "smooth jazz" record - but they don't make a strong case for him as an inspired soloist. (Not to say he didn't play inspired passages elsewhere, just that when he went into strictly instrumental mode his music turned, quite frankly, boring. I would argue that anyone who feels otherwise simply hasn't been exposed to - or given enough time to - truly transcendent instrumental music.)

.

Prince was an incredible rock musician. Some may not like that qualifier, but it is absolutley necessary. There's no evidence to suggest Prince could've survived at a real cutting session with serious jazz musicians - but then again, it's absolutley necessary to distinguish that P was NOT a jazz musician. In a rock and/or pop setting, Prince could - and DID - mow quite a few people down.

.

While it might sound a little "music snob"-ish, it's a point of fact that non-musicians generally have a hard time accessing instrumental skill level. Most of Prince's songs were built around fairly uncomplicated chord sequences. Which is fine - that's a hallmark of most pop music. One interesting way to measure the potential for harmonic complexity in a pop songwriter's oeuvre is to look at how many of their tunes have been absorbed and adapted by the jazz community. Look at how many Stevie songs turn up in jazz musicians' repertoire vs how many of P's songs do. That's not a jibe at P, just a reality.

.

Instrumental playing can hit on a gut level without being technically accomplished. And vice versa. Sometimes it's both, but Prince's music generally goes for emotional impact. Which is fine, of course. But it makes "who's the greatest [fill in the blank]" discussions hard to have - because parameters need to be set. Prince will never be mentioned in the same company as Wes Montgomery, Grant Green, Stanley Jordan, Al Di Meola, George Benson, or countless others. Rock and jazz are not on the same plane - jazz is a fine art, whereas pop and rock are forms of entertainment. Those guys I just mentioned could certainly have lowered themselves to pop standards (Benson certainly has, in order to become a rich, world famous star - Montgomery and other jazz greats have made plenty of easier-to-access pop leaning records as well) and played absolute circles around anyone in that genre. But not many in the pop world can or could transition up into jazz.

.

If Prince could - we have yet to hear the recorded proof. While pleasant to listen to, the noodlings on 'Xpectation' or 'N.E.W.S' or the other records like those he made are not convincing arguments for Prince being more than a very skillful pop player.

.

As Seinfeld once said, "Not that there's anything wrong with that." (Yeah, about a very different topic, but it applies in this unrelated context too.)

I think the same, even though i know nothing about music jazz sounds like a very complex kind of music, not as easy going as popular music.

I can't comment on his guitar skills only because I don't play guitar. However as a pianist, I've seen him do some very hard arpeggios and sixteenth notes that some never accomplish. I can't believe that with all of the music he studied while in his room during that six-week period, all the time that he spend in the music room and how diligent he was at being in sole control of every aspect of his music that he never learned to read base and treble clef.

Deni said:

I can't comment on his guitar skills only because I don't play guitar. However as a pianist, I've seen him do some very hard arpeggios and sixteenth notes that some never accomplish. I can't believe that with all of the music he studied while in his room during that six-week period, all the time that he spend in the music room and how diligent he was at being in sole control of every aspect of his music that he never learned to read base and treble clef.

why is that surprising? most rock musicians never learn anything about written music. The exception are the ones who do. anyway, i'm a pianist too, but no matter how hard I work i'm limited because of a late start I guess. Prince is way better than me but depending on what you're measuring, i've seen lots of people who can play better.

i would say generally that instrumental ability is about the least important thing in Prince's field. Ability to play well hasn't been a big part of popular music for a long time, even though there are some monster musicians. Plenty of legends could hardly play anything at all. When's the last time you saw Smokey Robinson play anything? Elvis was exaggerating when he said he only knew 3 chords but he wasn't embellishing his point, that he wasn't that advanced as a guitarist.

I am a huge longtime P fan. I first heard his voice. It wasn't until later that I heard he played instruments. I do not play an instrument so anyone who does play something...I'm impressed and in awe...as long as it's onkey it doesn't have to be overly complicated for me to be impressed because I've tried and can't get my fingers to move in those ways. I'm also rhythmically challenged and clumsy so dancing has always been...interesting...and although I HEAR with perfect pitch, that doesn't translate into my being able to sing onkey..although I do both anyway, to the chagrin of my loved ones. I am unrepentantly uncool in so many vast and varied ways. Lol

I give that back history to explain how I feel about P's singing, dancing and playing instruments.

I'm impressed by the fact that P CAN sing/dance/play instruments at all, then I'm even more impressed that he often does them at the same time...gracefully...making it look effortless.

Then I remember his other skills like writing songs, working equipment in the studio...

I certainly have a different skillset and I doubt P could put an IV into a squirming preemie baby like I've done many times as a nurse, but I'm still impressed by him even after all these years and even after many boneheaded decisions he's made. Lol

I don't think P had a level of mastery of someone who only played that one thing, but I do think he was an expert that fit into his artistic vision.

I found it pleasantly surprising as more and more musicians praised his playing, validating that not only did a non-musician (me) enjoy him but also people who really knew really good musicianship.

They were acknowledging P publicly as a peer and that made me happy because I was imressed by a 5 year old who can play piano or sing or dance. I'm also biased as a P fan. But if these professionals agree that P was excellent, who am I to argue?

I just hope he knew they felt that he was a badazz.

[Edited 11/9/16 4:12am]

cloveringold85 said:

Prince felt underappreciated as a guitarist. IMO he was the best there ever was.

As a guitarist, I consider Prince one of the greatest guitarists off all-time, but mostly because of his emotional and musical understanding of the instrument. Like Hendrix, he could evoke unusual sounds to fit the theme of a song. Several "great" guitarists write songs with the purpose of playing the fastest scales or hitting the most unusual flurry of notes though. Prince really held back. Sometimes he'd tone it up and use crazy technique, but most of the time he lived by his musician's mantra that he often said during his Piano and Microphone shows: "It's all about the space between the notes". The Computer Blue melody is easy to play, but emotional and memorable. The Let's Go Crazy solo isn't too difficult either actually - but he does use some more interesting shapes and fast flurries in other songs that surpass anyone except for soulless, metal shredders, which is more of an appreciation of years of routine practice than a creative expression of emotion.

[Edited 11/9/16 22:36pm]

[Edited 11/9/16 22:37pm]

honestly, the only people who are really down on Prince's abilities are almost always other musicians. You can almost dismiss them right off the bat because other musicians are egotistical, jealous, envious and insecure, Prince too, he often said he didn't like listening to music because he always wanted to rearrange it to his idea of what sounded good. I've played in lots of places and the best crowds are people who have no musical aspirations or knowledge, they just know if they like something. Musicians are backstabbing, nasty and competitive. Some of worst haters have been other musicians who called themselves trying to help at some point whether it was a band member or a teacher. eventually the ugly truth would come out of the.

CAL3 said:

petalthecat said:

I've thought about this in the past and I think it's partly because he wasn't known for just one thing. If someone is lead guitarist in a band they will often get acknowledgment for being a great guitarist. Because P was great at so many things it seems to water down his accomplishments somewhat. And because ur average music listener knows P from prancing around in a few music vids, they probably haven't really seen how skilled he was on the guitar or piano.

.

That's a good point - I was saying something related on another thread. A big part of the reason many people don't recognize or know about Prince's musicianship is that he didn't really showcase it that often on record. That makes it very easy to overlook his instrumental skills.

.

It also doesn't help that his instrumental-only albums didn't really demonstrate a very complex harmonic conception on his part. For the most part, P's instrumental work is atmospheric and easy to digest - mostly like a "smooth jazz" record - but they don't make a strong case for him as an inspired soloist. (Not to say he didn't play inspired passages elsewhere, just that when he went into strictly instrumental mode his music turned, quite frankly, boring. I would argue that anyone who feels otherwise simply hasn't been exposed to - or given enough time to - truly transcendent instrumental music.)

.

Prince was an incredible rock musician. Some may not like that qualifier, but it is absolutley necessary. There's no evidence to suggest Prince could've survived at a real cutting session with serious jazz musicians - but then again, it's absolutley necessary to distinguish that P was NOT a jazz musician. In a rock and/or pop setting, Prince could - and DID - mow quite a few people down.

.

While it might sound a little "music snob"-ish, it's a point of fact that non-musicians generally have a hard time accessing instrumental skill level. Most of Prince's songs were built around fairly uncomplicated chord sequences. Which is fine - that's a hallmark of most pop music. One interesting way to measure the potential for harmonic complexity in a pop songwriter's oeuvre is to look at how many of their tunes have been absorbed and adapted by the jazz community. Look at how many Stevie songs turn up in jazz musicians' repertoire vs how many of P's songs do. That's not a jibe at P, just a reality.

.

Instrumental playing can hit on a gut level without being technically accomplished. And vice versa. Sometimes it's both, but Prince's music generally goes for emotional impact. Which is fine, of course. But it makes "who's the greatest [fill in the blank]" discussions hard to have - because parameters need to be set. Prince will never be mentioned in the same company as Wes Montgomery, Grant Green, Stanley Jordan, Al Di Meola, George Benson, or countless others. Rock and jazz are not on the same plane - jazz is a fine art, whereas pop and rock are forms of entertainment. Those guys I just mentioned could certainly have lowered themselves to pop standards (Benson certainly has, in order to become a rich, world famous star - Montgomery and other jazz greats have made plenty of easier-to-access pop leaning records as well) and played absolute circles around anyone in that genre. But not many in the pop world can or could transition up into jazz.

.

If Prince could - we have yet to hear the recorded proof. While pleasant to listen to, the noodlings on 'Xpectation' or 'N.E.W.S' or the other records like those he made are not convincing arguments for Prince being more than a very skillful pop player.

.

As Seinfeld once said, "Not that there's anything wrong with that." (Yeah, about a very different topic, but it applies in this unrelated context too.)

N.E.W.S is by no means noodling. It's Prince's Kind of Blue, a master work and his best 'jazz' album.

Lianachan said:

fortuneandserendipity said:

N.E.W.S is by no means noodling. It's Prince's Kind of Blue, a master work and his best 'jazz' album.

.

One person's meat is another person's poison.

.

I do not believe N.E.W.S. (or any other pseudo-jazz album by Prince) should ever be favorably compared to 'Kind of Blue.'

ChanGirl said:

Prince felt underappreciated as a guitarist. IMO he was the best there ever was.

rogifan said:

This is something that has bugged me for a long time. Someone will ask how good is Prince on guitar or piano or whatever and the response is usually comparing him to a master on that instrument as a way of saying he's just ok but not great. Go to a guitar forum and it's well he's no Steve Vai or Joe Satriani or they go off on a rant about what a jerk or weirdo he is; with piano comparing him to the greatest jazz players out there. What I find interesting is it seems his peers/fellow musicians have a better appreciation for his musicianship than the average joe/player posting online somewhere. In some ways I think Prince is actually underrated by the general public. And it wasn't until after he passed that people realized just how good of a musician he was. Just imagine how different things might be if NPG wasn't so intent on scrubbing any and all liver performances from the internet.

Yeeeggh, but you're kinda getting into fan fiction territory with conversations like these, which will result in a simple youtube-off which obviously Prince wins by default because he's like the Arnold Schwarzenegger of post-70s funk picked up by lizards:

Steve Vai