Beside the fact that Clarence had an fantastic technique: Clarence was blessed with an outstanding ability of time management. It looks like that he could "strech" time. That is a very special kind of sense of time. Sure, we musicans call this phrasing but what Clarence did is far out of just hard learning to keep time (even when playing) - he is (and never was forced) to "count". It is an absolutely intuitive thing and just part of his mind. If we listen carefully we can hear also the perfection of each tone even in very fast licks. His playing with time is (at least for me) is THAT thing what makes his playing so beautiful and creative. Not very much musicans are able to put so much alternations in his performances - especially in that kind of music which consists or more "simple" tunes (Note: from a music-harmonic perspective). Clarence is one the most Important musicans to me personally and my own playing. I spent years of studying just these handfull of Tunes to understand what even himself could not articulate - He just did it :)
What a fantastic treat! Thanks for sharing this. I do have to wonder if there's video of this? The narrator did reference the "camera" getting a close up of Clarence. Thanks!
Clarence was a genius ! no doubt about that ... but don't forget that Doc was one too ... and Doc somehow paved the way ... As Clarence could hardly walk (I'm two months older than Clarence ) Doc was about 22 Years old ... already a fine guitar player ! So we can assume that Clarence had heard of Doc ...and had heard Doc play on records : they met in '63 I believe ,and played together a while at Newport Folk Festival ,if my memory is right ..... Of course there's a third genius : Tony Rice ... knowing that Tony profited from the way paved by Doc and Clarence .... Today it's easier ... they all ( Sutton, Minor, Tuttle, Strings, etc. can drive on big motorways paved by the elder ......
As a journalist who interviews people for a living, I get the impression that Clarence was a guitar player's dream, but an interviewer's nightmare. :-D
The DVD/Streaming of "Clarence White Guitar Workshop" has not been re-released as yet by the company that purchased the rights. What is currently being offered on amazon is the original Sierra DVD release which has been out of print for a few years. The price on amazon is ridiculous so wait for the official new re-release.
A buddy of mine that lives in Columbia MO. was for a long time the rep for that particular model. If you where looking for one I could see if he's still doing it. It's been almost 2yrs since I spoke to him about that (I talked to him this spring but that didn't come up) but he's been at it awhile.
I respectfully suggest you guys are missing the point. It's good natured ribbing, a play on Clarence White's reputation for not talking much or smiling much. This was also kind of a a "running gag" at Byrds shows.
Yes... Roland White released an AMAZING book of Clarence's techniques and more. Including the video on DVD of this "workshop" with Bob Baxter in 1973. I believe the audio here was copied directly from that DVD. The info on that book, and more, is included in my other post here.
It's as if the guy doing the interview is interviewing himself. Clarence might have gotten in a few minutes of answers. He won't shut up. Sorry, Clarence.
