There are a lot of great guitarists out there, from chicken picking maniacs to metal shredders, and jazz greats. But nobody could make so much beautiful music come from 1 guitar like Micheal did. He was truly a unique musician and is certainly missed
For 15 years, I would book my multi--state sales territory trips around Michael's Fall Tour schedule, just so I could see/hear him at various venues. I told him that one evening, after he recognized me from the last couple nights. We kicked hackey sack on the lawn and chatted for about 30 minutes until his equipment was set up. He was so blown away and flattered that I cared enough to put forth the effort. Very humble! What a gracious, gifted and talented man he was! I miss his live performances so much! Always looked forward to hear what new cover songs he was attempting. He was to the acoustic guitar, what Hendrix was to the electric, a total innovator! You can hear his influence in so many guitarists today.
I saw him at a venue in Indianapolis and he played no expectations off the Rolling Stones Beggars Banquet. I was the only one in the crowd that spoke out and knew What song it was after he asked us
I wouldn't compare him to anyone, or if I must I would rather compare him to Mozart and Beethoven. He was special, genre of its own, story of its own, the guitar was just a communication tool to him, he was a true virtuoso, genuine musical talent, one in 10 billion.
I loved listening to Michael met him when he first left home for music school in Baltimore Yes a gem of a person and a virtuoso.....his music is smooth and love and passion in his voice
I am happy that some people are attempting to play the guitar the way Michael Hedges invented playing the guitar. I think those people help keep Michael's spirit alive. R.I.P Michael Hedges.
Devon Kelts. That is a fantastic way of putting it. You nailed it. It taps into a depth of spirituality. Don't know how, just does. Whoa. Those clean riffs and harmonics. How the heck?!! Another thing: watching & listening to such genius inspires me to spend a bit more time honing my own (different kinds of) gifts/talents. He brought such light & joy to the world by developing so beautifully his inner gifts. Thanks Michael. When I get to heaven I want to hear one of your songs at least a few times a week. Til then!
I saw a guy at wickerman in about 2005 that was as into it as hedges and about as naked in his performance. Really really good and Passionate. He was called frogpocket. Never saw him again. Luv and Peace.
I’ve seen him live twice. The second time I saw him he took a set break and went to the bar for a drink. I went over and he shook my hand and signed my cd. He was such a genuine and easy to talk to person. It was truly a sad day for me when I found out he passed away 🙁
After a performance in a small Ann Arbor venue in 1997, Michael tracked down my partner who is visually impaired (a condition apparent from his appearance) and asked him about his experience of the concert without any visuals. He wanted to know if he ought to describe or add anything to be accessible to those unable to see the show. I was so impressed with that artist!
@@josettebergeron I was also at that show. The Ark , yes? Third row . And afterwards, the one I was with, was talking to him, she waited for the long line to clear out, so she could have an actual conversation, and he invited us backstage to hang out for a little bit . Very casual. It was grapes, cheese, and crackers on the table. He said help yourself.🤣
I feel lucky, I got to see Michael lots in the early days and met him back at the Varsity in Palo Alto - he even popped in at a gig I had, even in the early days he was incredible and last gig I saw him, at half time he was reciting jabberwocky and walking around the stage like a yoga master w his legs over his shoulders almost - an advanced posture most never can do - he was a singular inspired genius of acoustic guitar -
I got to see him live in Ann Arbor in late 1997. I called the hotline listed on the CD to find out when his next tour dates would be, and got a tragic recording with the news that he had passed. 💔
i think hedges was exceptional in composition and performance. this unique, sometimes almost agressive style to play the guitar, these mixtures of tapping, different tunings.. so beautiful and also scary somehow. one of the most polarizing guitar masters i ever listened to... almost gone now for a quarter of a century. what a loss..
Mr. Hedges demonstates the musical artist at play and at work with creating romantically provacative, engaging images of artistic expession. The alternative tuning likens to the guitar to the piano keyboard controlled sustain device. His mastery of rendering musical portraits of the dance displays the soul of those who received a stranger as a fellow man during the love/peace magical 70's. His nurishment is greatly needed today to calm the hearts of those who wake to the cereal box.
I'm so jealous of everyone who got to see him play live. He was a brilliant composer and a truly amazing human being. And this song, like most of his, takes me on a voyage to a place I love to be. Thank you so much for posting this.
It takes me to a space I'd love to be, but can no longer be in. Ironically, I'm grieving for the amazing human being who brought Michael Hedges' brilliant music into my life. It's sad and comforting at the same time. I'm grateful to these two beautiful souls
I saw Michael performance as a man in the park.playing at City fairs in Baltimore to a College stage there He was a graduate of Peabody Conservatory of Music. Michael played at Joes organic Juice Bar in Fellspoint Maryland / Baltimore where' Edgar Allan Poe lived off and on and Hedges played at the Horse you came in on....that had the game of one of Baltimore s oldest Taverns 1786 I think.
What amazes me is the incredible skill. This was play live and not a finger out of place. I've been to many live show and even BB King occasionally flubbed a note. Michael was just perfect.
What a magical experience this was, a frozen in time concert that most attending may have not known the significance at the time. Powerful lake tahoe and legendary Michael at his prime, a combination for the ages.
great to have you back and finding more material T3! This is the best ragamuffin vid yet! Your dedication to preserving his legacy is admirable and brings much happiness to my life, my friend. Thanks again.
Thank you for posting this. It's funny how watching the immortal percussive passage at 1.20 onwards does not at all explain how he did it. He spoke many times about being not a guitarist, but a composer who writes for the guitar, makes you wonder what it sounded like in his head. I saw him at the Iron Horse in Northampton, MA, in the mid-90s. He danced on stage while playing Ritual Dance -- flawlessly. It was hard to believe I was watching it happen.
Saw him January 22, 1987 at the Carolina Theater in Durham, and I think at Memorial Hall at UNC in 1988. I remember him being absolutely on fire in Durham. Listening to this video takes me back to those shows, and to shopping in used bookstores and health food co-ops in the 1980s.
For Lin Albert : "DADGAD was popularised by British folk guitarist Davey Graham. Inspired by hearing an oud player in Morocco, Graham experimented with detuning some of the guitar's strings from standard tuning (E2A2D3G3B3E4), arriving at D2A2D3G3A3D4 or "DADGAD". He employed the tuning to great effect in his treatments of Celtic music, but also the folk music of India and Morocco. The first guitarists in Irish traditional music to use the tuning were Mícheál Ó Domhnaill and Dáithí Sproule; today it is a very common tuning in the genre. Other proponents of the tuning include Andy Mckee, Russian Circles, Rory Gallagher, Luka Bloom, Stan Rogers, Jimmy Page, Artie Traum, Pierre Bensusan,[2][3] Eric Roche, Midnight, Laurence Juber, Tony McManus, Bert Jansch, Richard Thompson, Dick Gaughan, Alistair Hulett, Imaad Wasif, Mark Kozelek, Jeff Tweedy, Masaaki Kishibe, Paul McSherry, Sevendust (although downtuned),[4] Kotaro Oshio, Ben Chasny, Al Petteway, and Trey Anastasio. English folk musician Martin Carthy now mostly uses a related tuning, CGCDGA, whose explicit evolution from DADGAD he describes in his book." Jimmy PAge used it in the years 60/70 !
I remember, eons ago, early 80s, he played in san antonio, and blew away the friend that saw it. We all bought the albums and studied hard. Great stuff. Thanks, amigo.
To Lin Albert: No. Jimmy Page uses DADGAD, also David Gilmour, Neil Young, to name three out of the multitude... It's one of the standard alternate tunings. So to answer your question, no Hedges didn't invent it.
No. What I know is that DADGAD dates to the India/sitar inspired rock music so I would guess may be the Beatles started this. Led Zeplin’s Kashmir is on a DADGAD tuned guitar.
i've got some Hedges covers on my channel, search "drumjack ragamuffin fusion of the five elements..." difference is: i figured them all out for standard tuning so no retuning is required... maybe i'll send you my tabs?
even though ur saying this with good intention , ur comment attracted that 1 disliker to ruin it , next time just focus on the song and write something more constructive such as how wonderful this piece is.