for the past two years, i have been on a quest to find the most diverse musicians. these are people who have worked within several different genres of music, and i was looking for the most diverse musician, and could never find one that worked in all areas of music. my list of the most diverse that i have found are:
ennio morricone
bjork
kronos quartet
beastie boys
john zorn
beatles
sarah brightman
moby
miles davis
vladimir cosma
terry riley
raymond scott
smashing pumpkins
does anyone have any additions? subtractions? comments? on my list? i would like to find the ultimate most diverse musician, and i hope there is someone out there i haven’t found yet.
by the way, if anyone has heard and enjoyed music by all each of these artists, you are my new best friend.
The Kronos Quartet is a good choice. They’re one of the few groups that seems to specialize in avant garde classical, but I read a review of a recent show where they did “Miserlou” (done in the 60s by Dick Dale, king of the surf guitar) as an encore and I think they’ve done “Purple Haze” as well.
There are a few surprising people who sang backup on Laurie Anderson’s “Strange Angels”. I remember The Roches (folk trio) and Bobby McFerrin.
My nomination (and there’s been lots of other good ones, so I don’t know where he’d rate) is John Cale. He’s done everything from proto-minimalist avant-garde music (Theatre of Eternal Music); proto-punk/metal (The Velvet Underground); progressive Rock (Church of Anthrax); folk (Paris 1919) and at least one record that is completely unique among rock records (Music for a New Society).
He’s also produced a huge range of bands - everyone from the Stooges and Modern Lovers, to … well, hundreds of bands. His records tend to be internally consistent in style, but not many of them sound like the previous record.
In spring of this year, I flipped the channel to Houston Public Access TV, and I saw this weird old guy, sitting in front of the camera, with 6 or 7 guitars and basses. He would pick one up, jam with it for awhile, and while doing so rant about crime, gangs, the poor decisions made by today’s youth, and his cancer (which apparently had driven him into this state of delerium.)
Then there’s Robert Fripp, who has has done everything from Beatlesque whimsy to Moody Blues-style art rock to jazz to heavy metal to African polyrhythms to disco. He’d have to be high on the list.
As soon as I saw the title I thought: Frank Zappa
John Zorn
Miles Davis
Moments later I thought: Pat Metheny because he Played the guitar for Reich’s electric counterpoint (an avant garde jazz guitarist playing minimalist classical music? c’mon) which was released on the same recording as Reich’s “Different Trains” performed by the next artist I thought of for this thread Kronos Quartet.
Finally, just as the thread was loading onto my screen at the lightening speed of the fastest tortoise this side of Manhattan, and any of the other 4 borroughs, Robert Fripp’s name popped into my head.
So, who can I come up with that would be original? Hmmm… let’s see: Trilok Gurtu plays Indian classical music as well as jazz/fusion. Edgar Meyer Classically trained, yet plays bluegrass and jazz as well as other wierd fusions. Herbie Hancock jazz, funk, rock, R&B, etc. Peter Garbriel
Most eclectic has to be Beck. He is a bluesgrass singer who raps, sings soulful ballads and blues, does some electronica and hard rock, all on one album alone. He also won Grammys for rock and alternative. If that’s not eclectic, then I don’t know who is.
Well I’d have to go with Gary Moore. He’s done everything from Blues to Rock to Metal to Jazz Fusion to a semi-alterative feel. He’s been around since 68 or so, been in Thin Lizzy, and a number of Solo stuff. Every album is totally different from anything he’s done before.
Then I’ll have to say Golden Earring. they’ve done everything from Beatles type sounds, ugh, pop, progressive, and some heavy stuff too.