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Music Appreciation
Related: About this forumSteve Winwood - Dear Mr. Fantasy (Live at PBS Soundstage 2005) + very long Vintage Guitar article on Steve, June 2008
https://www.vintageguitar.com/3477/steve-winwood/
It would seem contradictory to describe someone as both underrated and a virtuoso, but such is the case with Steve Winwood, particularly regarding his guitar playing. The reaction of even longtime fans when they see him perform live is invariably, I had no idea he could play guitar like that! But, ironically, their surprise has less to do with his six-string talents and more to do with his stature as one of rocks greatest keyboard players outstripped only by the fact that he possesses one of the great singing voices in pop music.
Hes also no slouch on bass, mandolin, harmonica, and drums, and hes helped write a catchy tune or two from Gimme Some Lovin' and Im A Man with the Spencer Davis Group to solo hits While You See A Chance, Higher Love, and Roll With It, with classics like Blind Faiths Cant Find My Way Home and Traffics Paper Sun, Pearly Queen, and Low Spark Of High-Heeled Boys in between.
In point of fact, the lead guitar on the vast majority of Winwoods recordings was supplied by him from his teenaged years with the Spencer Davis Group through Traffics many incarnations, with a brief stop to trade solos with Eric Clapton in Blind Faith.
He had the unique ability of covering not only keyboards and bass, but guitar, the late Jim Capaldi said in an interview for the DVD of The Last Great Traffic Jam reunion. Steve had guitar at any level that you like. Steves one of my favorite guitar players.
-snip-
Hes also no slouch on bass, mandolin, harmonica, and drums, and hes helped write a catchy tune or two from Gimme Some Lovin' and Im A Man with the Spencer Davis Group to solo hits While You See A Chance, Higher Love, and Roll With It, with classics like Blind Faiths Cant Find My Way Home and Traffics Paper Sun, Pearly Queen, and Low Spark Of High-Heeled Boys in between.
In point of fact, the lead guitar on the vast majority of Winwoods recordings was supplied by him from his teenaged years with the Spencer Davis Group through Traffics many incarnations, with a brief stop to trade solos with Eric Clapton in Blind Faith.
He had the unique ability of covering not only keyboards and bass, but guitar, the late Jim Capaldi said in an interview for the DVD of The Last Great Traffic Jam reunion. Steve had guitar at any level that you like. Steves one of my favorite guitar players.
-snip-
Much more at the link.
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Steve Winwood - Dear Mr. Fantasy (Live at PBS Soundstage 2005) + very long Vintage Guitar article on Steve, June 2008 (Original Post)
highplainsdem
Jun 27
OP
Easterncedar
(4,791 posts)1. Was it 50 years ago?
His style always seemed to speak so intimately to each listener. I really loved this song then, and love it still. Thanks for posting.
ILikePie92
(223 posts)2. Thank you
One of the greats of rock and roll. A musician's musician.
Check out Stevie trading solos on Had to Cry Today from Blind Faith in 1969. It had a tremendous influence on the Allman Brothers Bands usage of 2 lead guitarists.
ProfessorGAC
(73,962 posts)3. Excellent Article
From a while ago. It says he was about to turn 60, but he's 77 now
I have to see if there are more recent articles to see what he's had to say since.