Chris Thile on BET's Studio Jams

[mandopete]

I'm watching Studio Jams on BET right now (4:00PM West Coast) and Chris Thile is playing with some jazz folks, really cool. I noticed that thi episode was not listed on their website (www.studiojams.com).

[glauber]

Are we really talking about Black Entertainment Television (http://www.bet.com/)?

[mandopete]

Yes, there is a show called Studio Jams which is pretty cool. #They get a bunch of musicians together to "jam" in the studio. #They've had a pretty eclectic mix in the past and this was no excepetion. #I didn't recognize the names of the other players, but they had a tenor sax, drums, electric bass and guitar. #Nice jam on a tune called "The Smoothie Song".

[mmukav]

This show was actually on the BET Jazz channel. We get BET, but I wish we got BET Jazz.

"Studio Jams is an inside look at making music and many of the players are working with each other for the first time. Today's show features Chris Thile and Karl Denson."

[glauber]

Ahhh, i only know the other BET. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif For a moment i thought Chris was getting down with the Brothers!

[mmukav]

Well, Karl Denson is a brother.

"Over the past ten years, Karl Denson has been hard at work creating his Universe. In 1989 he began a four year stint with Lenny Kravitz, during which he recorded now classic sax work on Lenny’s ‘Let Love Rule’ and ‘Mama Said’ albums. 1992 brought the beginning of his solo career."

(from Karl's web site, 'Karl Denson's Tiny Universe'.)

[glauber]

Seriously, this must have been cool.

[Jeff Hoelter]

Ahhh, i only know the other BET. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif For a moment i thought Chris was getting down with the Brothers!

Yes, BET Jazz is a part of BET aka Black Entertainment Television. And FYI, Karl Denson is black.

Jeff

[glauber]

So?

The main BET channel caters more to the Gangsta Rap crowd, musically speaking. I had visions of Chris Thile doing an Eminem thing. Not that he couldn't. I just thought it was funny.

[Moose]

Let's not get too-far-afield, guys. This IS the MANDOLIN CAFE ; I myself, have been known to "push a few envelopes"(Just my .02) Let's pick a few! - Moose http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Jeff Hoelter]

Well, Chris Thile "raps" well enough doing a cover of Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues" (via Tim O'Brien's arrangement). Thile used to do it with Nickel Creek a while back...played his mando as "rap backup."

Jeff

[mandopete]

Well, anyway, the show was kind of interesting. #I wish I could recall who the other players were. #There was a guy on guitar that was very interesting, playing what looked like a Stratocaster with "lipstick" pickups - sweet tone. #I thought the drums worked well with the rhytmic chop of the mando, something I haven't to many others do - maybe Sam Bush.

I couldn't really tell if Chris' mandolin was going through the pickup or the mic - it had #decently "acoustic" sound given the nature of band setting. #Some good close-ups of the Dudenbostel, nice black tuning butons and some distressed f-holes <grins>. #Funny how the close-ups are always on the fingerboard and I want to see the right hand, but then, that's just me.

What really cracked me up was Chris was wearling a necktie the whole time. Looked like one he might have stolen from his old man. On top of that he had a zip-up sweatshirt. Man, if I knew I was gonna be on T.V. I might consider a little more fashion know-how!