[progdirjim(Admin)]

let me try the more direct approach. You are wrong.

Originally posted by uzeb2


And one of the reasons he left Yes was because he was getting bored. This jazz trained drummer went on to the more challenging projects with Earthworks.

wrong. he went solo because he wanted to be a band leader, as opposed to songwriter number 5, which he was with Yes.

Don't get me wrong. The guys in Yes are great musicians and songwriters. But they cannot play jazz.

I've never seen them try, but I'm willing to bet all the members of Yes are very capable of playing jazz.

Jazz is a whole different world of scales and chords. Usually a person has to train for years before they can play it. Ask any guitar player and I'm sure almost all will agree that jazz guitar is the hardest to play.

wrong again. most of my guitarist friends would say classical is hardest, one says flamenco is harder, none say that jazz is inherently harder than rock. I know some good jazz guitarists, for the record.

This is why I made the statement that many rock musicians cannot play jazz, while all jazz musicians could play rock, no problem. The improvising in rock is elementary compared to jazz.

Many jazz musicians cannot play complex rock. All rock musicians can play simple jazz. Period.

It is true that much of the progressive rock out there has jazz elements. This is either by rock guys who have picked up a few jazz licks here and there, or it's by jazz-trained musicians who have opted for a more rock sounding style (fusion).

And speaking of drummers, Neil Peart, probably the best rock drummer in the world, stated that his tribute to Buddy Rich project was the most challenging he ever had.

But he did it. And Buddy Rich is amongst the best jazz drummers ever. Neil Peart is excellent, but it's silly to call him the best rock drummer. There are dozens that you could arguably give that title to. For me, playing Neil Peart and playing Buddy Rich are about equally challenging. (and that is very challenging indeed )