Re: nels cline

[KRosser414@aol.com]

I've known Nels since about the time I moved to L.A. in 1986.  After 
hearing 
a lot about him, I saw him play solo opening for Bill Frisell and Henry 
Kaiser at McCabe's in Santa Monica.  I was immediately very impressed - he 
did a solo version of "War Orphans" by Ornette Coleman which I still have 
a 
pretty vivid recollection of, which is REALLY saying something.  After 
seeking out a few other gigs I got to know him a bit and he acted as a bit 
of 
a mentor to me (totally unintentionally, I'm sure), introducing me to lots 
of 
players and throwing a few gigs my way he was unable or unwilling to do.   
He's really a phenomenal player, very imaginative and unique.  One other 
thing that's always impressed me about him is I've never seen him play 
where 
anything was glib or "phoned-in", it's always totally focused and present 
(at 
least that's how it sounds to me).  I'd highly recommmend any of the trio 
CD's, they're really great, plus I know he'll be touring sometime coming 
up 
(if hasn't left already) with Mark Isham's Miles Davis tribute thang.  

Ken R