New Ground. Sure there were people that did something first. There always is, but more in the way of combining different styles of music together rather than doing something completely different. The really great thing to see is that after someone becomes really good at something different, new, others take that technique and improve on it with there own interpretation, making it even better, but would have never gone that route until said person broke that new technique. Unfortunately the initiator doesn't always get the credit they deserve. Everyone uses the same notes from Beethoven to Sex Pistols and everything in between. Funny how one person hears one thing with the same notes that another doesn't. That is what makes it so great. It is an artistic endeavor something that you create, your signature. If people like it even better. If they don't, who cares, well if you are trying to make a living at it it matters. Problem is a lot of people consider a good player as someone who is a commercial success. Granted there are a lot of them but I don't. Matter of fact I look for music that flies under the radar a little, out of the radio realm, with exception to WGBH, because that is where I feel are the truly suburb musicians. Studio guys and people that play for the art of it. Try different things, experiment. Guess that is why I am a fan of Zappa. Don't get me wrong I have listened too all the commercial bands growing up but my tastes have changed so much in the last 25 years. I'm sure anyone would like something I listen too. I try to listen to everything. Something different every nite, but I still have my favorites. The way I look at it is it's all good, well most of it.
What a wind bag.
P.