Henry Cuesta and the Origin of That Elusive Thing Called Swing

[toomanycats]

If you're of an age that you watched The Lawrence Welk Show between the 70s and early 80s, and you had any degree of sensitivity as a human being, then you will know that Henry Cuesta was one bad mother-fucker. In analyzing the lasting impact of Eddie Van Halen upon rock guitar, pundits on YouTube frequently engage in deep discussions about his equipment and technique while cryptically alluding to this allusive, indefinable, inimitable quality he possessed referred to as "swing."

Edward and Alex's Father, Jan Van Halen, like Henry Cuesta, was a professional jazz clarinettist. Van Halen fans will know that Jan Van Halen played on the tune "Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now)" on the album Diver Down. Ed and Alex grew up around that kind of music.

This was where Eddie got his swing. You can't tab it out. You can't teach it in a YouTube video.

George Lynch had some of that swing, and Warren De Martini could swing like a MoFo.

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[uwmcscott]

I used to watch the Lawrence Welk show with my Grandmother, who was also a Piano teacher and played the Pipe Organ at a big old Lutheran church for many years. I remember her talking about how some of the music they played was "rock n roll". It was a who's who list of musicians that played on the TV show during the day. It was an event at her house, we would make popcorn and she would let me eat it in the living room during the show ( on a TV tray of course ) as that was not normally allowed.

[andrewsrea]

This was where Eddie got his swing. You can't tab it out. You can't teach it in a YouTube video.

George Lynch had some of that swing, and Warren De Martini could swing like a MoFo.

You hit the nail on the head, IMHO. 'Swing' and building a guitar passage are the defining factors between speed mechanics noodlers and entertaining geniuses, who can sway audiences.