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Topic: Amazing Bassist |
Roy Ayres
From:
Riverview, Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 7 Dec 2008 12:20 pm |
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Flight of the Bumble Bee on Bass
_________________
Pioneers of Western Swing HOF, Seattle 2005
Western Swing Music HOF, Sacramento 2006
International Steel Guitar HOF, St.Louis 2007
Visit my Web Site at RoysFootprints.com
Browse my Photo Album and be sure to sign my Guest Book. |
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 8 Dec 2008 8:36 am
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This guy is smoking!!!
_________________
DLD, Chili farmer. Plus bananas and papaya too.
Real happiness has no strings attached.
But pedal steels have many! |
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Dean Dobbins
From:
Rome, Ilinois, U.S.A. * R.I.P.
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Posted 8 Dec 2008 10:17 am
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Roy- that Bassist looked an awfully lot like Albert Lee. Could it be???
_________________
Dino |
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Pete Finney
From:
Nashville Tn.
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Posted 8 Dec 2008 10:36 am
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NOT Albert Lee!
In my humble and contrary opinion: fast, yes, but with mediocre tone and with really nothing musical to communicate beyond showing off, which is cool up to a point I guess but doesn't do anything for me.
There's a lot of bass players I know that could do that, but I'm glad they don't! 
On the other hand, Jaco Pastorious playing "Donna Lee" solo is very fast and impressive on a technical level, but even though the notes fly by incredibly fast his gorgeous singing tone still shines through AND it has an incredible sense of time and groove (which this definitely does not have in my humble opinion). |
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Kevin Hatton
From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted 8 Dec 2008 9:29 pm
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| Wasted energy. Too many strings to be a good bass player. |
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 8 Dec 2008 10:01 pm
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Then check him doing the 'Miles Davis' latin thing.
It's mis-labled, not Miles I don't think,
but the guy is great on it. Lovely feel, lovely hip solo on it, backs the girl singer very well.
Flight of the Bumblebee is one of the toughest pieces out there,
he has done it at admirable speed and darn hard to create tone
at the actual, correct notated speed for this piece.
It's a ball buster virtuoso on any instrument.
It is most often trumpet keys or violin doing it.
To do it on bass at this level is well worthy of note.
And this guy seems to have the WHOLE thing correct.
The only reason to not have a extra string bass these days,
is if you have nothing musical to say,
but are content being only a backing sideman.
This seems the preference of most country front men.
Keep that bass player out of my face. Of course you
often lose the best players by looking down on them that way.
If you have a musical mind, but also back people well,
when your few times come to actally express yourself,
it's nice to have a range and tambor to do it in.
_________________
DLD, Chili farmer. Plus bananas and papaya too.
Real happiness has no strings attached.
But pedal steels have many! |
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Pete Finney
From:
Nashville Tn.
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Posted 8 Dec 2008 10:14 pm
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I just saw Michael Rhodes (who's played on more cool records than I can count), play at my little neighborhood bar tonight on an old P-bass and he had plenty "musical to say"! Sometimes he plays a 5 string which is cool too of course...
Jaco did alright with 4 strings...
It's not what you got, it's how you use it... |
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Roy Ayres
From:
Riverview, Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 9 Dec 2008 7:00 am
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That is Jeff Corallini (France). Tone or no tone, he still fascinates me -- especially his right hand.
_________________
Pioneers of Western Swing HOF, Seattle 2005
Western Swing Music HOF, Sacramento 2006
International Steel Guitar HOF, St.Louis 2007
Visit my Web Site at RoysFootprints.com
Browse my Photo Album and be sure to sign my Guest Book. |
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P Gleespen
From:
Toledo, OH USA
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 9 Dec 2008 9:11 am
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As you can see it's MUCH more work and many more jumps on 4 string.
You can do the same smoother and more musically with the extra strings.
Love his Yardbird Suite.
Guys smoking.
Back to the wood shed for me....
Ah but then check out ~Dixie and then dis him...
_________________
DLD, Chili farmer. Plus bananas and papaya too.
Real happiness has no strings attached.
But pedal steels have many! |
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Kevin Hatton
From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted 9 Dec 2008 10:03 am
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| I'm really not impressed with lead guitar bass players. Once you have had the experience of watching Michael Rhodes at Ocean Wave Studio in Nashville record with his vintage P bass its all down hill from there as far as I'm concerned. Technical ability does not equal soul. |
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Glenn Suchan
From:
Austin, Texas
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 9 Dec 2008 1:17 pm
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Here is a guy who plays an old standard "Taking a Chance on Love" on 6 string electric bass solo.
I like these guys who are playing things adventurous things on elec. Bass.
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?azwvu3ujhcz |
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Glenn Suchan
From:
Austin, Texas
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Posted 9 Dec 2008 5:43 pm
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| Quote: |
The only reason to not have a extra string bass these days,
is if you have nothing musical to say,
but are content being only a backing sideman.
This seems the preference of most country front men.
Keep that bass player out of my face. Of course you
often lose the best players by looking down on them that way. |
David, do you mean an extra instrument, or more than 4 strings on a bass? If you meant the later, Pete Finney's reference to Jaco is a good example of my opinion: If you are truly an accomplished bassist, you can play any genre and amaze your audience and your peers, too with just a 4-string bass.
If you noticed my links in the earlier response, Brian Bromberg played everything on the YouTube vids with a 4-string bass violin or a 4-string electric bass. Also, most of his recorded music is on 4-string basses, too. Edgar Meyer is another example of someone who gets by just fine with a 4-string bass violin; Rob Wassermann is another that comes to mind.
Here's another YouTube link to a trio of 4-stringers, Edgar Meyer, the late great Ray Brown, and Victor Wooten. Nothin' stagnant here. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGwYVDTDOfA
Oh yeah, here's Jennifer Leitham. Great even though she plays backward  :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfJ3k9oSMyY
Keep on pickin'!
Glenn |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 9 Dec 2008 9:05 pm
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Like the guy in the joke kept hearing on his first trip to Africa:
"Drums stop...very bad"
_________________
Bob |
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 9 Dec 2008 10:30 pm
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I also play 4 string contrebass violin with bow.
I am a big fan of Edgar Meyer.
John Patitucci plays both upright and 6 string electric. Each is a different thing. Each has it's place.
I do know one awesome player in Paris who plays
a 6 string UPRIGHT acoustic bass. He plays with
L'Orchestra de Contrebasses de Paris. He is very musical.
He also played with Grappelli and the Paris Symphony.
Jaco played 4 string fretless partly because 5-6-7 string basses
were barely known and not well built at that time.
They were just begining to come in when he passed on.
I was the following bassplayer to him in a country band
in NYC of all things, he had played a 5 string
with them for 3 nights. Till I appeared.
So it's not like he never did play 5 strings,
he just wasn't known for it.
The 60's Fender Precision 6 string Bass
was a monster and a back breaker.
The newer bass and multi-piece cross bonded necks
are much more stable and the technology moved ahead
enough to make it practical.
I sight read charts for Chuck Lettes with Jim Stalhut at ISGC
a few years back, on 6 string bass, and gladly backed them up
as they needed it and made it have good feel,
and then Chuck waved me for a solo. His call.
I played it melodically, and got an ovation from the audience.
Even a Sunday AM country preferring audience got
the musical message. It's not the type of instrument,
it's the music coming from it that matters.
And though I wasn't there, I was gratified that
Jim and Reece were looking for me to play for them
on their set at ISGC a year or so later.
So it seems not all players want bass players to be wall paper.
6-7 strings gives you options, and it is
not a determiner of styles to be played.
_________________
DLD, Chili farmer. Plus bananas and papaya too.
Real happiness has no strings attached.
But pedal steels have many! |
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Glenn Suchan
From:
Austin, Texas
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Posted 10 Dec 2008 5:24 am
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David, I 'm not sure what your point is. Are you defending players of basses with more than 4 strings, or are you saying that if you don't play a bass with more than 4 strings, you're just sideman-hack with nothing creative to contribute to a performance? Regarding 5, 6, 7, or 8 string basses, my feelings are the same as with 4 string basses: if you know what you're doing , musically, and have a little creativity, you can be a vital part of a performance. Even be a major contributor, melodically. That was the point of all my YouTube links.
Bob, your reference to the musical joke: "Drums stop...very bad (bass solo start)" is hilarious. And I appreciate your tongue (deeply imbedded) in cheek, humor.... but don't get me started on musician jokes. I'm liable to unleash a barrage of bag pipe jokes. 
Keep on pickin',y'all!
Glenn |
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 10 Dec 2008 6:11 am
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Glenn, I am biting back at the 4 string is the
'only appropriate bass' bias.
Which I saw expressed above.
It used to be ANY electric bass was poor taste personified.
Now many bluegrass bands tour with a Fender Precision these days.
I normally played upright for bluegrass, but some gigs we couldn't take it,
two players got weird for an hour when all I had to play
was a 6 string bass.
UNTIL they heard me play basiclly the exact same parts on it.
And my occasional called solos were better.
My '63 Precision and other 4 string AND fretless 4 string
were stolen and yes that was all I had to play...
but I have never replaced the 4 strings either.
It does come down to good taste.
But some seem to have it in their heads that
just having a 6 string bass, automatically means
poor taste in playing.
To me it means you need not jump 6-8 frets to get
two notes that fit musically in good taste.
I am saying not all those content to play 4 strings are bad players,
but if you arbitrarily limit your choices to ONLY
4 string players, then your are arbitrarily
losing out on many fine tasteful players.
_________________
DLD, Chili farmer. Plus bananas and papaya too.
Real happiness has no strings attached.
But pedal steels have many! |
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Glenn Suchan
From:
Austin, Texas
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Posted 10 Dec 2008 6:47 am
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David, thanks for your clarification. It appears we're "on-the-same-page" regarding this issue. No musician should be judged by the instrument they make music with. Only by the music they make. 
Now for something completely different, and as threatened....
Q. What's the difference between a dead bagpiper in the road and a dead country singer in the road?
A. The country singer may have been on the way to a recording session.
Q. Why do bagpipers walk when they play?
A. To get away from the sound.
Q. What's one thing you never hear people say?
A. Oh, that's the bagpipe player's Porsche.
Q. Why do bagpipe bands march when they play?
A. Moving targets are harder to hit.
and lastly....
Q. How can you tell if a bagpipe is out of tune?
A. Someone is blowing into it.
Feliz Navidad, y'all!
Glenn |
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 10 Dec 2008 10:58 am
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How can you tell if there's LIVE bagpipper in the road.
You hear the Doppler pitch shift of a Peterbilt
blowing it's horn while passing you by,
but can't find the truck!
I have played with well over 2 dozen bagpipers.
Some perfect for clearing roooms and pealing paint.
Others were astoundingly musical.
Especially Ullian pipers.
Who can change chords on the fly.
I also know two pipers who driver Mercedes.
_________________
DLD, Chili farmer. Plus bananas and papaya too.
Real happiness has no strings attached.
But pedal steels have many! |
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Glenn Suchan
From:
Austin, Texas
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Posted 10 Dec 2008 12:46 pm
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| Quote: |
| I also know two pipers who drive Mercedes. |
That's great, David. Who do they drive for? Sorry, I couldn't resist that remark.
Q. What's the difference between the Great Highland and Northumbrian bagpipes?
A. The Great Highland burns longer. But the Northumbrian burns hotter.
Q. How do you make a chain saw sound like a bagpipe?
A. Add vibrato.
Q. What's the difference between a lawnmower and a bagpipe? [Part 1]
A. You can tune the lawnmower.
Q. What's the difference between a lawnmower and a bagpipe? [Part 2]
A. The owner of a lawnmower is upset if you borrow and don't return it. The neighbors of an owner of bagpipes are upset if you borrow and DO return it.
Keep on pickin'!
Glenn |
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P Gleespen
From:
Toledo, OH USA
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Posted 10 Dec 2008 5:13 pm
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| Bob Hoffnar wrote: |
Like the guy in the joke kept hearing on his first trip to Africa:
"Drums stop...very bad" |
That is still my absolute favorite bass joke.
The statement about 5 and 6 string basses being not well built in the "old days" is exactly the reason I never had more than 4. I couldn't afford a 5 stringer that sounded anywhere nearly as good as a 4.
Nowadays, I've got no reason to be spending any money on basses at all. I'm spending it all on steels! (ba-bing! ...except for the part about not having any money to spend on anything these days...)
_________________
Patrick |
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 10 Dec 2008 7:00 pm
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The old Fender 6 was a good sounding axe, but just a monster to where.
Everything else was unstable for 20+ years after that.
Now there are pretty solid, stable and light enough.
Two ladies were walking along when they
came across a talking frog.
The frog said; "I used to be the
'greatest bass player in the world',
I made lots of money, traveled the world
and life was great for me and my lady.
But a wicked witch turned me into a frog
because I wouldn't date her. If a pretty lady
kisses me I will turn back into the 'greatest
bassplayer in the world', I'll made lots of
money, will again travel the world,
and life will be great for me and my lady."
The ladies look at each other,
one looks at the frog,
picks it up and puts it in her pocket,
and they walk on.
Finaly the other lady, rather curious, asks;
"Why did you put the frog in your pocket,
why not just kiss it and it will turn back
into the 'greatest bass player in the world',
making lots of money, and taking you traveling
the world, that life would be great."
The other lady said.
"Don't worry I can make a lot more money with
a talking frog, than I can with the
greatest bass player in the world."
_________________
DLD, Chili farmer. Plus bananas and papaya too.
Real happiness has no strings attached.
But pedal steels have many! |
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David Mason
From:
Cambridge, MD, USA
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Posted 10 Dec 2008 7:17 pm
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I have this weird thing about tone - if something sounds better, it makes me want to play it more. I don't like the actual sound of low B strings on electric basses very much, even with all the tricks - 35" (or 36"!) scale, active preamps, bare core strings, $4,000 wood, etc. They just sound too thumpy and not enough singy...
If you go over to that bass site talkbass.com and search for "B string" at least half the posts are asking about how to "fix" the tone. And if you watch the vids closely, you'll see the five- and six-stringers actually use the B for a thumbrest, mebbe 5% of their notes come off that 20% of the axe? I know it's good for the occasional dip down when you're in higher positions, but tone is tone, hmmm.
But I sure like range, and fretless solidbody tone, so I made a five-string Warmoth short-scale fretless with a high C - now I can't stop playing it, it's my favorite instrument of the past year for sure. If these puppies had been in music stores in 1965, the world would be a different place...
30.5" scale makes the chords easier. And of course the world really needs another bass player playing Bach cello suites with a wah-wah....  |
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 10 Dec 2008 8:36 pm
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The trick with these low strings is not
pluck them as hard as the regular E string.
Don't expect the same speed of notes either.
if you take it for what it is and can do,
rather than what it is not, then it is useful.
I use the D more than lower, but the C is cool
for things with horns in F.
It is good as ending or pedal point.
Ya just gotta let them ring longer to develop their tone.
It's a longer wave length to get out.
_________________
DLD, Chili farmer. Plus bananas and papaya too.
Real happiness has no strings attached.
But pedal steels have many! |
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