Ray

[quote name='bilbo230763' post='422234' date='Mar 1 2009, 09:39 AM']I made a lot of progress trying to name intervals on the fly (hearing something on a record, tv, even ringtones and working out the sequence without an instrument - its hard when you start but it does get easier. When you recognise the fact that most harmonic movement is within a half octave, you soon realise that there are generally only 5 options! It less intimidating already.[/quote] +1 I can't recommend learning intervals by ear enough. I've managed to compose whole songs and work out songs I've heard on the radio in my head, without an instrument, just by knowing the basic intervals by ear.

[quote name='lonestar' post='419821' date='Feb 26 2009, 08:39 AM']Are there enough of us for an Essex BassBash then?[/quote] There must be! Welcome. It's great here! Ray (Westcliff)

[url="http://www.fender.co.uk/support/usa_instruments.php"]http://www.fender.co.uk/support/usa_instruments.php[/url] Hope this helps! R

I would have to say... Grant Green Ivan "Boogaloo" Joe Jones Eddie Roberts

[quote name='Crazykiwi' post='391226' date='Jan 25 2009, 08:56 PM']Ray! Wow! Bernard Purdie? That's amazing. Did you get any souvenir snaps? How did you find locking in with him? Did he flatter your playing? I've just had a listen of your bands myspace and love what you do Nice track with Noel McKoy too.[/quote] No photos unfortunately. Playing with him was so easy and natural. We locked in straight away and he seemed to know where to put all the pushes and syncopated bits in the turnaround. I don't really remember that much about it. It was quite surreal. I just remember thinking "I'm playing with Bernard Purdie. I'm actually playing with Bernard Purdie. Don't screw it up!" Thanks for the postive comments!

[quote name='molan' post='390313' date='Jan 24 2009, 12:19 PM'] [/quote] That cowbell groove at 2:18!! Awesome.

How was my gig last night? INCREDIBLE!!! We were at the Jazz Cafe in Camden supporting The Godfathers Of Groove. Stage setup was a little odd with 2 drum kits on stage. We had to set up around the Godfather's gear. Anyway, we were playing our last number and I saw someone coming down the stairs onto the stage and sit behind the other drum kit. This guy started playing drums with us!! You should have seen our drummers face when he looked round to see who it was. He nearly sh*t himself. It was only BERNARD PURDIE playing drums with us!!!!!!! He's one of my favourite drummers of all time and our drummers ultimate hero. After the show Bernard came into our dressing room and said that he loved what we were doing and was feeling the groove so much he couldn't resist joining us onstage. We're doing the same show tonight. Hopefully he'll feel the urge to join us onstage again. I still can't believe I played with Bernard Purdie last night!

Just added the bridge cover, thumb rest and changed the tort guard for a black one.

[quote name='alexclaber' post='388302' date='Jan 22 2009, 10:39 AM']I play on the hihat side unless there's a good reason not to. Most drummers face over to that side so it's easier to keep eye contact with them.[/quote] Same here. I play regularly with 2 drummers - one right-handed, the other a lefty and I always stand hi-hat side.

I have a pair of Yamaha MSP3's that I was really impressed with when I used them. I have no use for them anymore. [url="http://uk.yamaha.com/en/products/music_production/speakers/msp3/"]http://uk.yamaha.com/en/products/music_pro.../speakers/msp3/[/url] PM me if you're interested. Cheers

The Godfathers Of Groove Reuben Wilson, Bernard Purdie and Grant Green Jnr play London's Jazz Cafe this coming Friday and Saturday evening! The Fantastics! provide support both nights as they celebrate the success of their most recent single - the new club anthem 'Soul Child' and the up-coming launch of their forthcoming album 'Mighty Righteous' in February on Freestyle Records. Fusing funk, soul-jazz, wailing horns and throbbing Hammond organ, The Fantastics! are no strangers to the international scene, having played across Europe and shared the stage with The Herbaliser, The New Mastersounds, Marva Whitney and Poets Of Rhythm. They've performed 2 live sessions for Mark Lamarr for BBC Radio 2, as well as the Craig Charles Funk & Soul Show for BBC 6 Music.

I just got my first set of custom moulded ER15 plugs. I used to use the 'off the shelf' ER20s. I really couldn't get into the music with the ER20s, I felt so detached so I went for the custom plugs. I've only used them at 2 rehearsals so far and I still feel quite detached from the music (not as much as the ER15s though) and I also struggle to hear the subtle things in my (and other's) playing - ghost notes etc. Do you think it's just a case of getting used to them or do other people experience the same?

Aguilar AG500SC head + GS112 cab for rehearsals. Loud, lightweight and fits in the boot of a Fiesta with room to spare. I add a second GS112 cab for gigs.

I'm no expert but I reckon you may be able to pick up a second hand S1 Jazz for about £500. The S1 switch wires the pickups in series to give a much fatter sound similar to a P. Best of both worlds in one instrument. Alternatively, adding a series switch to a standard J is cheap and pretty simple to do (so I've heard).

[quote name='Paul S' post='350477' date='Dec 10 2008, 10:50 AM']So - southeast Essex is ankle deep in bassists! Lovely. Or, at least, used to be before everyone left . Ray - just listening to your myspace entries as I type - awesome! - do you gig locally?[/quote] Hi Paul, London is as local as we get. Would be good to do some more local gigs but there aren't many suitable venues unfortunately. Cheers.

Welcome Paul! (I'm just down the road in Westcliff-on-Sea)

[quote name='jakesbass' post='340320' date='Nov 29 2008, 10:10 AM']On that video link you posted is none other than Bernard Purdie and I think Jerry Jemmott.[/quote] Yep! Shame Jerry isn't playing with them in January.

[quote name='The Funk' post='340430' date='Nov 29 2008, 01:08 PM'] Bernard Purdie is my favourite drummer of all time! You lucky bastard. Well done! Guestlist me up, dude![/quote] We usually get a guestlist of some kind when we play the JC. Normally half price entry or sometimes free entry if ticket sales are slow. We don't normally find out until 1-2 weeks before though. I'll let you know...

[quote name='Mike' post='339922' date='Nov 28 2008, 05:42 PM']Sam Yahel trio.......?[/quote] [url="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=NvZlTKIEW6Q"]Godfathers Of Groove[/url] [quote name='Paul Cooke' post='339934' date='Nov 28 2008, 05:56 PM']to sit in would require you leaving your rig set up... and you're supposed to have removed it before they start anyway...[/quote] I'll be using the house rig which is left on stage so that wouldn't be an issue. [quote name='bassace' post='340074' date='Nov 28 2008, 09:20 PM']It's most unlikely you'll be invited. So, do you play regularly in a band that plays the same sort of stuff and are you super-competent? Is the venue an 'intimate' and informal one? Have you sat in with bands before, sometimes at no notice? Do you know the guys in the trio - do they know you? Do you know their repertoire? If the answer is 'yes' to all these (or most) then if you're brave you may consider contacting the main man a week in advance and asking.[/quote] We play the same sort of stuff - funk & soul jazz. Super-competent? Competent, I'd say. It's at the Jazz Cafe in Camden so quite a prestigious venue. I have met the guys in the band before. We opened for them at the Jazz Cafe earlier this year and had the pleasure of having dinner with the drummer before the show. They're really really easy going, friendly guys which makes me think it wouldn't be a problem if someone asked to sit in with them. They had a sax player sit in last time they played. [quote name='OldGit' post='340094' date='Nov 28 2008, 09:59 PM']Oh and that trio probably has no bass player for a reason - like the organist does it with his feet or left hand, so there may be no sonic "room" anyway..[/quote] They do play with a bass player sometimes. [quote name='The Funk' post='340182' date='Nov 29 2008, 12:28 AM']Don't ask to sit in. Invite them to an after hours jam instead. Don't forget to pick their brains as much as possible without being a knob.[/quote] This is probably what I'll do. Thanks for the response everyone. Much appreciated. Ray

My band are doing a support gig in January and I was thinking of asking if I could sit in on a couple of numbers with the headline band. Thing is, these guys are legends and it will be nerve wracking enough just talking to them let alone asking if I can play with them! They have no bassist as it's an organ trio. I'd be grateful for any advice on the best way to go about it. Cheers, Ray

Up the dusty end: In Venice: In Switzerland: