Bilbo

The separation is not brilliant on that one but I will have a look later on and see what I can do.

Can you believe that this is the first Dave Holland tune I have transcribed this year (the last one was published on New Years Eve)? This is the complete Dave Holland part for the tune 'Miles Ahead' from the 1993 Joe Henderson masterpiece, 'So Near, So Far: Musings For Miles'. One of my all-time favourite albums, I have bought it three times (cassette, CD and download). I know every note on this whole album - it's just perfect. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/miles-ahead-joe-henderson/

I am on a Garcia-Fons buzz at the moment. This is the tune 'Bahar Zamin'' from the Derya Turkan/Renaud Garcia-Fons 2014 duo recording 'Silk Moons'. Not impossible but there are a lot of challenges in the read due to the changing time signatures and the 8va sections. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/bahar-zamani-derya-turkan-renaud-garcia-fons/

Another one from the same guy (he helpfully composes some simple short tunes amongst the epics!). This is a tune called ‘La Demoiselle De Ceret’ (‘The Lady Of Ceret’) from his 2010 recording ‘Méditerranées – A Mediterranean Journey’. A short but relatively simple piece with a lot of his signature grace notes. It is playable pizz. but it’s beauty is in the bowed note. The whole thing should be played 8va. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/la-demoiselle-de-ceret-renaud-garcia-fons/

I have been wanting to get some of this guy's stuff down on paper for a long time (I have an excerpt on here somewhere). I came across this one today. It is a duet with French lute/therebo player Claire Antonini. The important thing to note here is that Garcia-Fons plays a five-string double bass with a high C (not a low B) so that means there are some very high notes and a lot of the chart is written 8va. For transparency's sake, I should tell you that I tune my own five-string double bass the same way as RGF which is one of the reasons I am drawn to this guy. Also for the record, I can't play this in tune (yet). https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/nove-alla-turca-renaud-garcia-fons/

I had to 'repair' 'Prelude/Angry Young Man' when a website user noticed an error. There a many. I correct when I see them and if I can (older charts are not available as editable scores).

I understood that Berlin is playing/recreating Clapton's solo on that, Dave, but I may be wrong.

Another sedate tune from Duke Ellington, the wonderful 'Isfahan' from the 1967 album, 'The Far East Suite'. Simple but stunning. You don't need to be Mohini Dey to pull this chart off!! https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/isfahan-duke-ellington/

I have been working on the Patitucci part for 'Spain' of the Akoustic Band record but I have abandoned it for now. It's just too hard. I went to this because it was the antithesis of 'Spain'. Jimmy Woode's bass part for 'The Star Crossed Lovers' from the Duke Ellington masterpiece 'Such Sweet Thunder'. All the notes are on mostly minims on the beat - easiest thing in the world to read - this one is simple note recognition of beginners. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/the-star-crossed-lovers-duke-ellington/

Can't get enough of that band. I always say they are the one band I would play in a tribute band for 😆

I am working on a another monster at the moment but wanted to keep things moving so here is another 'easy' chart (easy enough to play but there are challenges in the reading). From the 1972 Deep Purple album, 'Machine Head', the complete Roger Glover bass part to ' Maybe I'm a Leo' (actually, I am....) https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/maybe-im-a-leo-deep-purple/

Back from the break and a stinking cold, this is a very simple chart to get back into the thing. Ray Drummond's bass part to the tune Duke Ellington tune 'Melancholia' from the 1983 Wynton Marsalis album, 'Think Of One'. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/melancholia-wynton-marsalis/

I have been a fan of Neil's playing since the National Health and Colosseum II days. Here is my transcription of my favourite NM track, 'Down To You' from the Colosseum II album 'Strange New Flesh'. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/down-to-you-colosseum-ii/

I'm going to get me one of these.

Thanks for the reply, JPJ. I will put this on the shopping list along with a suitable replacement for the dying amp.

I have a problem and it looks like this piece of kit may present a solution. I have long been using an Acoustic Image Clarus using both a pick up AND a microphone for my double bass. My amp is looking like it may be on its way out and, as we all know, AI are no longer operating. I have various options for replacing the amp but none of them have two channels I can use to continue with the pick up/mic approach. This looks like it may do the job ( I have used a Fishman pre-amp to date but that is getting old now as well). Can anyone confirm that it has phantom power on the mic line and whether you can use both inputs simultaneously? It looks promising but I am an idiot when it comes to tech so need the help of a grown up. Many thanks.

I have just noticed that it happens even if there is no instrument plugged into the amp and if the mute button is on or off.

I got a reply from the son of the manufacturer with some snagging documents I have shared with my repair bloke. I will let you know if we get an outcome.

I will check and let you know. I am watching Asia as we speak!

I had an Electric Blue amp head. Loved it but the extension can got nicked out of my car at Aust services nr. Bristol (along with a GK MB150 combo) in the early 90s. Someone was in the car as well. I always covetted a Redhead but it never appeared. Ended up with an Eden Metro instead.

That's just how the repair bloke left them. Ironically, even with the EQ set like that, it still sounds brilliant with my brother's Ibanez SDGR bass plugged in. Until the howl kicks in. Another thing is that the howl volume is not louder or quieter depending on where the volume is on the amp.

Can anyone explain this? The amp has developed a fault that two people have been unable to identify. The amp has developed a n intermittent fault where it 'howls' for a few seconds at a time. When it is howling, there is no instrument signal getting through. When it is not howling, it sounds perfect, not the slightest hum. Here is a video of the howl. It happens on both channels with an instrument plugged in or not. It's not the instrument, the leads or the speaker. The fault is definitely in the amp. Acoustic Image are no longer operating so I can't go back to the source although there is an email address on the website I have contacted and am waiting for a response. Any ideas? PXL_20260130_111344793.TS~2.mp4

I will be busy for the next week or two so won't be posting. You'll have to make do with the 800+ that are already there 😎 Back early Feb.

A bit of unbridled joy this evening. The bass player is Pete Morgan with the Dudley Moore Trio playing the evergreen 'The More I See You' and comes from a 1971 video on YouTube. Swings beautifully. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/the-more-i-see-you-dudley-moore-trio/

From the 2016 Richard Bona Mandekan Cubnao/Heritage album, the tune is 'Santa Clara Con Montuno'. Unreadable because of the ghost notes - it's too much. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/santa-clara-con-montuno-richard-bona/