Bilbo

I don't know why I do this to myself sometimes. The latest incidence of self harm is the complete lunacy that is the Jimmy Johnson bass part for the tune 'Grasshopper' from the 1980 Wayne Johnson Trio album of the same name. If you haven't heard it before, you are in for a treat. This is probably as good as 'bass' playing gets and, having bought the record when it came out, I don't think I have heard anything that has bested it. Stunning stuff. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/grasshopper-wayne-johnson-trio/

A head only chart today. the tune is 'Scophile' from the 1990 John Patitucci album, 'Sketchbook', his third solo album. Yes, that was 45 years ago and it sounds as fresh today as it did then. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/scophile-john-patitucci-head-only/

Some more Latin lunacy, the complete Hans Glawischnig bass part for the tune 'Oyo Como Suena' from the 2006 Paoli Meijas album, 'Transcend'. I am so thrilled to be able to spend time with these grooves and successfully getting the details down so mere mortals that haven't learned this stuff at their mother's breast have a chance of figuring some of it out! https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/oye-como-suena-paoli-mejias/

Ooops! I transcribed 'A Potter's Song' from the 2015 Maria Schneider album, 'The Thompson Fields' but there is no online recording I can post on here (Schneider is very hostile about these media companies exploiting musicians - who can blame her). It's a beautiful tune to play, though, if you have the recording. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/a-potters-song-maria-schneider/

Something else from the Miguel Zenon catalogue, this is the tune 'Mariandá' from the 2005 album, 'Jibaro'. Very free for much of the performance but there is enough of a pulse to get it down on paper. A different way of playing music that isn't conventionally groove orientated. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/marianda-miguel-zenon/

Another request from a regular on Talkbass, this is the complete Michael Viñas performance of the tune 'Cuentas Del Alma' from the 1990, Rubén Blades album, 'Live'! More Latin goodness with some nice little nuances to stop things from getting boring. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/cuentas-del-alma-ruben-blades-y-son-del-solar/

A bit more Latin joy, this is the complete Michael Viñas performance of the tune 'Adan Garcia' from the 1992, Rubén Blades record 'Amor Y Control'. Simple once you have the thing down (root five octave mostly but pushing every bar so great for learning to master that feel). https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/adan-garcia-ruben-blades/

I love this stuff. This is the complete Hans Glawischnig bass part for the tune 'Taigo Salsa' from the 2019 Miguel Zenon album, 'Sonero: the music of Ismael Rivera'. Puerto Rican Latin in 9:4! What more can you ask for! https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/traigo-salsa-miguel-zenon/

Gary Willis's complete bass part for 'Punking Head' from the 1985 Tribal Tech album, 'Spears', including the solo. That's all of the album done now (there is no bass on the track 'Tribal') so I no longer fear death. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/punking-head-tribal-tech/

Some more AJ, this time a request from a regular. The complete AJ performance of the tune 'Southbound Traveller' from the 1991 Al Di Meola album, 'Kiss My Axe'. Not my favourite album but this one is great for practising reading notes on the low B string. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/southbound-traveller-al-di-meola/

The McLaughlin head made me think about this old chestnut that I played in a trio I led waaaay back. This is the head for a 12-bar blues in Bb from the 1991 Geri Allen album, 'The Nurturer'. It is called 'Batista's Groove' and it is a slippery little fellow. Give it a go and see what you think. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/batistas-groove-geri-allen/

This one just came across my desktop and I thought I would have a look to see where the head was going. This is the closing head at 4:28 of the tune 'Mr. D.C.' from a live recording by John McLaughlin and The 5th Dimension (2022) https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/adoracion-eddie-palmieri/

A bit of Latin on a sunny Sunday morning, this is the Andy Gonzalex bass part from the tune 'Adoración' from the 1973 album, 'Sentido' from the recently deceased Eddie Palmieri. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/adoracion-eddie-palmieri/

Got there at last. This is the complete bass performance of the tune 'Big Fun' from the first Tribal Tech album 'Spears' (1985). One more and I will have the whole album down. This was an important record for me (yes, it was on vinyl when I first got hold of it) and I loved Willis's sound and percolating lines but I couldn't get them at the time. Transcribing and playing along with this tune 40 years later, I am able to recognise how far I have come as a player - most of this stuff is relatively easy and reading the lines shows that the harmony was not as exotic as I thought at the time. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/big-fun-tribal-tech/

I am working on another intense Gary Willis/Tribal Tech chart but have also had some gigs and rehearsals this week so that's why it has gone quiet.

I think it is in this case, Chris. The point I was making is that, because I do a lot of transcribing where the details change on every chorus, I get out of the habit of using the repeats and codas etc. and I often don't even consider it, even when it would be helpful. As a result, some of my charts are 10 pages long which is ridiculous!

Repeats, Sine, Codas etc. It's the accepted way of reducing the repetition in the chart itself but, with my approach, I am writing EXACTLY what is being played so repetition is often not exact so, unless it is identical, I don't use repeats/sines/Codas etc. Sometimes I do, if the repeats are exactly the same but, with Jazz tunes, this is rarely the case. As for notes, key signatures can be as much as a hindrance as a help when there are loads of chromatic phrases and changing keys. I just got out of the habit of alloting key signatures. It's something I need to think about more carefully.

Another request (although I think there are loads of these out there already), the Chuck Rainey part for 'Josie' from the 1977 Steel Dan album, 'Aja'. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Josie-Chuck-Rainey-Bass.pdf

Had a look. I think there is only one note difference (although it repeats). The differences are Chris plays it 'slower' in terms of bpm and he also includes an E major key signature which I don't. Chris is correct whereas I, as a Jazzer, use accidentals to sharpen and flatten notes. He also does the correct thing in terms of the geography which I don't. I suspect Chris's chart is technically superior to mine but I played them both through and it's all good.

I counted twice as fast as Chris for starters so everything is going to sit differently. The first thing to remember is that a transcription is NOT the recording. Chris is hearing 73 bpm. I am hearing 146. I will have a closer look at Chris's transcription tomorrow to see whether that is the only difference. I am as interested as you are.

This one was for me. Chuck Rainey's part for 'Haitian Divorce' from the 1973 Steely Dan album, 'The Royal Scam'. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/haitian-divorce-steely-dan/

Another one from the same band/bass player, this is tune called 'Jesahel' from the 1997 Dirotta Su Cuba album, 'E’ Andata Così'. An Italian Miami Sound Machine! https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/jesahel-dirotta-su-cuba/

Another request; I don't know this band but it sounds like decent enough 80s Pop (although the album is from 1995). Italian band Dirotta Su Cuba featuring bassist Stefano De Donato on the tune 'Liberi Di Liberi Da'. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Liberi-Di-Liberi-Da-Stefano-De-Donato-Bass.pdf

Another request received through the website, this is the Étienne Mbappé bass part for the tune 'Djanea' from the 1989 Ultramarine album, 'Dé'. A monster part but, once you know what you are doing, its surprising how much you can achieve. That's what I love about reading. It shows you that its all possible, even this crazy s***. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/djanea-ultramarine/

I can't even remember who asked for this - somewhere on one of the online forums (not Basschat). The complete Mike Rutherford part to 'No Reply At All' from the 1981 Genesis album, 'ABACAB'. I can't believe it was release4 44 years ago! https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/No-Reply-At-All-Mike-Rutherford-Bass.pdf