Bilbo

Geddy Lee's bass part to the tune 'Red Lenses' from the 1984 'Grace Under Pressure' album - it was around this time that I parted company with them but I did come back with later albums. Massive soft spot for these guys; I just loved their camaraderie and energy.

https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/red-lenses-rush/

Bit of a slow day today but I don't want to not post something so here is the first Minuet from the Bach Cello Suite in G Major. Something to chew on whilst I work on Wagner's Ring Cycle.

https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/cell-suite-no-i-in-g-major-meneut-bach/

I am not a masshoosive fan of Frank Zappa although I very much respect his artistry. He took the whole thing into areas where no-one else dared to go and his musicianship and compositional acumen are undeniable but I sometimes think he forgets to make thing beautiful and overemphasises the ‘cleverness’ of it all. I also came to it late so I was elsewhere in terms of my headspace so maybe I didn’t give him a fair listening. This track is an exception, of course, and I always think of it as Zappa’s ‘hit single’. The part is a tough read because there are a few ‘odd’ notes in there (I would go as far as to say they are wrong/poor choices but you can’t be sure with Zappa!).

This is the bass part (as far as I could figure it out from the mix) to ‘Peaches En Regalia’ from the 1969 Zappa album ‘Hot Rats’.

https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/peaches-en-regalia-frank-zappa/

A request from Kesslari on Talkbass, this is the Rossana Nicolosi bass part from the track 'Electric Man' from the 1009 Billy Cobham album, 'Drum and Voice - Vol. 3'. Incredible groove - especially the closing sections.  I could not finish the transcription as it is really challenging to find the details when there is so much repetition and long passage with no chord changes. Great workout though, even if you only learn four bars and put a metronome on (just don't tell Jeff). Another player who should have a bigger profile than she has.

https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/electric-man-billy-cobham-with-brian-auger/

I though this would be a little light relief after the Camilo/Tribal Tech epics but it wasn't. Bloody slapping. I hates it, I does (transcribing it, not hearing it). This is the Stefano Cerri bass part for the tune 'Surrender' from the 1982 Jon Anderson album, 'Animation'. A fantastic record that has never been off my playlists since the year it came out.

https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/surrender-jon-anderson/

A request from Talkbass, this is the bass part (sample?) to the tune 'Sometimes' by the Phil Palmer Project which featured on a TV soundtrack called 'Tre Uomini E Una Gamba' (Three Men and a Leg, I believe. A spoof on 'some other movie').

https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/sometimes-phil-palmer-project/

Second track from the Michel Camilo 'Suntan' album, this is 'Tombo in 7:4'. I did this one for me. It is 10 pages long and took me three days to complete. It's less messy than cutting.....

https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/tombo-in-74-michel-camilo/

Hey, Dad! How are you doing?

Look, you have all been neglecting yourselves in my absence. Let's get back on track......

On 04/05/2025 at 10:03, dutchwife said:

Hey B, great track. I wonder if this may help? 
https://www.ytbmp3.la/

Seems legit although I’ve not tried it myself. Good luck. 

That link has gone bad. Looks like someone got the 'ump?

Years in the making! This is the complete Anthony Jackson part for the tune 'We Three' from the 1986 Michel Camilo recording, 'Suntan'. This stuff is so challenging! Thanks to Gareth Hughes for the mp3.

https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/we-three-michel-camilo/

I did a little jam session thing yesterday, second gig in three years and I had no amp so went through the pa and sounded dreadful. There were poets and the usual string of lunatics but watching the tiny crowd watching enjoying themselves was life affirming and I realised that life is not about how I experience things but how WE do so. For that reason, it was a triumph. One lady who was celebrating her 70th birthday yesterday sidled up to me and said she had been volunteering at Rock Festivals for decades and had never heard anyone play bass like I did. She said, '...but I got it. I really did'. Made my little day. 😊

I am SO proud of this one. I got this album when it came out and have always loved this track particularly but there was no way I was ever going to be able to get it down on paper (I couldn't read then, anyway). Moises has allowed me to get right in there and I was able to listen to the details almost forensically and I think I have got almost every ghost note. There are a couple of bars that sound like he has flubbed a couple of notes but that can only be heard in a remixed version slowed down ay 50% (I had never noticed them before and it may be that I am not hearing it properly. If that is the case then I apologise to Mr. Willis unreservedly). I think I have got it pretty much.

This is the complete Gary Willis bass performance of the tune 'Caribbean' from the first Tribal Tech album, 'Spears' (1985 - that's 40 years ago - unbelievable).

https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/caribbean-tribal-tech/ 

You don't have to explain, Chris. Sometimes, you just have to do it because it is there ......

Interesting development - Moises cannot deal with a whole album (it stops at 20 minutes) so I will have to download each track individually. Not a problem but thought people might like to know!

Well that's done the trick, my friend, with no apparent ill-effects. Many thanks for the steer. I have been wanting to get to this all year. 

Thanks for the link. I will let you know how I get on.

Also released as 'In Trio', this six track album is a massive favourite for me. I want to do some transcriptions off it but, despite having had the LP on vinyl, I cannot find it anywhere as an MP3/download. I could buy the cd but I actually need the MP3 for the transcription so I can put it through the Moises app and the Transcribe! to slow it down. I don't have the gear necessary to convert a cd to an MP3 so simply buying a cd doesn't solve the problem.

Has anyone got an MP3 of this album they could share? I understand it is an iffy request but my intentions are honourable. If I could get a download commercially, I would but none of my sources work (NB I cannot buy from iTunes as my account is locked and they have been unable to help me unlock it - I am not sure if they have it but no-one else seems to). I would love to transcribe the whole thing if I can.

Can anyone help?

Special request. This is the Stanley Clarke part for 'Blues For Mingus' from the 1979 album, 'I Wanna Play For You'. As I understand it, it was a p***-take following Mingus's scathing attacks on Clarke in the music press - 'he can't play a Blues'. IT sounds like a p***-take to me anyway! 

https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/blues-for-mingus-stanley-clarke/

Another Jeff Berlin performance, this one achievable by us mere mortals, this is the tune Andre from the 1988 Kazumi Watanabe album 'The Spice Of Life Too'. No solo, just great part playing. One run that is challenging but you can ignore it without any detriment to the performance.

https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/andre-kazumi-watanbe/

I have the Octopus album and liked it but didn't love it. May give it another go....

We all love the stories. Stories make the world go around.

Great track.... Good choice, Chris.

I now have one each of the 4 and 5 string Cort Rithmics. They both sound great to me precisely because they are passive based and not overly 'hot'. I also like how each of them feels in my hands, the playability factor. I have not gigged the 5 yet but have had one trip out with the 4-string.

I have to admit, though, that I don't really know what I am talking about. Every bass I plays sounds like me  and it appears that there is **** all I can do about it.