Bilbo

I love this guy's writing. If you want to fall in love with Jazz all over again, you could do a lot worse than checking out everything that Puerto Rican alto saxophonist Miguel Zenon has ever done; as a leader and as a sideman. I have so many of his recording and every second is astonishing. His writing for rhythm sections is unparalleled. This is the written part for the tune 'De Donde Vienes? (Overture)' from Zenon's 2-14 CD 'identities Are Interchangeable'. It is not as hard as it looks but is great fun to play. For those who are wondering, the title means 'Where Are You'? in Spanish. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/de-donde-vienes-miguel-zenon/

Another great tune that i s ridiculously easy to play. This is a modified bass part for the tune 'At The End Of The Day' from the 1980 Mike Rutherford album 'Smallcreeps Day'. I say modified because a lot of the chart is not a bass but a synth bass and I had to tweak it to make it work on a 4-string. It is just a simple chart for developing readers to have a crack out straight out of the box. A couple of 7:8 bars to watch for but, otherwise, like falling off a log. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/at-the-end-of-the-day-mike-rutherford/

I remember attending a couple of clinics at the Bass Centre. Both Jeff Berlin. I bought a Bass Rockman there but that was it. No basses or amps. Didn't know the staff. I wasn't cool enough. Still aren't.

Dood's right. I did a bit of teaching about 30 years ago but I quickly learned that I wasn't very good at it. Teaching is not playing and playing is not teaching. I recall a conversation I had with Jim Mullen once where he was discussing something and mentioned his teacher. This guy had won the UK Jazz Guitarist of the year a million times and still had lessons. That's wisdom. I won't be teaching anyone again. I am happy to discuss things and share thoughts and ideas but I won't take money off people to do it. A good teacher is precious thing.

My favourite album of all time. The whole thing is exquisite.

The Eric Revis bass part to the tune 'Treat It Gentle' from the 2012 Branford Marsalis Quartet album, 'Four MFs Playing Tunes'. A lovely simply New Orleans two feel - an easy read and something for new readers to feel good about. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/treat-it-gentle-branford-marsalis-quartet/

I think that the greatest difficulty that anyone has in developing their own style is in realising that you already have it. Our individual development as players is the consequence of a million individual experiences including what we hear, what we like, what we are shown by teachers and what we discover ourselves. I have taught a few people over the years and NONE of them sounds remotely like me. I think the argument that going to a teacher will result in one developing someone else's style is one of those justifications that make you feel better about the things you HAVEN'T done. I hear it a lot about reading music - 'it will rob my playing of all feeling and emotion'. Teachers give you knowledge and insights that you lack - nothing more and nothing less. They don't tie you up in a straightjacket. Most teachers are not bass players and don't give you lessons, they just expose you to new ideas or information you previously lacked. My two most important lessons were with a drummer and a trumpet player and lasted about 15 seconds each. Formal lessons are a great way of accelerating progress but, in music, 99% of your learning is undertaken without a teacher being present. A teacher gives you tools. How you use them is up to you.

Backwards

I thought Camel's Colin Bass was a great name for a bass player. Or a fisherman.

Jeff Berlin had the Peavey Palladium, the Dean Jeff Berlin and now the Cort Rithmic IV and V. Then there was the Markbass CMD 151P and the Markbass Jeff Berlin Players Combo. It is not surprising that people who are high profile are having these instruments. It's another income stream. The thing that gets me is how Fender seems to be able to just paint a Jazz a different colour, add anyone's name to it and double the price.

I have absolutely no idea whatsoever. It was a long time ago and not something that I retained. Can't even begin to guess.

Anthony Jackson's head only bass part to the Joe Henderson tune 'Caribbean Fire Dance' from the 1992 Steve Khan album 'Headline'. Jackson is everything we should aspire to; great groove, outstanding and original note choices, instantly recognisable sound etc. A serious, serious player. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/caribbean-fire-dance-steve-khan/

Another set of guitar transcriptions I did recently, this is the full Five Glimpses from the 2006 Ralph Towner album, 'Timeline'. I did them because they were easy and I am trying to get into guitar transcribing as a hobby. And I want to get the total number of transcriptions on the website up to 500 and it is now on 480 so its within touching distance. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/five-glimpses-ralph-towner/

In case it is any use to anyone, this is my transcription of Al Di Meola's solo guitar version of 'With A Little Help From Me Mates' from his 2013 album, 'All Your Life; a tribute to The Beatles'. Yes, it is a guitar part. Get over it. 🙃 https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/with-a-little-help-from-my-friends-al-di-meola/

This may be one of the easiest charts to read on here - Richard Bona's part on the tune 'If Only' from the 2004 Mike Stern album, 'These Times'. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/if-only-mike-stern/

Another one off that Jon Anderson 'Animation' album, Stefano Cerri's bass part to 'Unlearning (The Dividing Line'. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/unlearning-the-dividing-line-jon-anderson/

This one is impossible to read, impossible to play and impossible to transcribe. Andy West's bass part to the live recording of 'Patchwork' from the 1979 Dixie Dregs album 'Night Of The Living Dregs'. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/patchwork-the-dixie-dregs/

You need to learn to listen to your notes in context in a different way which requires a little discipline but, mostly, it's the same.

Re: Cerri, he pops quite a lot which, if I am correct, Giblin and Bruce never do. You can hear it all over the Animation album but not on the Spider track.

I heard this album when it came out and we were all blown away by this track. Someone reminded me of it today. Mo Foster's bass part on 'Into The Arena' from the first Michael Schenker Group LP (yes it is that old - 1980). Another Simon Phillips feast. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/into-the-arena-michael-schenker-group/

I looked up Stefano Cerri, the main bass player on the album, and found that he died in 2000. Bummer.

It's a mystery.....

I love this - a B-side that appeared as a bonus track on the re-releases of the 1982 Jon Anderson album 'Animation'. Some great playing here across the board but the recording is unclear on who plays bass on which tracks. I think the 'main' bass player on the recording was Italian Stefano Cerri but it also credits John Giblin (who played on the previous album, 'Song Of Seven') and Jack Bruce. I think this sounds like Bruce (and doesn't sound like the other two) but am open to challenge. This is the track 'Spider' (also referred to as 'The Spider' but I think that is wrong. But it doesn't matter as it is still a monster track). https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/spider-jon-anderson/ PS even if you don't want the chart, listen to the track - through headphones. You'll thank me for it!

Some Pop/Prog from a new band that are going to go places, this is the Mike Rutherford bass part for the Three Sides Live version of nobody's favourite Genesis track, 'Misunderstanding'. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/misunderstanding-genesis/