Bilbo

I doubt that. I think it's just him. And I appreciate that kind of creativity more than flawless execution.

Oh - and someone tell Joe Lovano to stop Judy Silvano ruining his recordings.

I have to add Jeff Berlin into this mix. He is undoubtedly one of the most accomplished players on the scene in terms of advanced chordal technique, soloing etc etc. Nevertheless, he has the worst, thinnest, ickiest sound imaginable and chooses the worst tuines (Imagine, Tears In Heaven) to perform with some sort of pseudo-commercial intentions, his concepts are cringeworthy (Low Standards - a trio with a pianist who can also play bass so JB can do a 'lead' bass thing over the top of a walking double bass. I LOVED him with Bruford and Allan Holdsworth and Champions and Pump It were great (a couple of turkies in there but otherwise ok) but now and for the last couple of decades he is, for me, the 'cleverest bass player who I can't listen' to in the world. He needs a producer that can stand up to his 'I have this concept' b******.

[quote name='toneknob' timestamp='1442866321' post='2870154'] When you say "clean" do you mean acoustic btw? [/quote] No - clean note execution. If Al Di Meola plays sixteenth notes, you can hear every one. If Howe plays anything 'fast', it generally sounds scrappy as f***. It has it's own personality, though, whereas Al Di Meola can sound overly clinical.

Do you remember where you were when you heaard? I was in a flat in London having just moved in. I spoke to a friend who was working for Harvey Goldsmith and he had just heard the news through a roadie friend. At that time, I hadn't even heard that JP was in trouble in terms of his mental health etc.

Love his work. Wish him well.

Never. Repairs, yes. Service, no.

[quote name='toneknob' timestamp='1442841835' post='2869899'] Got any examples of this? [/quote] Siberian Khatru, parts of Relayer. He always sounds like he is playing one notch faster than he can and that it is all about to fall apart. Makes it edgy. Don't misinterpret me. I love most of his work and I think he is a highly underrated composer. But, compared to a clean player like, say Al Di Meola, he is all over the place. Hackett has some really clunky moments across the Genesis era and beyond but, again, I like his stuff (saw him at Reading in 1981 and somewhere else I can't remember).

Sometimes I think he's crap. Other times I love what he does (Firth of Fifth). Odd that. Same with Steve Howe. Brilliant and crap at the same time.

[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1442586980' post='2868035'] It was the Trace gear with 'eyebrows' EQ that did it for me, top marks sir (though I assume for that sort of gig it was provided?) [/quote] Yes, it was what was provided. I had GK/Swr back home but travelled to Vienne with just the Wal. The eq was my work. Always scooped it like that on my own Trace Eliot.

I have spent 30 years trying to play Parker's 'Passport' 😃

Sounds like a second Ten 2 ex may be worth trying.

That did occur to me. May be worth exploring!!

[quote name='GrammeFriday' timestamp='1442572375' post='2867867'] Très cool! Like the arty B&W - very [i]nouvelle vague, [/i]especially with the shades - but it's pity we can't see what shade of purple your shoes are! I'm guessing blackcurrant Chewits, maybe? [/quote] More a fetching lilac.

Simple question. I have a double bass set up I am very happy with: Acoustic Image Clarus and Ten2 Ex cab. I am not particularly happy with what it does for electric and I am about to start working in trio with a monster blues guitarist so need something with a little poke. I have gigged with this guy with the AI set up but I am not at all convinced Part of me thinks, do I just get another Ten2 Ex but another part of me says that won't work and that I should get a little Markbass combo. The questions are: Would the extra speaker do the job? If I went for a Markbass combo, which is the smallest one that would still cut it? Any thoughts, peeps?

'Solid' is an acceptable epithet that, to my ears, means 'competent', 'reliable' but not exceptional. There are many stages above 'solid' (virtuoso, monster etc) but, if you achieve 'solid' you are on the first 'proper' rung of the ladder and will work. If you haven't yet acheived 'solid', you are probably a lightweight

I use a Clarus with a Ten2 Ex with double bass and the Wal and it is loud enough for anything I do although I accept it's not brilliant for really loud Rock gigs (even then it is not a massive compromise). I heard Sam Vicary play his 5-string Roscoe through my set-up as well on a gig with the Dominic Marshall Trio and it sounded huge. I got rid of my Eden Metro as I was not doing enough commercial electric gigs to justify holding onto it but the AI set-up means I have rarely regretted the fact. I have to say I found the MB150S and E wholly inadequate (have had both with and without extension cabs). They are not loud enough and I hate the 'boxy' sound of them. Can't speak about the AER stuff, though. I have never seen or heard it.

[quote name='Jazzneck' timestamp='1442223213' post='2865192'] 'twas a good evening though. Thanks again. [/quote] Good to meet you, mate.

First double bass gig in three months. Only managed half the gig and now have a blister on my r/h index finger. One more double bass gig in the diary and one more electric and then I retire (not really, just no-one seems to want to book me anymore so the only gigs I get are the ones I arrange).

My unrecognised masterpiece is 'Vimana' by a band called Nova that featured a guitar, sax/flute, keyboard trio plus Percy Jones on bass, Narada Michael Walden on drums and Phil Collins on percussion. Great writing, great playing.

I have had a fallow Summer (1 gig in July, 2 in August and, last night, my first in September). I have done some home studio practice but no full band rehearsals or recording sessions etc. Last night, I played a gig and a couple or three of the tunes called were fast Latin or funk grooves. I dug in but found that myself tripping myself up on patterns that I have had under my fingers for decades and my stamina was poor. I only did a couple of solos but even they felt like I was running in treacle. Just not match fit, I guess. Pisser.

These just appeared on Facebook. An appearance with the Andy Hay Quartet at the Vienne Jazz Festival in 1994.I was 31/ I didn't wear glasses then, those are shades, and my shoes were purple!!! [url="http://s283.photobucket.com/user/bilbo230763/media/Vienne%20the%20band_zpseodzgvci.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s283.photobucket.com/user/bilbo230763/media/Vienne%20Rob%20and%20Andy_zpsvxoawsyl.jpg.html"][/url]

Here are the chords.... A section Fm//// Db7//// Gm7b5/// C7/// Fm/// Db7/// Gm7b5/// C7/// Fm/// Fm/Eb/// Db7/// C7/// Bb/// Bbm/Ab/// Gm7b5/// C7/// B section Bbm/// //// Cm7b5/// F7/// Bbm/// //// Cm7b5/// F7/// Dbm/// /// Cm7b5/// F7/// Bbm/// Gb/// Cm7b5/// F7/// C section Fm//// Db7//// Gm7b5/// C7/// Fm/// Db7/// Gm7b5/// C7/// Fm/// Fm/Eb/// Db7/// C7/// Bb/// Bbm/Ab/// Gm7b5/// C7///

DIT is a monster album. Trio Jeepy ny Branford Marsalis is another favourite of mine.

Here we are. My thoughts on the image are quite topical at the moment. What I saw in the image was the fact that the sea swallows things but, given the harrowing images that have been appearing in the media recently, it occurred to me that a lot of what the sea swallows is given up again some time later. The 'giving' here is no gift but a reminder of things lost. https://soundcloud.com/robert-palmer-1/the-giving-sea