Bilbo

Mine is a Gedo 3/4, mate. Whatever else it does, it sounds like a double bass!

Not if you had heard the tunes I didn't upload!

One more (different line-up). Secret Love (tenor/guitar and rhythm). I cannot tell you how great it feels to have been part of these performances and to know that, on a good day, I can, at least, 'keep up'! [url="https://soundcloud.com/robert-palmer-1/secret-love"]https://soundcloud.c...r-1/secret-love[/url]

Another tune of a very different type. [url="https://soundcloud.com/robert-palmer-1/gospel-tune"]https://soundcloud.com/robert-palmer-1/gospel-tune[/url] For the record, this tune was performed by a band that, with the exception of one musician, until the first note is played, have never even heard the tune. In fact, I had never played with two of the players until this gig and only knew the drummer. This is what reading and a knowledge of your instrument can free you to achieve with others who also have that knowledge..

I captured this with my new Zoom H1 at a recent gig and am pleased with the results. I struggle with the inconsistencies in my playing and with the errors that occur when I overreach myself (which happens, regrettably, far too often). Over this series of gigs I have been doing, I have seen a subtle improvement in my playing and am thrilled to say that this performance of Denzil Best's 'Wee' (rhythm changes) was the last tune of the first set and shows no real signs of flagging despite the furious tempo!! [url="https://soundcloud.com/robert-palmer-1/wee"]https://soundcloud.com/robert-palmer-1/wee[/url]

It is a language that needs to be learned. The best reader I ever knew, a pianist who could read what I called 'ten finger piano' charts pretty much perfectly right off the bat, told me that from starting to learn to being that fluent took 15 years (he started young). Most people can get pretty good at reading single lines quite quickly and then it is a case of 'speeding up' until you can read more and more without crashing. But it takes time, just like reading prose. No conspiracy, just a tried and tested method that makes things that much more viable for composers and performers alike to execute complex works quite quickly. It also makes learning easier as ideas can be communicated more readily. Worth the the investment but it takes time, discipline and patience.

[quote name='wrinkleygit' timestamp='1373211705' post='2134748'] Hi bilbo, did you ever finish writing your jazz standards book, mike b [/quote] Not sure what you mean. Have published a book on Paul Chambers but that is all I was working on.

I do find most pop and rock doesn't come off too well after a point. Jazz, folk, classical, even Blues, all seem to feel ok but older guys playing a lot of rock n pop genres look a bit 'sad' to me. I recently saw the Michael Schenker group. MS played great but posturing looks seriously iffy.

[quote name='Mornats' timestamp='1374687029' post='2151917'] Poor teddy, he's getting his brain nuked. [/quote]

And of course they have no relationship with him and no vested interest in him being that aforementioned .man'!! I have heard Kool and The Gang consider Robert Bell aka 'Kool' to be the best bass player in the world..... [size=4]Of course, he is a great groove player etc so, if you subscribe to the idea that a bass should 'get off on making other people sound good' then 'other people' are going to rate them. I think Paul Chambers's reputation was based on the same idea.[/size][size=4] [/size]

I have some ZOOM H1 mp3s but have not got consent to post so am reluctant. I may put some up on my soundcloud page 'anonymously' one day.

I think I have had one of those once?

That'll be an octave divider

Take this guy, Neil Jason. Plays a great groove, serves the song etc. Why no kudos? [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAbmv70uvJ8"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAbmv70uvJ8[/url]

Agreed - but so have many, many others. Why is PP considered so exceptional? I am not slagging him off, just wondering why the cult of personality with this one player over 1,000 others of equal standing? Not that it matters

[url="http://s283.photobucket.com/user/bilbo230763/media/DSCF1032_zps2d044de4.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s283.photobucket.com/user/bilbo230763/media/DSCF1033_zps044b6341.jpg.html"][/url] PC (Windows XP) Cubase SX Sibelius (2.0 ) Edirol UA20 audio interface Focusrite Pre-amp (mostly for phantom power for mics) Behringer Mixer Behringer headphone amp M-Audio Prokeys 88 piano/midi controller Gibson ES175 Epiphone ES335 The Dot Wal Custom Fretless Antoria acoustic steel sting Takamine CD132SC nylon string Thomann Soprano saxophone There is a Rode NT1 mic and a Shure SM58, both with Hercules mic stands (not shown)

[URL=http://s283.photobucket.com/user/bilbo230763/media/DSCF1028_zpsabb28dc8.jpg.html][IMG]http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk287/bilbo230763/DSCF1028_zpsabb28dc8.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[URL=http://s283.photobucket.com/user/bilbo230763/media/DSCF1034_zps1378729d.jpg.html][IMG]http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk287/bilbo230763/DSCF1034_zps1378729d.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s283.photobucket.com/user/bilbo230763/media/DSCF1029_zps1b656ff3.jpg.html][IMG]http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk287/bilbo230763/DSCF1029_zps1b656ff3.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[URL=http://s283.photobucket.com/user/bilbo230763/media/DSCF1035_zps3a2af88d.jpg.html][IMG]http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk287/bilbo230763/DSCF1035_zps3a2af88d.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s283.photobucket.com/user/bilbo230763/media/DSCF1037_zpsc1778627.jpg.html][IMG]http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk287/bilbo230763/DSCF1037_zpsc1778627.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

I have been meaning to do this for years. I thought it would be fun to start a thread of photos of bass related crap we have collected over the years - you know the stuff; bass shaped clocks, wall plaques etc. Here's my contribution to get us started. REMEMBER: NO SHAME! [URL=http://s283.photobucket.com/user/bilbo230763/media/DSCF1038_zps4fcc0b0c.jpg.html][IMG]http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk287/bilbo230763/DSCF1038_zps4fcc0b0c.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s283.photobucket.com/user/bilbo230763/media/DSCF1039_zps19b76b8e.jpg.html][IMG]http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk287/bilbo230763/DSCF1039_zps19b76b8e.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[quote name='Rich' timestamp='1374664904' post='2151440'] When you say 'journeyman playing', I presume you're not including his astonishing fretless work with Paul Young, Gary Numan, etc etc etc. I know it's all a fair few years back but you can bet your boots he can still play the stuff and, my god, I wish my playing was as 'journeyman' as that..! [/quote] It was lovely, but 'astonishing'? Isn't that a little hyperbolic

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1374665394' post='2151450'] I'm sure he doesn't lose sleep over your opinion of his ability... [/quote] Why would he? Anymore than I would lose sleep over his opinion of mine. Doesn't negate it, tho

[quote]Bilbo and I are actually in a fairly unique position in that I think we're the only people who've submitted something each month [/quote] I think I missed the drunk santa one, mate.

Nope. Still too much time going over the same territory. Nothing fresh to get inspired by. Could use the time better.

I am not being critical of PP but I do wonder what he would sound like if someone put a third chord in there? (Meeeeoooow!) Seriously, tho', I have no problem with Pino (he's a Cardiff boy and I did most of my early playing around there) but I think he is possibly the most overrated player in the canon. He is good at what he does but most of it is journeyman playing. If half of us had Steve Jordan (and, indeed, Mayer) to bounce off and played that often as a trio, we would probably sound that good.