Bilbo

To read music... To compose..... To improvise.... To groove.... To write.... It never ends.... How to win friends and influence people.... To wave...

As a writer myself (oooer! did I say that out loud?), I can sympathise with the difficulties that journalists face in trying to tell the same stories again and again (try writing 440 pages on one musician without repeating yourself......(you can't )). Learned bass off my dad/brother/sister/friend.... First bass was .... Main influences are .... Favourite bass/amp/pedal.... Latest recording is... what it is like playing for *insert name of megastar in here.... ...where else can anyone go? I stopped buying music magazines a long time ago and gave my old back issues away to someone on here (I think he was called Jake?). I found that I was just reading the same things over and over and over again. Maybe everyone just uses them at a certain point in their development and then moves on.

Coudl be an Internet Explorer thing.... will try the link tonight (can't do audio in work)

Can't think of anywhere I would rather be, Chris

Not getting any sound, Mike. Have you got a Soundcloud page?

I have no idea. I can't remember the 'I want to play bass moment'. I remember wanting to buy one when I was 17 (it was ordered when I got my first pay packet) but have absolutely no recollection of what, or who, drew me to it. I remember an old Bell's Music catalogue that had guitars and basses in and I remember looking longingly at the basses rather than the guitars but why? I haven't a scooby....

I have never cared about this stuff. Whatever benefits there are of a nut made of unicorn horn will be completely eliminated if the drummer leaves his snare on (which he invariably does) or anyone in the venue speaks (which they invariably do).

My title was about the point of 'theory and technique' not the point of playing. I can see why everyone thought I was going somewhere else with it

Someone sent me this off the 'Jazz At The Fleece' website blog. Warms the cockles.... [i]What an exciting evening! The African based sound of Robin Jones Latin Underground is quite amazing and addictive, but the excitement started well before gig time. The bassist Jonny Gee had a car failure, and there was no way he could get to the gig on time. So our Michael phoned a friend. ShakAttack Roger Odell tried one bassist, not answering, then a second. Rob Palmer was available and lives in Felixtowe. He arrived at 6.15 with upright and electric basses and monster amp, and they set up and started to rehearse with the electric. Now Robin's music has changes of key, tempi and time signatures in some songs. Also, the African beat is not like Brazilian, which any bassist would know. It is half rather than on the beat. Really difficult stuff. He was terrific. Rehearsal snuck in to opening time a bit, so we ran late. Just to see the smiles on the rest of the bank when Rob hit the road running. He soloed beautifully on several numbers. What about the rest of the band? Steve Waterman was the other dep, but he played on the last two CDs of the band. He is such an exciting player, always fun to watch. He watches too, as if he was learning from the others. Nice. Chris Kibble on piano has such an innate feel for the music. He has an amazing left hand, and some of the runs he made had Rob shaking his his head ("how did he think of that?"). Nick Walker is musical director, plays powerful baritone, soprano, and lyrical flute. Marc Cecil is coming to us with his own band in the next programme, and from his performance on the drum kit and timbales last night, it should be memorable. And Robin. He is simply one of the best conga players about. How he gets such a range of tonal colour from those things is quite beyond me. His knowledge of the field is huge, and he shares with us. His friend Eric Young came with him, also a drummer and congo player, and played the latter on one song, also very good. It was a terrific evening. Gerry did the sound, and got roundly complimented for it from the stage by Robin. Thanks again to the crew of staff, punters and committee who cleaned up after a late night.[/i]

I have studied music theory, learned to read and developed a credible technique. 20 years ago I bought 'Funkyfying the Clave' by Lincoln Goines. I joined a Latin band called Albino Cubana and played some Latin rhythms and generally had a good time but, as these things do, that band collpased and people moved on. Last night, I got in from work at around 5.45 pm and was chatting to my wife when the phone rang. It was the guy who runs The Fleece, a Suffolk based Jazz 'venue' (that isn't at The Fleece anymore). They had a band on that night and their bass player was stuck in London. Roger O'Dell (drummer in Shakatak) had recommended me; could I make the gig? 'When do you want me'? I asked. 'Now'. ok, double bass or electric. Double bass. So, after downing a cup of coffee, I set off for Stoke By Nayland with both basses in my car. Remember, I have no idea who I am playing with and have never played the Fleece because local guys never get to play The Fleece!! On arrival, I am greeted by the little Cuban guy who walks over to me and says 'I think you are my Guardian Angel'. I shake his hand and we talk for a moment and then he calls the sound guys over and asks them to help me load in. He says 'electric' so the double bass stays in its case. I move my car and when I get back my gear is on stage. I still have no idea what the music is going to sound like but there is a full drum kit and 5 congas so I am thinking maybe this is going to be Latin based I m handed a pad by a fifty-something sax player who introduces himself as Nick Walker and also introdues me to Steve, the trumpet player. That'll be Steve Waterman. I am now starting to brick it. 'Let's look at a couple of charts' says the conguerro, Robin Jones. We look at a couple of charts during the soundcheck and it sounds ok but then the doors are opening and we retire to the bandroom. So I am about to go on stage, with no rehearsal, with the best Cuban conguerro and trumpeter I have ever met and some other guys who I have not got a handle on yet but are clearly very good. What follows is an absolute dream....these guys. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIAOaKlx1Ow[/media] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjhD70Hn9_c[/media] Anyway, I nailed the gig and, despite a few small gaffes, hit the mark most of the night. Reading the dots, knowing the idiom reasonably well, lots of eye contact, supportive players etc etc. 32 years of practise, playing, experience and knowledge all came together in two 50 minute sets. Lots of smiles from the band (who had had a really stressful day trying to get a dep for their regular bass player (johnny Gee, I think) - I think I as the 6th they had called). Massive buzz for me. A really good night for me and the audience were really positive etc. Makes you realise that all the work is worth it in the end. The leader wanted my card at the end of the night so he could call me if they ever needed a dep again. for this band or their 12-piece larger group. If I never hear from him again, I will have had this night of great music with great players . And it all came exactly when I needed it, when there are fewer and fewer gigs and you start to ask what is the point of it all!! Well, that answers that!. Oh - and I got paid!!

Can I play?

That's the guy; Kex Gorin. Lovely player. The keyboard player was a bit tasty too (Richard Bailey).

One hunderd and EIGHTy.....

I have on fo these (a 5-string version) http://www.gollihurmusic.com/product/1426-KANDK_SOUND_DOUBLE_BIG_TWIN_UPRIGHT_BASS_PICKUP.html

See, if I was unethical, I could go back and delete one of the posts above and win. The fact that I have a combo and don't need a speaker lead is neither here nor there.... it's free. It doesn't matter whether I need it or not.

What?

I agree that the 'missing link' in your case is the pre-amp. I got a Fishman Platinum Pro on here for £80 (I think; may have been £90). Really helped contain my sound (manage feedback etc) and give the amp a good crack at doing what it does which is make the bass louder. I play through an Eden Metro combo (2x12) which is not ideal but economics don't allow for an investment in anything else at the moment.

Not even started.

Paul Young (Pino) Paco De Lucia (Carles Benavent)

Marauder was one of the first Rock lps I ever bought (it was cheap, as was I). Loved it then and still do (although I let it go years ago) as it featured some great musicianship and arrangements. Their early LPs were great. Kingdom of Madness was another one I liked.

'Post- Jazz' is one of those meaningless terms that probably indicates a lack of clarity and what it is not more than anything. I would expect this to be jazzy sounding but not swinging, complex harmonies but not that heavy on improvisation. Fact is, you need more detail like what kind of music is he refering to when he uses the term!

I did an on-line course here... http://www.audiomasterclass.com/ I got the certificate and everything! The learning was great, though, and I can recommend it.

100% agree - the sound is mostly in your hands. I love the story where rocker Ted Nugent was listening to a young Eddie Van Halen whose band was supporting Ted. Ted loved Fast Eddie's sound so asked if he could try his (heavily customised) gear out. He sounded exactly like ... Ted Nugent

Absolutely but it's not the kill, it's the thrill of the chase. I think we sound like we are and that's going to disappoint occasionally !

I think there are two levels: It sounds like a double bass. It sounds like me on my double bass. The first is good enough for almost everything; the second is arguably easy as it is unavoidable.