Bilbo

I find Alembics are marmite basses. I love some of them and think others are completely hideous! I will never have the money to buy one so its academci but some I would die for whilst others would not even register a look.

Jazz Bass Hard Case - I though it was a thread about Charles Mingus....

Listen with your ears and not your eyes. There is a lot less happening here than you think.

[quote name='neepheid' post='1110989' date='Feb 1 2011, 01:53 PM']Artistic "integrity" is just another word for snobbery in my book and an excuse to for people to look down their noses at someone who is doing something that they can't or wouldn't. That doesn't make it wrong![/quote] Artistic integrity is not snobbery. It is about being true to yourself. If you are an artist and not a craftsman, you have choices to make about what you do with your talent. If you commit to something such as only playing your own material, maintaining that commitment at all costs takes integrity. Doing everything and anything for money requires very little. However, if your 'commitment' in that case is to provide food for your children, then taking every gig at all costs has as much integrity as only playing folk music. Its a question of perspective. Personally, I won't play bad music any more. Did it for years and realised I don't need to and it was harming me so I stopped. Now less gigs but better quality music. Suits me but I pay the bills in other ways.

He also slowed the tapes down and recorded things at half speed so you can't trust his chops!!

[quote name='Vinny' post='1108149' date='Jan 30 2011, 02:09 PM']the bestest bass riff ever! (not the lead part).[/quote] I thought that was 'Good Times' by Chic

I don't get that a bridge can make that much difference..... I think its mass hysteria.

It is only when you get to work with a great drummer that you realise how bad some are (great echnique but no musicality etc). BUt sometimes it is on another level and you don't gel with a great drummer. Idid a gig with Nic France last year and, great as he is, it was only ok. Not his fault or minel just in a different space. WHen you find a drummer who hears time the way you do, its the best feeling in the world as you can relax, trust that the time will take care of itself and just play your best. As good as it gets.

I am using Evah Pirazzi Weichs (5 string set) and they work well for both arco and pizz. I don't but the strings do I particularly like the arco sound but I have nothing to compare them to.

Bill Stewart, Paul Motian, Airto Moriera, Jeff 'Tain' Watts, Jack DeJohnette, Billy Kilson, Nate Smith, Marvin 'Smitty' Smith, Joey Baron, Martin France, Jimmy Cobb, Jeff Ballard, Jeff Hamilton, Ian Thomas, Clark Tracy, Dave Weckl.... +1,000 for El Negro.

Theory - yum yum. Love it. Get some and grow. PS welcome

Most jazzers play 3/4. I am told that a full size bass feels a LOT bigger than the one you have played and are harder to get around on for some more centemporary genres. Most basses you will see at jazz gigs are 3/4 size so please don't feel that a 3/4 is in some way 'lightweight'.

That's no age for a jazzer - Stephane Grapelli was still playing at 89, Milt 'The Judge' Hinton at 90, Eubie Blake was 96!! Blake's greatest contribution was this quote! 'If I'd known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself”.

[quote name='morsefull' post='1104120' date='Jan 26 2011, 06:07 PM']Well, I must admit it. Even though i didn't think it would happen........................................................ ..................................................................... it seems........... i'm starting to............................. rather... um.... like................................................................................................ .......................... jazz Is this normal?? I've only learnt 2 songs.[/quote] Invest the time in Jazz and it will reward you ten fold and for the rest of your life.

Add diminished and augmented and you have the lot, pretty much. Its the modes of each scale that make it complicated. So Major, Natural Minor, Harmonic Minor, Melodic Minor, Blues Scale Diminished and Augmented. That's 99% of the music most of us will ever play. Oh, and don't forget the Chromatic Scale (every note)

[quote name='Earbrass' post='1103225' date='Jan 26 2011, 09:51 AM']Great stuff! From a recording pov, particularly impressed with the drum sound, given that it's someone's front room - how was the kit mic'ed up?[/quote] Two mics, as I recall. Not sure which. It was a nice sounding room, tho'. Wood panelling on the walls helped soften the sound.

I don't look at all and the more I practise the better my intonation gets. Odd that....

Interesting to see that 78 people have opened the first excerpt (Straight No Chaser) and then the number of listeners goes down as the list progresses. Are you guys trying to tell me something

On the one day a year when I do a gig big enough to need to play through a rig, I don't care

[quote name='Conan' post='1100846' date='Jan 24 2011, 02:33 PM']Either you drink less beer than I do, or your bladder is stronger!! [/quote] One diet coke lasts me all night and, yes, I have a bladder like a Blue Whale.

2 or 3 x 45 minute sets is normal around this way, depending on the venue, the style of music, time of day, fee payable etc. I always operated on the 2 x 45 minute norm but have seen a move to 3 x 45 minutes. Would prefer 1 x 2 hours myself. I find intervals pointless.

Will try as soon as I get a chance.......

A few recordings we did to produce a demo for getting function band gigs (hence the short tunes and excerpts). The band played together once and hadn't played three of these tunes together before this session (which took 3 1/2 hours). The piano player is singing. I am on double bass on all but Black Friday (the Wal). The 'studio' was someone's front room and this was all done using Cubase and with the double bass DI'd using a K&K pick up (the Wal went straight in) . Guerilla recording!! I have to say, I am really happy with the results; no two handed tapping, no double thumbing, nothing flash, just journeyman bass playing. Oh, and I have called the band Whither Then?

Hi, Mike. Its a nightmare, isn't it? I have tried this one on and off for years and have never got anywhere near anything credible on solos and even disappoint myself on the basic walking lines! Despite the mistakes, your efforts are certainly better than anything I can pull off and you have, at the very least, inspired me to try again!!