Bilbo

Just came across this genius AI generated biography of a friend of mine, Paul Ford. 'In the progressive rock scene, he was a member of the band Multi-Story, known for their neo-prog style. Multi-Story was formed in the early 1980s, featuring Paul Ford on vocals and guitar along with Rob Wilsher on keyboards. They reunited after a brief period apart, inspired by their meeting in a multi-story car park, hence the band's name. Multi-Story released their debut album, "East West," and later returned to the scene in the 2010s with new material and a reformed lineup. In the meantime, Paul Ford also had a successful career on Broadway as a music director and pianist, working with legendary composers like Stephen Sondheim'. I think the Sondheim connection (and the previously unknown pianistic acumen) will be news to Paul.

He certainly ain't.

Another Bob Mintzer chart, this is the complete Will Lee bass performance of the Wayne Shorter tune 'Elegant People' from the 2015 Mintzer Big Band recording, 'Get It'. Lot of gaps between the notes so a challenging read until you 'get it' (see what I did there?). PS that's 600 charts up there now! https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/elegant-people-bob-mintzer-big-band/

Another special request, this is the complete John Mole performance of the tune 'Castles' from the 1977 Colosseum II album, 'Wardance'. Standard Rock-ballad fare but a lovely tune (I love these ballads Gary Moore wrote during this period - much better that that Blues stuff he gravitated towards later in his career. I guess he had to go where the money was, like most of us). https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/castles-colosseum-ii/

Steve Rodby's complete bass part for the tune 'Every Summer Night' from the 1989 Pat Metheny Group album, 'Letter From Home'. A nice chart evidencing Rodby's profound musicality. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/every-summer-night-pat-metheny-group/

A horn part to have a crack at. I actually did this transcription in the late 1980s on paper and found it this morning when looking for something else. It was all wrong but, hell, I was new to transcribing back then and there was no slowing things down on computers in those days. I have corrected my original errors this morning and put in into Sibelius and here it is. A great exercise and a way of really getting a sense of what Marsalis is doing to the melody. There is one tough passage that you will struggle with but, if you are inclined, it is worth spending some time of these kinds of things as it gives you a lot of insight into what is going on with these kinds of soloists. The head and trumpet solo on Gershwin's 'A Foggy Day (in London Town)' from the 1987 Wynton Marsalis album, 'Standard Time Vol. 1'. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/a-foggy-day-wynton-marsalis-trumpet-solo/

Another easy one in the main but there is a stunning little solo in the middle that requires a huge amount of sensitivity and concentration - don't be deceived by what you think you are hearing, this is tricky stuff. This is a Faberge egg of a performance from Steve Swallow on the 1987 Carla Bley album 'Septet'. The tune is called 'Lawns'. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/lawns-carla-bley-septet/

Another Metheny ballad for beginner readers, this is the tune 'Wasn't Always Easy' from the 1990 Gary Burton/Pat Metheny 'Reunion' CD. A fairly easy read but some ledger line nonsense (just a hint, they are all tenths). https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/wasnt-always-easy-gary-burton-pat-metheny/

Another Metheny ballad (great tunes for beginner reading practice), this is the bass part to 'Don't Forget (Renato's Theme)' from the 1995 Pat Metheny soundtrack to the Italian film 'Passaggio Per Li Paradiso'. The discographies say that Metheny played everything on this recording. The tone isn't strong enough for Rodby and he is not credited anywhere so I can only assume it is, as they say, Metheny himself. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/dont-forget-renatos-theme-pat-metheny/

Another simple transcription but not as easy to play as it looks due to the push and pull of the pulse. This one is all about the tone and the ensemble playing. Steve Rodby's bass part to the tune 'Letter From Home' from the 1989 Pat Metheny Group album of the same name. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/letter-from-home-pat-metheny-group/

Another bucket list transcription - this is the complete John Patitucci bass part for the opening 'Prologue' on Dave Grusin's 'West Side Story' album. Highly, highly recommended. I hope to get the whole album down if I can and the recordings allow - I have loved this album since I first heard it in the 1990s. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/prologue-to-west-side-story-dave-grusin/

Another short but strangely satisfying chart, this is Mo Foster's bass part to the tune 'Bijou Pleasurette' from the eponymous 1980 album, 'The Michael Schenker Group'. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/bijou-pleasurette-michael-schenker-group/

I am not 100% sure, but I don't think I have ever played a Fender Jazz or a Fender Precision. Copies, yes. Bitsas, yes. Even a Strat. But I have never got my mitts on a proper grown up Fender. I saw one at a jam session I attended yesterday and remember thinking ' I have never been this close to a Fender Jazz bass before'. I may be wrong as I have a brain like a sieve.

For those who have never seen this, musical AND comic genius. Listen to the swing and MM's exquisite phrasing but it is DM's scat that wins the day.

Took the four string out to a Blues Jam in Ipswich, yesterday evening. Not my amp and I didn't want to mess with the house bassist's settings but, otherwise, it sounded like a bass. I played like a crunt but that's what happens when you take three years off 🤪

Easy one (too much digital ink recently), this is the Dave Brown bass part to 'Samba Pa Ti' from the 1970 Santana album ' Abraxas'. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/samba-pa-ti-santana/

While I am on the subject, did you know that Nick Beggs is 62.. he's older than.... me

Just to tidy things up, I present the complete Nick Beggs bass part from the final tune from 'The Raven That Refused To Sing' from Steven Wilson. Great one for counting long passages with no bass and then changing time signatures inc. a long stretch in 7:8 with some challenging passages. It's a stunning record. You can hear the Chris Squire influence in the Beggs sound. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/the-watchmaker-steven-wilson/

And 'The Pin Drop' from the same Steven Wilson album. Nick Beggs again, in case you didn't know. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/the-pin-drop-steven-wilson/

Oooo eerrr, Missus! 10:13 of Steven Wilson and Nick Beggs. This is the tune 'The Holy Drinker' from the wonderful 'The Raven Who Refused To Sing (And Other Stories)' (2013) https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/the-holy-drinker-steven-wilson/

Another bucket list transcription, this is the (nearly) complete transcription for the tune 'Spears' from the 1984 Tribal Tech album of the same name. Stunning writing by Scott Henderson. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/spears-tribal-tech/

Geddy Lee's bass part to the tune 'Red Lenses' from the 1984 'Grace Under Pressure' album - it was around this time that I parted company with them but I did come back with later albums. Massive soft spot for these guys; I just loved their camaraderie and energy. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/red-lenses-rush/

Bit of a slow day today but I don't want to not post something so here is the first Minuet from the Bach Cello Suite in G Major. Something to chew on whilst I work on Wagner's Ring Cycle. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/cell-suite-no-i-in-g-major-meneut-bach/

I am not a masshoosive fan of Frank Zappa although I very much respect his artistry. He took the whole thing into areas where no-one else dared to go and his musicianship and compositional acumen are undeniable but I sometimes think he forgets to make thing beautiful and overemphasises the ‘cleverness’ of it all. I also came to it late so I was elsewhere in terms of my headspace so maybe I didn’t give him a fair listening. This track is an exception, of course, and I always think of it as Zappa’s ‘hit single’. The part is a tough read because there are a few ‘odd’ notes in there (I would go as far as to say they are wrong/poor choices but you can’t be sure with Zappa!). This is the bass part (as far as I could figure it out from the mix) to ‘Peaches En Regalia’ from the 1969 Zappa album ‘Hot Rats’. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/peaches-en-regalia-frank-zappa/

A request from Kesslari on Talkbass, this is the Rossana Nicolosi bass part from the track 'Electric Man' from the 1009 Billy Cobham album, 'Drum and Voice - Vol. 3'. Incredible groove - especially the closing sections. I could not finish the transcription as it is really challenging to find the details when there is so much repetition and long passage with no chord changes. Great workout though, even if you only learn four bars and put a metronome on (just don't tell Jeff). Another player who should have a bigger profile than she has. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/electric-man-billy-cobham-with-brian-auger/