Steve A

Just out of interest, how many people here have taken the time to visit Janek's forum on talkbass.com to read about his own history and background and thoughts on music? Just a thought.

[quote name='7string' post='154630' date='Mar 10 2008, 03:33 PM']How many people would find the "Modern bass improvisation" article useful to them and how many would just put it to one side ??[/quote] Personally, I bought the last two issues of the magazine to read Janek's column over anything else. I find the column inspiring and when I apply the exercises am sure I will find them very useful.

BIGd, I do think you're missing the point of Janek's article somewhat. Practising 10 hours a day is not the point of the article. The point of the article is about practising something to free you up technically to be able to play the things you want to learn to play with ease. I can't play for 10 hours a day. I don't think I have it in me. But knowing that the musicians I respect and admire often do commit and dedicate themselves to such intense practise inspires me. I don't personally think I have it within me to dedicate myself to anything in life like that, but it still inspires me. It makes me believe that all things are possible if you have the will and the commitment to achieve them. I am trying to see the logic in your argument but it escapes me. It really is laughable. Aren't you essentially saying that this kind of column shouldn't be written because of the effect it might have on impressionable young players? If so I've never heard so much bullshit in my life. The advice in Janek's column is given to encourage those who want to to practise in order to develop finger independence and coordination and then use that to practise fragments of music in order to develop a musical language and personal voice. God forbid that any young bass player should read such terrible advice!!!

[quote name='BigBeefChief' post='152740' date='Mar 6 2008, 10:10 PM']I refuse to wear clothes about the house. And I'm incredibly openminded. Ask my girlfriend and her sister.[/quote] Terrible, terrible behaviour

[quote name='BigBeefChief' post='152724' date='Mar 6 2008, 09:49 PM']Thats interesting. I must admit I tend to find the exact opposite. I can't persuade myself to like the works of Michael Manring, let alone anyone else.[/quote] Put a shirt on and open your mind!

A quote from a recent post of Janek's on the talkbass forum: "It's really interesting how we are moved by music, and how it doesn't have to some blazing thing full of chops and energy to really touch you. I'm most moved by singer/songwriters right now, and some of that is the most simple harmonic and melodic music in the modern era. It's really a matter of taste, and a question of where your mind is at when you're listening to something." I think it's about being true to yourself and playing appropriately in the musical field you're playing in. With the music I hear someone like Janek playing (his solo projects and sideman role with highly regarded jazz artists) it is largely about the art of improvisation. Not only is it an art but it's a kind of science. In order to function at the highest level as an improvisor a player needs the technical skills married to a very high degree of harmonic knowledge and a mastery of the fingerboard. Without those things there are limits to how a player can improvise. If you're aiming to play with the best of the best (as Janek has done and continues to do) then there is no other way to do it than to dedicate your life to it. Often this means working on the smallest details for hours on end. Gary Willis is another example of this. The guy has made his right hand technique something unique but his melodic sense is out of this world. When Janek played in front of me in the lesson I imagine he was just doing what he does, regardless of whether I was going to like it or not. It just so happened that I did enjoy listening to him, that's why I was there, to benefit from his experience. That's the point though. I enjoyed hearing him do what he does. I couldn't care less if someone else doesn't enjoy it. It's your choice and your right to listen to whatever turns you on as it is mine and others' who like his kind of music. Janek makes this point as well. Music is music regardless of the instrument it's played on. I'm a bass player so I love the sound of the bass, but if what he was playing was being played on a piano or saxophone I'd love it just the same. What he was creating on the bass was enjoyable to ME. It doesn't matter to me that you don't like that style of playing or that style of music. It is totally irrelevant to me. But when I read BassGuitarMagazine and there's an interview with a guy I've never heard of in some band I'm not interested in listening to, it's always interesting to read their point of view. If I disagree with it, it doesn't matter. I'll just try to achieve what I want to achieve anyway, in my own haphazard, faltering way! If I read Janek's column and agree with some of it, that's fine too. Just to add, I recently got booked for a punk session playing Sex Pistols covers with my old P bass and my main gig is with a blues based singer/songwriter, again playing my old chunky P bass. Learning exercises the likes of which Janek was offering for study can only help with my connection to my instrument and offer me more control. It's all music and it's all good fun.

[quote name='BigBeefChief' post='152267' date='Mar 6 2008, 11:12 AM']My view is that styles develop naturally through playing the bass lines of your idols, not through learning in a classroom.[/quote] If you read Janek's posts on talkbass.com you'll find him talk and talk and talk about the value of transcribing, i.e. 'developing naturally through playing the bass lines of your idols'. He describes this as the best way to learn the language of music. He's not just talking about jazz or one particular style either. He mentions how he transcribes from all genres of music that appeal to him and all of those genres affect his own playing and help to create his own voice. Janek also mentioned, in response to someone's question about 'speed' that he played scales and exercises at very slow to very fast tempos in order to develop his facility to be able to perform in whatever musical situation he might encounter. He has encountered those situations in his career and is able to work at that level with those musicians. I had a private lesson with Janek last summer and to have him play two feet away from me was breathtaking. Personally as I've got older I've lost interest in 'technique' players. By that I mean players who are all technique but whose ideas don't move me, Some of the greatest bassplayers play with non standard technique (if there is such a thing) and create moving music. But being up close to Janek when he played bass... it was all about being uninhibited and free to create MUSIC, unhindered by poor physical technique or lack of harmonic knowledge/melodic sense or imagination. For me it's a combination of transcribing music you like alongside exercises which make you familiar with your instrument. That way you understand what you transcribe and are able to create your own thing and develop your own voice. [url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=155"]http://www.talkbass.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=155[/url]

My Pensa fretless is one of the nicest fretless basses I have ever played!

Finally, after a while of trial and error... these suit me down to the ground and work in all the situations I play in. Lovely! Left to Right: Moon JJ, Fender 1975 Precision, Fender 1969/70 Precision, Pensa fretless [url="http://www.ianparkermusic.com"]http://www.ianparkermusic.com[/url]

Upcoming gigs with Ian Parker and band: Wednesday 27th Feb, The Cluny, Newcastle Thursday 28th Feb, Millers (Snooker Club), kirkby in Ashfield, Notts Friday 29th Feb, The Robin R n B Club 2, Bilston, nr Wolverhampton, West Midlands Please check out www.ianparkermusic.com for more information. Hope to see you there. All the best, Steve