urb

Just wanted to share this funkiness I recorded last weekend - my Ableton Live funk/fusion band is coming on a bit - now with additoonal trumpet (lots more tunes brewing in the pot too) hope you enjoy: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1RKVn7UREQ[/media]

Great - love this album and Mr L's very fine playing on it - a soundtrack to my teenage years... old fart alert!

[quote name='gilmour' timestamp='1332114318' post='1583623'] Nice - love the horn parts. How are you playing your beats/loops back, is Ableton via a Launchpad? [/quote] Cheers man - yes Novation Launchpad - very straightforward to use and does so many things for the money (£130-ish) I'd like something a bit more sophisticated but this will do for now - glad you enjoyed the tune - got a load more like this ready to go - hopefully we'll be playing this out live at some point later this year... M

Something fresh and funky from today's session - with added trumpet and bass solo stuff - this is a tune I wrote by the way: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1RKVn7UREQ[/media] Latest video here [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxn-H3Qa6vk[/media] Thanks for checking it out Mike

Hey - just wanted to share another little woodshed video of Giant Steps - it's an annoying tune but I do get some satisfaction out trying to try different ideas over the changes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNluUh3o_AE

Seeing as this is now in the public domain I guess it's best you see this - no idea what it means for the likes of me - I'm curious to see how BGM now re-surfaces: http://www.mi-pro.co.uk/news/read/oyster-house-liquidated-new-company-formed/016347

Back on topic.... +1 for the Beyer DT770 Pros (80ohm ones) - I love them and do a lot of stuff on them at the moment and they are not only comfortable as hell but sound very transparent - and yes I've done a few bits of work with BBC types and on radio and the Beyers crop up everywhere - for £120 they are a good investment IMO. Hope that helps M

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1331296431' post='1570907'] Its not the slapping that really ticks me off. It's the foul creatures that drop their guts when you are watching a demonstration. I don't know about slap but nothing assaults your senses more than a well timed noxious fart. [/quote] Now that is just horrible - forget noise pollution, [i]nose[/i] pollution is definitely as bad or worse....

[quote name='dood' timestamp='1331291123' post='1570794'] Lets keep this thread as friendly as possible please. It's too easy to hide behind your screens and throw the toys out of the pram. I think it's a bit harsh to direct the days frustrations on to one person. How many people who are complaining about all the slap actually did something about it at the time? Or just complained about 'the other stands'. Yes, Nigel does slap and so does Doug and T.M. But they weren't beating three shades of crap out of their basses for 8 hours constantly. So mebbe directing your 'pops' solely at Nigel is actually a bit out of order. Are we going to name every bass player who slapped at the show on this thread? The slap wasn't the problem. The cummulative effect of 100's of watts of amplification was. [/quote] +1 Dood TBH the noisiest bits I heard weren't often slap, it was just a general low end rumble - which is kind of the obvious thing to hear at a Bass Expo - and to say that "oh all these slappers are a curse" is a little hypocritical IMO - we ALL slap at some stage... sorry! I've heard stupidly loud pick and fingerstyle players at the Musik Messe and Basschat bass bashes too! And for those that like distortion pedals... T[b]he point is it gets too loud at times and some constructive way of managing this is what's needed[/b] - slap is a small part of the technical 'language' of the bass - a little perspective and positive/constructive ideas are all welcome - to hear and see it at a bass convention of any sort is to be expected - when it's done well, and musically, slap is cool - overly loud and repetitive it is annoying - they are givens. More importantly it's about due consideration of how loud you are playing and how that is affecting those around you is what's important - no one is slagging the lovely Yolanda Charles off when she was singing/playing (and slapping) - perhaps because it was musical rather than self-indulgent w*** - go figure.

That's great news Ben - the Jazzwise magazine app has been a big success (yes I work for them just so you know) and I would second the comments regarding the new iPhone's 'retina display' actually makes reading text more than bearable - and the iPad will doubtless be excellent - the cool thing with the apps as well is that you can download the whole issue to you phone/ipad and read anywhere, even without an internet connection... Hope it goes well Ben - it's a good way to reach an international readership too - and you don't have to rely on the frigging post man to deliver your latest issue! M

[quote name='Sheldon Dingwall' timestamp='1331132450' post='1568173'] I've got a lot of people to thank here for a truely wonderful couple of days at the show. Mark for having us at his stand. Dan and Pat for all the help and of course fun. David Swift and Neil Murray taught me so much and are such gentlemen. The organizers who dispite the noise complaints did a really good job of keeping a lid on things. I've done a lot of shows and this is the only one where there are regulated quiet times. I got stuck in the drum area at NAMM a couple of years ago :0 this show was peaceful by comparison. When you remove the clutter there were many gems, most of which I missed because I was busy. Yolanda did cause me to stop mid-sentence and run over for a listen. Freaking amazing! Most of all I'd like to thank all who took the time to stop by. Prior to the trip I was dreading the 12 hr flights, jet lag, exhaustion etc but you guys made it all worthwhile. Can't wait for next year. [/quote] Nice one Sheldon - good to see you there and really nice to meet you albeit briefly - look forward to seeing you there next year too Cheers Mike

TRIOVD....!!!!!\ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SqCTdzX5xs AS they say - if you have to ask you won't know by now... well in other words (in spite of having no bass player) trioVD are quite simply amazing - extremely good live - their new album is out soon and it's mental

[quote name='krazy_olie' timestamp='1330854442' post='1563682'] not the greatest feedback... i'm tempted to go today, and have nothing else to do, recommended? [/quote] Well if you go to a few of the masterclasses and live performances rather than just ogling lots of gear then yes you'll probably have a great time - plus there IS some lovely gear there - s'up to you really

I had a great day - enhanced greatly by hanging with a certain Lamb bassist - but it was great seeing a few folks like Dood and Molan again - I tried a few basses but spent a lot of time away from the main hall, and a lot of time on the Overwater stand - I even managed a mellowish jam with superb bassist Mike Nicholls. I spent a lot time chatting with the Scott Devine and lots more musos - but the bass highlight of the day was Scott's bass, the tone is exquisite and it plays beautifully. I'd have to make a few adjustments if I was to commission one but it's so good I'd seriously consider getting one, the fact I got to play it through an amp without resorting to silly volume was amazing - even though I managed to blow out some of the lighting and short circuit the power on one corner of the Overwater stand - luckily it was right at the end of the day! Overall I thought it was good and has a good mix of gear, education and performance. I have a suggestion - if so many of us hate slap at these things why don't we start a bloody petition or movement to NOT slap at all? If it really is that offensive lets get some t-shirts printed up saying "Slap Is For Twats" or "Slapping Sucks" - wearing ond and casually standing next to people who are doing it, for comic effect Just a thought M

The NEW Esbjorn Svensson Trio album - called '301' - the guy might have died in tragic circumstances but he left behind an amazing last album - it's f***ing brilliant: http://www.amazon.co.uk/301-s-t-Esbjorn-Svensson-Trio/dp/B001NG0FMS Well worth buying!

[quote name='JellyKnees' timestamp='1330617062' post='1560477'] I've recently started using EZ Drummer in Cubase 5 after years of creating drum tracks with a combination of loops, battery and various other bits and pieces, and I think it's the business. I've not tried much 'from scratch' programming with it, I would imagine this could be quite tricky to do convincingly, rather I have tended to use the existing grooves as a starting point and then cut them up, edited them, change the sounds around etc. to create what I'm after. Not got any completed songs as yet, but am finding it a very useful addition to my system. [/quote] I'll admit I'm not great at drum programming either but one of the best ways I've found to edit/combine groups of MIDI drum grooves etc is via the EZ Player Pro - it's very cheap for what it does at 39 Euros - see link below: http://www.toontrack.com/products.asp?item=27 How you use it is once you have EZdrummer on one track - make sure it's 'armed' - i.e. ready to record - then open EZplayer Pro in another VST track alongside it - then use the browser within EZPlayer pro to navigate to you MIDI loops folder - BTW you can download tons of great ready made drum loops played by a proper drummer from the GrooveMonkee website http://www.groovemonkee.com/en/ - then once you have located your loops folder you can the 'audition' each of the files - be it a four bar pattern, fill or whatever - inside EZplayer Pro - once you've found a pattern you like you can simply drag and drop the MIDI file onto your EZDrummer track - keep doing this until you've built up an entire drum part - you can add fills at the end of 4 or 8 bar sequences - switch the feel from hats to ride and back again etc. The other cool thing with EZPlayer pro is that it allows you to split the drum MIDI loops into their component parts - i.e. hats, kick, snare etc - that you can then re-combine to make your own patters - it's well worth buying! Re questions like tempo - groove etc - if you use a DAW like Reason, Logic, Cubase etc - the tempo is always set 'globally' from the transport bar - so if you are making a track at 100BPM then that's the tempo that your metronome will control things like EZdrummer, or any sequenced snyths or effects like delays etc - I hope that makes sense. Hope all that helps.... All the drums on this track were done using Superior Drummer: http://mikeflynnsurb.bandcamp.com/track/boogie Cheers Mike

[quote name='silddx' timestamp='1330612365' post='1560367'] That's nice Mike, very airy, some mad sounds! I like the tricky key modulation too. Very nicely done, your timing and groove has changed a bit mate, might just be me perhaps but I feel there's a definite improvement in your phrasing and timing. [/quote] Thanks Nige - I have been shedding a fair bit over the last few months and even doing some transcribing, some groove-based gigs etc - it's all had some effect on how I'm playing right now, but I've definitely been focusing on my timing/groove more - thanks for the comments, glad the mad sounds work OK! See you soon I hope Mike

Some more electro fusion dubsteppish synth bass noodling from me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlF8ohpSJ8c M

Just made a new vid with some MUCH dirtier bass on it.... let me know what you think - I'm working on the idea of a 'drop' - needs to be heavier I know but hey I thought I'd share this anyway: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlF8ohpSJ8c Hope you dig it... Mike

See you there people M

I know most of you will have watched Viacelsav's videos and I just wanted to give the guy a little love for the fact he's a purely amateur musician but brings an incredible amount of passion and enthusiasm to his playing - and far from being some technical w***-fest, the guy is obviously hugely in love with playing bass - and for me that's incredibly powerful and inspiring. Music today has in a lot of cases become massively cynical and depressing - and while this guy hasn't 'made it' in the traditional sense, he has more than 'made it' in the true sense in that he's totally created his own style that's driven by a love of melody, the fact that he makes Flea look a little lame is beside the point Anyway enough rambling from me - here's a couple of vids I like - I'm not a fan of loads of slap bass but I think what Viacelsav is doing is beyond that, it's just highly skilled/passionate playing at its best. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e44SdbQiXQs[/media] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TEyFLjB-2U&feature=channel[/media]

+1 - these guys are good

Sorry - just seen this as well - a really nice solo on a proper old Jazz bass by the look of it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqoCSavkecU

[quote name='chardbass' timestamp='1330080345' post='1552322'] Big fan of Dirty Loops AND Uriah Duffy. Top bloke- great humour, and a good muso from what I've seen. [/quote] I've met Uriah and he's a very cool guy in person - really nice dude actually - and a very talented all round player M

Yeah nice - Michel Alibo cropped up in another cool video I watched the other day with him in amazing pianist Meddy Gerville's band - this track is great, there are some mad rhythmic bits later - please note the lack of music on stage, i.e. they rehearsed this stuff until they could play it without thinking - which is something more jazz bands need to do! Anyway this is cool modern jazz with some nice energy and attitude: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGqVlXaqmPE[/media] Hope you enjoy - EDIT - Alibo is a GREAT player - so's the drummer! M