urb

I think the only time I've ever had any form of contempt for my audience was when I used to play regular gigs at Freud's in Oxford on a Friday/Saturday night - and this was only when people were so pissed they thought dancing around us, as there was no real 'stage' to speak of, and crashing into us was a bit of a laugh - oh, and when one of them decided to kick the guitarist in the head... yes we stopped playing and packed up after that - but it's generally when people get so sh*t faced they can't even stand up and then get arsey that I have a problem with. That was pretty much a one off - I generally love playing for people and am generally very grateful and respectful of any audience I play to - especially a paying one - as others have said without 'the audience' we wouldn't be doing what we do - it's playing in front of people that kind of makes you a 'real' musician - if you can move people, get them whooping and cheering and dancing, and thinking - then you've gone beyond just 'playing bass' to actually [b]playing music [/b]- having contempt for anyone who's taken an interest in what you're doing is just stupid - if you're not enjoying it don't do it, stay home and avoid people - the choice is yours - no one is forcing you to do this stuff...

[quote name='M-N-Y' timestamp='1329949821' post='1550395'] Watching someone as talented as Uriah Duffy play the DL bass line makes me realise just how good Henrik is. [/quote] Indeed - Uriah's description below the video is great too and well worth reading - he's quick to acknowledge just how killing Henrik's bass work is... glad DL are inspiring people on lots of different levels - we really need a band like them now I think - pop and rock have got far too safe - time for the musos to mix things up again - in a good way I hope!

Yes Dirty Loops are astonishing - if they turn a new generation of kids on to playing instruments rather than miming to karaoke machines then more power to them! On that note I've been wanting to post this for a while - I know Uriah Duffy has his fans/haters around here - but this is really impressive: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CSwyP0cfgc[/media] I will probably be buying the DL album when it finally arrives - I really want them to succeed - it'll be amazing if they do (they probably will) - I love the Youtube comment under the 'Baby' video that says something like 'Justin Bieber tried to perform this song but failed' or something... M

One more bass-heavy jazz/d'n'b thang from me: http://soundcloud.com/munkio/a-little-buzz-by-black-mash Cheers Mike

Improvising is simply deciding to go from one note to the next - it's that straight forward - but +1 to what Bilbo said too - it all takes time, effort and experimentation...

[quote name='goblin' timestamp='1329601943' post='1544859'] Looks like I'm going to be parking then, cheaper than a train from Watford that's for sure as there's 2 of us to split it. Would I have to pay congestion charge / how would I go about it? I'll be coming in from the M1 I presume? [/quote] there's no congestion charge on weekends - so don't worry about that M

See you there on Saturday - I think most of you know what I look like so do say hello if you see me - I have no specific places to hang but Mark Bass, Bass Direct and Bass Gear are all on my list and see you at the Doug Wimbish/Jon Thorne masterclasses - cheers M

D'Addario EXLs make me a happy bass bunny

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1329252461' post='1539712']
I so wish I had time to focus on all this. I retire in 19 years so will have a bit more time then . I will put some thought into the compression issue next time I get to record something. I could, of course, revisit older stuff (with the hum.....)
[/quote] Just to follow on from what Simon very rightly says about compression and EQ - I'm no expert or top level producer, my frequency knowledge is fairly limited and I really don't go about music production with a boffin-like approach to mathematically adjusting things - I leave that to professional mix engineers and mastering pros - but what I do do is use my ears and my natural curiosity. I've been using Logic for about 6 years now and finally getting my head around a lot of the basics and one of those is adding compression and EQ to really add colour and enhance tone on my bass - I tracked a load of songs on my home studio set up and passed them to my mix guy for this album I've been working on - and all the bass parts sound great. While I did use some EQ on the tracks I left the compression off - but even using Logic's built in compressors you can great results - it's just about having a sound in your head and then searching for what helps create that sound. New strings and decent cables help massively - especially with fretless as the m-wah is created by the roundwounds for sure - but a decent (cheap) DI box can also work wonders for cleaning up your signal from bass to computer.... I bought this one recently and it sounds great: http://www.gear4music.com/Recording-and-Computers/Behringer-DI20-Ultra-DI-Box/297

Here's another tune from the same session - bit more bassy bass on this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxDb7_KWma0 hope you dig M

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1329428582' post='1542492'] Not my cup of tea at all but the sound is astonishing, Mike. Wish I could get my pissy things to work at that level. Makes me feel like the Playaway band..... [/quote] No worries if it's not your bag Rob - getting a good sound in Logic / Ableton / Reason whatever you use just takes time and practice like anything else - I've been researching and developin and learning about this stuff for about three/four years and I'm finally getting sometwere... thanks for listening all the same M

Sorry last post on this from me - just added the other jam from this session that came out OK - hope you dig it [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxDb7_KWma0[/media] Thanks for listening/watching - let me know what you think - it's all a bit new so still finding my way with this stuff Mike

Beck is my fave 'rock' guitarist ever - tone to die for and a massively original style, exquisite phrasing - great taste in bass players too: Tal, Doug Wimbish, Pino, Mike Mondesir, Randy Hope Taylor to name but a few - Vinnie Collaiuta ain't too shabby either

[quote name='51m0n' timestamp='1329130975' post='1537428'] He is a musical genius, IMO. He also plays a mean bit of more normal bass playing too.... [/quote] Agreed.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG-qltNvjek

I just uploaded the audio to this video to Bandcamp should you fancy downloading it as a high quality MP3 or FLAC file: http://mikeflynnsurb.bandcamp.com/track/beneath-the-underdog Cheers for listening Mike

This works a treat for me http://www.dv247.com/computer-hardware/focusrite-scarlett-8i6--85209?gclid=CO22yePzmq4CFSgntAod1yF0LA Great sound and crystal clear results every time - I've had mine (I use the 18i6 version) for about 8 months and it's been a star performer in my set up - highly recommended M

OK - here's what I was whittering on about before - all sounds coming from my Laptop - I'm using the Sonuus i2M interface thing and splitting my bass signal so I'm also getting a clean channel of bass, plus I'm doing all the fancy drum looping stuff via a Line 6 footpedal - which is also running through Guitar Rig 4 where I'm getting the virtual pitch shifter stuff happening - anyway enough waffle - have a listen! This sounds particularly good on headphones so plug in and treat yourself... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0WrGEX6u8A All the stuff is running through Ableton Live - including the sax Hope you enjoy Mike

[quote name='Platypus' timestamp='1329074306' post='1536852'] Good stuf Mike, really enjoyed that that - would be interested to know a little more about how you worked in Ableton. I keep meaning to spend more time getting to grips with it, myself. [/quote] Glad you're digging it guys - I'll add a full description of my set up soon - thanks for the positive feedback - working like this is so much fun... more soon Cheers Mike

Hey dudes Just had my first go with my Ableton Live set up - that includes linking my bass to play synths at the same time - along with my mate Matt Telfer on sax, we're hoping this is the start of a new band - it's early days but this was all recorded live via my Macbook at our local rehearsal room: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0WrGEX6u8A[/media] Hope you dig the vibe - let me know what you think Cheers Mike

Here are some ideas to get you started - from 3.20 onwards is just great the tune is called 'Sex In A Pan' at the end... [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suaH-NJm12U[/media]

This thread is great and I hope it gives others looking to make a change have the courage of their convictions to go for it. I'll just add that I stated playing my first jazz gigs in the late 1990s and I feel like I've come some way since - but I've still got a huge amount to learn - anyway I also must say that I learnt a huge amount and made a ton of contacts through going to jam sessions - when I moved to London in 2004 it took me six months to get the balls up to sit in with the pros at my local jam session in Brixton. When I did I felt like I just about survived but I hated my sound - felt like I completely blagged my solo - but the keyboard played turned to me after and said he thought I did great - so I couldn't have done that bad! It really is a case of throwing yourself out there and going for it - you can practice until you're blue in the face but eventually you have to get out and do it for real - then you're actually playing jazz...

[quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1328719780' post='1531652'] Band in the box ain't no great loss, But JA, I kinda grew up with all his stuff, and it would be sad. He feels like a member of my family. Garry [/quote] Totally agree man JA is an institution but unfortunately it's adapt or die today - I love the playalongs but some are really out of tune and are very strictly arranged around the original version of the tune - which is good but - I won't go on here but they can get a bit annoying after a while

[quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1328717849' post='1531618'] There are quite a few free Midi Jazz standards knocking around the net, Some not so good, and some are excellent. You can then play them back in your DAW, at any Tempo and any Key. Good for practise and learning, and taking on board changes. A couple to get along with [Real book related] [url="http://midiworld.com/jazz.htm"]http://midiworld.com/jazz.htm[/url] [url="http://mysite.verizon.net/reso4wg2/freejazzmidifiles/"]http://mysite.verizo...ejazzmidifiles/[/url] Garry [/quote] + all the standards you'll ever need right here: http://irealb.com/forums/ manual here http://www.irealb.com/page2/ plus you can edit and create your own charts very very easily - sadly this thing is probably going to put band in a box and Jamey Aebersold out of business.... this is the best £5.49 you'll ever spend

[quote name='louisthebass' timestamp='1328715958' post='1531585'] Have been reading this thread with interest, and wonder if anyone on the forum who plays jazz live has encountered any kind of indifference, or snobbery on a gig because they're using an electric bass instead of an upright? [/quote] All I know is that a lot of pro jazz bandleaders prefer upright for more traditional/modern jazz stuff - but there are more people using bass guitar for the more contemporary cool / electro jazz bands use bass guitar - I think the received wisdom is that "you can't swing on electric" - but try telling that to Laurence Cottle.... One of my fave new bands are World Service Project - really good live - have a look/listen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVxxOew5w7U

[quote name='Linus27' timestamp='1328714150' post='1531548'] Thanks Urb, its really reassuring to know that you have been through the same sort of thing as I am feeling now. Its interesting that you mention about improvising over chord charts. To get the ball rolling and see how I fared, I got the iReal app for my Itouch and downloaded hundreds of Jazz songs and then just jammed over the charts and it was a real surprise at how well I could do it and how much fun it was. Its been a great starting point for me. Thanks also for all the links, they are a great help. When I first decided to play bass some 23 years ago, I locked myself in my room for two years and studied solidly and came out and hit the ground running. So I am planning this year to do something similar and totally immerse myself and soak up as much info as I can. May I ask, how did you get started? What was the first thing you did to move over into the Jazz scene and away from rock etc? Did you just join a band, start a band or spend a long time studying songs? Again some direction or tips would be appreciated. [/quote] No worries - glad to be of help - I should add I also joined a funk band and a world music / Algerian band - both of which I got to play a lot of very fun and often really cool/exciting gigs with - I love jazz but I love a ton of other music too - I don't discriminate now in terms of what I'm prepared to play - as long as it's good and I 'feel' it.... RE starting I was lucky in that I know two very talented guitar-playing brothers who were ten times better than me - I would learn jazz tunes by wrote, not reading charts at all but learning the chords etc wholesale - then combing that with my limited scale/harmony knowledge and a bit of technique I just went out and started gigging - sometimes it was good, sometimes it was horrible - but you have to just throw yourself in there - there's no substitute for learning to do this stuff on a gig. Mike Stern made a nice point once that 'it takes a minute' to get the stuff you practice at home onto a gig - and he's right, playing all those ideas in the heat of the moment live, in front of an audience that's sitting just inches from you in a small club really gives you nowhere to hide... and when you do dot it, it's bloody brilliant - it's the best feeling to be playing freely, completely improvising new music in front of a crowd who are enjoying it is really something... you have to do it to really appreciate it - but when it works it's really satisfying. EDIT - the iReal app is very cool - if you have the latest version you can even export the songs as MIDI files and can drop them into Logic / Cubase - and then create your own tunes - it's great and I love using it as a practice tool - working on specific things like 2/5/1 chord sequences, all the different scales - major, minor, alterted, augmented, melodic/harmonic minors, learning about chord substitutions, different picking techniques - reading and transcribing - it all adds so much more to your musical outlook - so instead of just following the friggin' guitardist you can write your own tunes, explain to other musicians how you want this bit played etc - and feel a lot more confident as a MUSICIAN - not just the bass player.....