urb

[quote name='Skol303' post='1249102' date='May 29 2011, 01:07 PM']Nice melody, works for me! Some impressive playing when you let rip at the tempo change / double-time, roughly half way thru. I like the tone and FX you're using there as well. Great stuff Keep us posted if you work on it more...[/quote] Thanks man - this is very much work in progess - bits I like bits I don't - I'm going to develop the tune more and re-do the middle bit - thanks for the encouragement on the melodic stuff tho Cheers Mike

I just made a new video of this tune - with a new bass line + solo - using my EBS Octabass and BassIQ pedals I still plan on taking this further - let me know what you think Cheers Mike

[quote name='Skol303' post='1222770' date='May 7 2011, 12:08 AM']^ Holy **** that blew me away! Truly amazing playing. ...I've just bought Green Delay as an impulse-buy on iTunes thanks to your link. Seems I owe you a debt of gratitude for switching me on to something new; and in monetary terms you owe me roughly 2 1/2 pints of beer ;-)[/quote] If you dig this then you really have to get hold of the album that this exact performance is on - it's simply called Alive and it was voted Jazz Album of 2010 by Mojo and Jazzwise magazines - it's a really killing record: [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alive-Phronesis/dp/B003U753O8"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alive-Phronesis/dp/B003U753O8[/url] Another very fine band that also features Jasper H is called Kairos 4tet - led by a young sax player called Adam Waldmann - I'm a big fan and their latest album is really good too, very much in the same 'area' in terms of style, sound and playing to Phronesis - but with sax [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Statement-Intent-Kairos-4tet/dp/B004PGVRN4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1305630958&sr=1-1"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Statement-Intent-K...0958&sr=1-1[/url]

Otto is one of the coolest guys you will ever meet - super cool and down to earth - and a great groove player - what's the bass he's using? Look a bit like a Pedulla...

[quote name='Bilbo' post='1228762' date='May 12 2011, 01:27 PM']I know its not Dave Holland but it swings and I am certainly pleased with it in terms of where I was a year ago.[/quote] Not sure what you think you've still got to prove here Bilbo - but to me it sounds like you can play double bass...! Great work sir, very enjoyable and I wish I had the time, inclination, opportunity etc to take a similar journey - one day I will - when we move into a much bigger house...

I prefer my side dots exactly like they are on my fretted basses - I've tried playing a fretless with the dots exactly on 'the line' of the note and it completely threw me, I'm so used to playing 'between the dots' when I look down at the neck, any other way just messes my mind up...

[quote name='Doddy' post='1227526' date='May 11 2011, 01:49 PM']I was going to go see that band in Manchester,but it was sold out. I'm still a little unsure about Travis Carlton.I've heard some stuff with him that I thought was great and other stuff where I wasn't impressed at all.[/quote] Well live he was superb - really effortless, unfussy playing that just sat perfectly in the groove but remained interesting - I can't vouch for his recordings, I've listened to a couple of things on his Myspace and thought he sounded really tasteful and musical, not necessarily outstanding just good - but live he was just great, really cool and interesting solos too, no showboating just good ideas. The band will hopefully be back in the UK if Scott's as good as his word, he was moaning about his Italian booking agent's lack of enthusiasm for booking them gigs in the UK - but after they had so much fun I'm sure they'll be over again -

Had a supremely enjoyable night at Ronnie Scott's last night - mainly thanks to the incredible playing of one of my all time fave guitarists Scott Henderson - but also thanks to a killer rhythm section of drummer Alan Hertz, and Larry Carlton's son Travis on bass... and what a player he is. Probably the funkiest young bassist I've heard in years, wonderful timing, feel, note choices and incredible tone from his Xotic Bass XJ-1T 5-string. He rarely played 16th notes, instead stuck to 8th notes on his solos with the skankiest phrasing and some killer octave/envelope filter sounds - he's a real breath of fresh air, Anyway the gigs have been and gone now so this isn't a plug, I just wanted to give the guy some props as he's a really hip and incredibly groovy player you should all check out - here are a couple of clips - the Henderson trio is the exact same as the one that played last night but this is the most 'fusion' it got - most of the set was a mix of funk, jazz rock and blues - but the other one is a good example of how funky Travis is; Hope you enjoy Mike

I spent an hour jamming with Kevin Glasgow last week - that was pretty damn inspiring

One that turns up on time

[quote name='risingson' post='1217916' date='May 2 2011, 07:03 PM']I think Hedrien is technically a great player, I really do. Admittedly not my thing but he's very good at what he does, no denying it! But I hear technically 'competent' musicians playing in faux-funk bands like these all the time, and can't help feeling how generic and lifeless it sounds. There's almost no feel to it, the keyboard playing is as stiff as a board and the singer IMO can't actually sing particularly well. I appreciate talent on all sorts of levels and clearly they can all play, but as a band they just don't work to my ears. Sorry man, this is purely my opinion and I'm sure that there will be others that will totally disagree with me but I see a lot of bands like this through my old Uni and I always think it to be totally uninspired.[/quote] Fair enough - I still think Hadrien's a great player and he doesn't need me to defend him so I won't - horses for courses, old school vs new school etc etc - personally I think there's room for everything - I like his groove on this but you're right his style is way more technical than perhaps is necessary for this stuff, but I really just posted this as I like the fact he's stepping out in different styles now, and trying to get away from being labelled as a fusion guy.

Hey When I was at the Musikmesse I caught Hadrien jamming with this great Russian bassist Anton Davidyants - AD slaps like a mutha and has a great groove - so Had was a slappin' away too and after was saying, 'Man I'm going to work on my slap...' - well here's a very recent clip of him funking it up with great African drummer Paco Sery's new band - and slapping out some cool stuff on his Ken Smith: I think he's sounding very cool and really in the pocket M

No one into this funkiness...? We're playing again this week in London at [url="http://www.timeout.com/london/music/event/223450/matt-telfer-groove-digger"]The Spice Of Life[/url] - please come along if you're about in town...

[quote name='bubinga5' post='1214481' date='Apr 29 2011, 05:28 AM']Im really into my soul house music.. especially Masters at Work..Gene Perez is the master at this ... a good ole standard jazz bass hes playing on this cut.. check out his playing.. its SUPERB!!! [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nc8aCFWjdDk"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nc8aCFWjdDk[/url][/quote] I've been into this guy's playing for ten years or more - he's seriously killing, if a bit of an enigma - I know virtually nothing about this guy but he's got a unique way of laying down a groove but improvising really freely as well... very inspiring!

[quote name='gafbass02' post='1215220' date='Apr 29 2011, 06:52 PM']As a fellow Cheltonian basschatter, maybe we should hook up and go for a pint, add me on fbook if you like mate, (Gareth Franks-Bayntun) As, for somewhat different and more complicated reasons, I'm very seriously considering knocking it all on the head as well, although i love the band I'm in :-( I always had you down as a sharp player mate, I'm sure there's more to it. Drop me a pm or something if you wanna head into town to chew the fat. [/quote] I'll be kicking around Cheltenham tomorrow night at Lamb as part of the Chelt Jazz festival - I'll be back again on Sunday for the Neil Cowley Trio at the Imperial Gardens Jazz Arena - it starts at 2pm - should be good I'll be around in the beer gardens afterwards around 3.30 [url="http://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/find-events/jazz/j30-neil-cowley-trio-strings"]http://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/find-ev...ey-trio-strings[/url] Let me know if you fancy meeting up guys Mike

2 Sei basses and my Genz Shuttle 9.0

Indeed - I agree [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_therapy"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_therapy[/url]

[quote name='bubinga5' post='1214791' date='Apr 29 2011, 12:41 PM']Feeling very down at the moment.. just got kicked out of a band.. im thinking lately that im loosing direction with my playing... they said im lacking structure in my playing, and i know what they mean.. ive been thinking it for a while any advice for a wavering bass player... im thinking i need to start reading.. thats if i dont just give up playing...[/quote] Hey Andy Firstly this could be the best thing that ever happens to your bass playing - I know getting a knock back is really painful and makes you really doubt yourself but like others have said, I'm sure you're pretty damn good bass player and don't let other's judgements undermine all the positives you have achieved. My advice is take this as an opportunity to take a fresh look at your strengths and weaknesses and maybe find a teacher who can help you adress anything you're not happy with in your playing... secondly I would continue to play the music that YOU love and try and find other musicians that love that style as well - get out to some jam sessions and just move on from what you've just been playing - you know you'll find a better band and be a better player in the future! Hope that helps and don't give up! Mike

Sorry, but this is hilarious - please keep us updated - he must have played the gig by now, how did he get on? Do any Norwegians own Foderas? I know lots of Norwegian musicians and I can tell you from experience that vintage, not designer, basses are what 99% of the bands / players use out there... and how many huskies does it take to change a lightbulb? M

[quote name='skej21' post='1208979' date='Apr 23 2011, 10:14 AM']Just watched this again. How muscley/MASSIVE are his hands?! I'm suprised he can manage to do any tapping! Maybe he was working in a scrapyard before playing this... crushing cars with his bare hands![/quote] Er yeah, Vic is quite a short guy but he's built like the proverbial outdoor latrine - I found this cool pic ages ago that demonstrates just how strong he is - no Photoshop involved here: He's still one of my fave players, if not my overall fave bass player of all time... been listening to him for 20 years and I still love all that he does.

Another live vid from me and the Groove Digger funk band Hope you enjoy it Mike

A tune from my gig last night: *there's a little bass solo towards the end* Hope you guys dig this Thanks for watching Mike

Last bump for tonight's gig - be great to see some of you South London - or ANY London - BCers there - should be great, killing band, and er, me on bass Thanks for your time - I return you now to your scheduled programme Mike

OK sorry but this requires a bump - be great to see some of your funky London types down for our night on the 25th April - the Hdeaway is a truly excellent venue - and it's a killer band - hope some of you can come along. [attachment=77922:GD_Hideaway_800.jpg]