No lust in Jazz

Time keeping isn't the sole responsibility of the Drummer and there are many great songs recorded with a band that speeds up and slows down. One band that I play in plays with backing tracks, (usually percussion or brass) for those songs clearly we play to a click. Another band (Rock and Blues) plays without a click, the speed of the songs is often conducted by frowns and hand gestures. A few experience based rehearsal hacks that spring to mind are. 1 - Know your material 2 - Get everybody to rehearsal and on time 3 - Have fun

I saw the gig at Castlefields in Manchester - (Actually my mate and I went to see Magma who were the support). Although I have limited knowledge of the Porcupine Tree back catalogue I thoroughly enjoyed their gig.

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One of my bands uses backing tracks for around 50% of its material. These are usually 'keynote' songs that require certain parts that we otherwise don't have the instrumentation for. This is typically various percussion elements, 2nd Keys or samples; it has to add to the material otherwise there's no point. Sometimes nothing beats five musicians looking at one another for a cue. Balancing the volume of a backing track to the band is a science that we are still learning.

To be honest, your approach of trying a few out, is (in my view) by far the best plan. I started out with a Mustang re-issue, but found upper fret access a bind. From here I moved on to a Supro Huntingdon II which is where 'coin properly dropped' with me. I briefly had the misfortune to own a Mensinger Joker - which with its prison workshop build quality went quickly. Ultimately I found the controls on the Supro - in the way of my 'wham bam thank you mam' technique and moved it on before having to modify it. This is where I ordered my first Serek (MW2), soon followed by a 2nd hand SS Spector (CTB fretted), then there was another Serek (MW2 different pick-up) and as I'm a bit dim, a third Serek (MW2 different Pick-up). I actually started looking into an additional Serek, but build times and prices went a little hyperbolic - So I ordered a Wilcocks SS Mullarkey - receiving it at the back end of last year Strings are another issue, by far my favorite strings were Thomastick SS flats, but La Bella LTF's seem to suit the Sereks better, the only strings that (for me) work on the Wilcock are La-Bella Roundwonds. I'm sorted for short scale basses, but I could see myself owning a SS Musicman - who knows. There are loads of opinions out there - the above is my experience.

I wouldn't overlook the standard Serek B90, or the Curtis Novak Bisonic. I have John (KiOgon) building me something very similar to this.

I saw Zappa stop a concert when one of the musicians in the band played the wrong notes with a terse 'Stop. I want to hear the right notes' - I believe that he was relaxed about some material, but some stuff, particularly if he was trying to record it he wanted right. So far as overplaying goes, we've all been young and daft - These days, I record gigs and rehearsals, I have enough on my plate to play material correctly when its counted in.

I'm not familiar with Sean Hurley beyond SBL and Noble promotion, is there an album that Sean Hurley plays on that anyone can recommend, that gives a better overview of his playing?

For me, it's down to the music, if I like the music I don't care how the bass line is played...

I saw Amy Winehouse in a small club in Chester in the very early 2000's - a small crowd. My mate who suggested the gig seemed to think she'd go on to do something.

Mechanical Engineer.

No it isn't.

Personally, having lost a couple I don't like the fine threaded nut that secures the strap on the Schaller offering, so prefer the Dunlop dual system. But a decent strap works too .

For my ears Gunnarson always played lines that supported the melody and propelled the beat - much like Jamerson. I think he had the theory and the feel - listen to something his line on Dancing Queen, properly listen without a bass in hand - it is a work of joy.

To be fair, it looks like the builder has realised that his old production methods gave issues and he's taken steps to address this.

Not too sure if this helps.. Doobie Brothers - Listen to the Music.pdf

Oh Yeah, you can really go nuts with the options on the quote form too - I know this and now have three Serek's 🤪 But, Jake Serek is a pleasure to deal with and his basses are wonderful.

Ideally a Jazz Bass

Did you ever progress your interest in a MW 5?

I had a Gibson - the weight was fine, however, the balance wasn't great; we all know that there have efforts by various builders to improve this.

It's not TOTP this is the Dutch equivalent TOP POP, the speed issue, who knows - it could equally be down to its upload to YT.