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Greetz from Blackburn, the home of 4000 holes...


derrenleepoole
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Been lurking around for a while on here, but have rarely posted. Don't know why, but thought it was time to say hi!

Been playing since 1989, initially inspired by Cliff Burton to play, but progressed on to the likes of Mingus, Jaco, Bruce etc. My real influence now is just good old solid time keeping and strong melodic content. So much so, I have been rediscovering old masters like JPJ, Jamerson and Macartney. Simply wonderful stuff for bass, even though I'm not a huge fan of all the music on offer, there's simply nothing better for bass. I'm a huge jazzer more than anything and love Esbjorn Svensson Trio & Nik Bartsch's Ronin, but am equally into Steve Reich, John Cage, Derek Bailey, The Orb, FSOL and Squarepusher. Jenkinson is a genius in my opinion BTW.

Used to be a gear snob, but have come to realise that no one really cares about your gear except you, or a muso in the audience perhaps. If it feels good, sounds good and does the job then it's good enough for me. It's taken me twenty years to learn this :) It doesn't however, stop me gasing over gear... I'm now just a little more selective and less prone to peer pressure in making choices and making mistakes in what I buy!

I play a Cort Action V modified with an Audere 4 Band EQ (hi-fi tone on a lo-fi budget :rolleyes: and a Pro Series Traveler Bass from about 1997 ish. I have recently acquired a frankenstein 'beater' j-bass for the sole purpose of light modification and using in pub gigs where the threat of damage or theft is a real issue - so I ain't too bothered if it gets knicked basically. I love my little PJB Bass Buddy preamp, but equally love my Yamaha Nathan East NE-1 preamp as well which I picked up for a mere £30! I gig through an SWR Workingman Combo - but I'm looking to upgrade, but haven't quite decided what yet.

When I'm not playing bass I'm often field recording, doing my job as a graphic designer or looking after the little 'un! Usually the latter.

Later people... Derren.

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[quote name='Mottlefeeder' post='623578' date='Oct 11 2009, 10:39 PM']Welcome to the forum - you're not that far away from me.

Where do you play jazz, and are there any open mic nights on your side of Manchester?[/quote]

Well, I play regular at a pub called the Black Horse in Darwen. There's not an open night as such, but there's good opportunities to get gigs if you're looking to get some. Our guitarist runs Darwen Music Projects and we've had some cracking live bands on featuring Mike Walker, Gary Boyle etc. In fact, in a couple of weeks a jazz trio featuring Gavin Barras is on. He's a great up and coming upright and electric player. Not sure if he's on this forum? But to be fair, live music is on the decline in and around Blackburn, which is a shame. If it wasn't for our guitarist, there would be even less! We've got some gigs coming up in Preston and the Hop Pocket in Chorley this week.

My band isn't a strict jazz band, more a band that plays unusual blues covers and some jazz standards thrown in etc. We're called The Cottonhouse Shakers (myspace.com/thecottonhouseshakers) and all members hail from different backgrounds. The drummer plays an eKit for example and used to run a laptop band called Semihere, the keys player and myself ran a band called False Negative for 5 years and Gary is from Gone Beggin'... it's all good though :)

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[quote name='derrenleepoole' post='623746' date='Oct 12 2009, 09:10 AM']Well, I play regular at a pub called the Black Horse in Darwen. There's not an open night as such, but there's good opportunities to get gigs if you're looking to get some. Our guitarist runs Darwen Music Projects and we've had some cracking live bands on featuring Mike Walker, Gary Boyle etc. In fact, in a couple of weeks a jazz trio featuring Gavin Barras is on. He's a great up and coming upright and electric player. Not sure if he's on this forum? But to be fair, live music is on the decline in and around Blackburn, which is a shame. If it wasn't for our guitarist, there would be even less! We've got some gigs coming up in Preston and the Hop Pocket in Chorley this week.

My band isn't a strict jazz band, more a band that plays unusual blues covers and some jazz standards thrown in etc. We're called The Cottonhouse Shakers (myspace.com/thecottonhouseshakers) and all members hail from different backgrounds. The drummer plays an eKit for example and used to run a laptop band called Semihere, the keys player and myself ran a band called False Negative for 5 years and Gary is from Gone Beggin'... it's all good though :)[/quote]

welcome aboard...i'm just upth' road in sunny oswaldtwistle.....let us know when /where barras is playing ,i'll defo have a look in...

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Hi Derren
nice to meet you mate! youve been playing a year longer than me, although i havent worked out the GAS thing yet :) im never happy, but you are absolutely right it is for me!!!, used to play alot of jazz in my younger days in newcastle so would love to to come and see you sometime, i play mostly in a rock band and for amateur dramatic shows in the northwest ive done a couple at the empire theatre in blackburn, im only in bolton so if you need out giz a shout (as well as any other local basschatters), Do you read music? if so PM me your number im always being asked to do shows and im not available.
We really need to get another North west bass bash on the go, iu missed the last one- all the best - lee

Edited by lee650
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Hi guys, thanks for the warm welcome.

Gavin Barras is playing on the 5th Nov at the Black Horse Pub, Redearth Rd, Darwen. It's a free gig, but the venue is small... so on one hand you get very close to the action, but on the other you can struggle to get in. These gigs are run by Darwen Music Projects [url="http://www.myspace.com/darwenmusicprojects"]http://www.myspace.com/darwenmusicprojects[/url] - and there's lot's of other gigs too so worth checking out - you can even book yourselves there!

I'm well up for meeting up with other bassists. It's always good to talk shop with fellow bassists. I can read music, but in a very basic capacity. Chords and charts are okay, but full scores are not a strength. I'd love to set up a band using just bassists, so if anyone is local to me (Blackburn) and is interested, we should hook up.

Later... Derren.

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[quote]if anyone is local to me (Blackburn) and is interested, we should hook up.[/quote]

I'm from the same neck as Lee but strictly a bedroom player now (keep getting tempted tho).
I wouldn't dare try 'hooking up' with other bass players, theres only so much force-fed humility I can take :)

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