molan Posted August 22, 2010 Share Posted August 22, 2010 Having a bit of a clear out in my study today & discovered a batch of bass books I bought a while ago & had totally forgotten about! First up was The Funkmasters JB Rhythm Sections book by Allan Slutsky & Chuck Silverman. Some great little insights into the various bands and their individual parts on a swathe of JB classics along with various complete scores, instrument by instrument tabs & a pair of CD's. Given that my 'new' '86 Fodera Monarch also arrived this weekend I thought I'd have a blast at playing along with some JB funk. Wound the treble all the way down on the Monarch & boosted some lows and added more tubetone 'grit' on the TC Electronics Rh450 & I was away Have been playing for hours, so long that my legs ache & my fingers are killing me Can't believe just how simple, but effective, some of those great bass lines were. Especially things from people less well known like Fred Thomas: [i]"James Brown had had his fill of virtuosity. Unable to control the tempestuous Bootsy Collins, his new agenda was to find a bassist with a solid bottom end that he could work with. Fred Thomas and his mid-sixties Fender Precision were custom made for that role"[/i] I just love the groove on Hot Pants Pt 1 : [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDTWsMaIHLE&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDTWsMaIHLE...feature=related[/url] [i]"Fred just played the root note of the chord and its octave. It doesn't get much simpler than this but that doesn't lessen the impact and importance of the line. Don't believe me; just try playing a busy technical figures against this track and watch the groove disintegrate under your fingers."[/i] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted August 22, 2010 Share Posted August 22, 2010 Sounds like fun! Next you will be looking for mid-60s Precison, Barrie lol! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raslee Posted August 22, 2010 Share Posted August 22, 2010 I've got this book, it really superb! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molan Posted August 22, 2010 Author Share Posted August 22, 2010 Forgot to add - this is the one that finally did for my fingers: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXUa6VVqq4c"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXUa6VVqq4c[/url] and this was my other favourite Fred Thomas song: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pe1UOr___pg&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pe1UOr___pg...feature=related[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molan Posted August 22, 2010 Author Share Posted August 22, 2010 [quote name='Clarky' post='932948' date='Aug 22 2010, 06:32 PM']Sounds like fun! Next you will be looking for mid-60s Precison, Barrie lol![/quote] Who needs one of those when you've got £3.5K worth of mid '80's 'hi-tech' Fodera with flashy EMG's and lots of on-board switching options plus a super modern digital amp with settings that allow you to sound just like a. . . '60's P through an Ampeg flip-top :blush: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted August 22, 2010 Share Posted August 22, 2010 Show off! Besides, as they say, the funk is the fingers ... Shame mine are like sausages Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molan Posted August 22, 2010 Author Share Posted August 22, 2010 [quote name='Clarky' post='932965' date='Aug 22 2010, 06:49 PM']Show off! Besides, as they say, the funk is the fingers ... Shame mine are like sausages[/quote] Lol - at least they are punk sausages Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Rich Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 If you're into James Brown it might be worth checking out the drum video about Jabo Starks and Clyde Stubblefield.... I'm pretty sure it's got Fred Thomas and Fred Wesley on it.. Here's a couple of clips: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdFK-nVys6s&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdFK-nVys6s...feature=related[/url] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iM7ZAg7Xm0"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iM7ZAg7Xm0[/url] Class! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 [quote name='Fat Rich' post='933725' date='Aug 23 2010, 02:40 PM']If you're into James Brown it might be worth checking out the drum video about Jabo Starks and Clyde Stubblefield.... I'm pretty sure it's got Fred Thomas and Fred Wesley on it.. Here's a couple of clips: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdFK-nVys6s&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdFK-nVys6s...feature=related[/url] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iM7ZAg7Xm0"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iM7ZAg7Xm0[/url] Class![/quote] I have been very lucky to have spent an evening with Jabbo and Clyde and also watched them live at a drum clinic. They were brilliantly entertaining and gave a real insight to the life of being the rhythm section for JB. At the end of the evening after sitting down and chatting about all things musical, I went to say my good-byes and shake both their hands - Instead, to my surprise I got a massive hug from Clyde!! They were both so humble and affable. I like to think some of that funk rubbed off on me! - Well, it certainly had a profound effect, that's for sure! Brilliant guys. I wish I had my camera there that day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Rich Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 (edited) [quote name='dood' post='933797' date='Aug 23 2010, 03:49 PM']I have been very lucky to have spent an evening with Jabbo and Clyde and also watched them live at a drum clinic. They were brilliantly entertaining and gave a real insight to the life of being the rhythm section for JB. At the end of the evening after sitting down and chatting about all things musical, I went to say my good-byes and shake both their hands - Instead, to my surprise I got a massive hug from Clyde!! They were both so humble and affable. I like to think some of that funk rubbed off on me! - Well, it certainly had a profound effect, that's for sure! Brilliant guys. I wish I had my camera there that day![/quote] Cool! They're both legends and on the DVD they come across like really nice guys. I'd recommend their DVD to any musician even though it's mostly about drumming, it gives a really good insight into musicianship and the rhythm section. As bass players I think it's important to understand where the drummer's coming from, particularly with busier players like Clyde. Edited August 23, 2010 by Fat Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molan Posted August 23, 2010 Author Share Posted August 23, 2010 Lovin' those drum clips! Listening to them right now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Rich Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 I fished out the Jabo & Clyde DVD to see if Fred Thomas was on it and ended up watching it right through, I couldn't keep still because it's so funky! Fred features pretty heavily in it although the camera isn't on him too often, he plays his lines with his thumb only (not slap though). His thumb is all over the place on the busier lines a bit like Jamerson's "hook", with just drums it's pretty easy to hear what he's playing and hear how it works with the beat. He's playing some kind of Carvin 5 string through a smallish Ampeg rig. The DVD is available for about £13 plus delivery on Amazon at the moment, it's definitely drum orientated with low production values but well worth a look in my opinion. [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Soul-Funky-Drummers-Clyde-Stubblefield/dp/B0002IQM70/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1282599781&sr=8-1"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Soul-Funky-Drummer...9781&sr=8-1[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted August 28, 2010 Share Posted August 28, 2010 [quote name='molan' post='932940' date='Aug 22 2010, 06:24 PM']The Funkmasters JB Rhythm Sections book by Allan Slutsky & Chuck Silverman. [/quote] I think I need to buy that book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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