Re: Victor Wooten

[dlloyd]

Also though...look at the guy from ACDC (Cliff Williams). One of the best bassists to learn from because his lines are so easy-BUT, he holds the pocket, and what he does works for the band. Technical skill does not always equal the best bass playing.

Lync

I was blown away recently by Phil Lynott's bass playing (Thin Lizzy). Simple bass lines, perfectly complimenting the song.

 

[bovinehost]

i think paul mcartney is a joke

As a child of the sixties, more or less, who was inspired to BE a bassist by Sir Paul, I'd have to disagree, but to each his own.

Please note that while I've said I don't particularly enjoy listening to Overtly Masturbatory Bass Wankers (or any other type of wanker, for that matter), I do appreciate and understand how good Wooten/Miller/Pastorius are (or were).

All in all, I'd rather have a martini and listen to "Abbey Road" than to any Jaco solo record. "Hejira" remains a high point, to me, in Jaco's recorded output.

if you stop growing as a bass player then please stop playing all together

I sat down this week to learn some Steely Dan, something I've never done even though I really like some of those records. "Peg" has been a lot of fun to revisit as a musician versus just a listener, and it's fun to step outside my "norm", which living in Texas often means SRV-type blues.

But "please stop playing altogether"? That's quite a statement, isn't it? If playing whatever you play makes you happy and warm inside, but you've somehow stopped 'growing', then you should stop? Sometimes playing bass is about playing bass, not about pushing limits or astounding the audience or attempting the impossible. Sometimes it's just playing bass, which is pretty good unto itself.

I don't THINK I've stopped growing as a player at the ripe old age of 47, but even if I do, I think I'll go ahead and keep playing because it makes me happy to do so.

 

[Lync]

Someone ragged on Paul McCartney??!!!!!!

WHAT?!!!!

We can only hope that they never really sat down to listen....


Man...I love wanking, but I love that sound of an open E through a nice fat and warm rig so much more.

Lync

 

[spectorbassguy]

"Someone ragged on Paul McCartney??!!!!!!

WHAT?!!!!

We can only hope that they never really sat down to listen...."

Agreed! My Fav is Abbey Road.

 

[LeftyLB]

[......, I under play to make the song better and bring out everything.
annd this is just what paul did. [/B][/QUOTE]

I think George Harrison might disagree with you there!

Apparently he was furious at the overplaying by Macca on the Harrison penned classic "Something". Macca not having to worry about writing and singing lyrics for once, had too much time on his hands and completely overplays on this track.

 

[cgworkman]

Agreed. Which is why I spend time studying jazz and other styles which I will never play. The world is full of musicians who only study one particular style and, worse, only one particular player. I've left jazz clubs because I've recognised a guitarist's solo as being lifted note for note off a Wes Montgomery record.

Great!! Then in my humble opinion you have the right attitude! Seriously. That is exactly what I am talking about. It's all about expanding your musical vocabulary. I'm not putting someone like you down at all - quite the opposite - you have the same outlook that i do - you just perfer a different mix of "influences". I think that's great.

Every musician out there is his/her own unique combination of influences. There are no two people out there that like and dislike the same exact people 100% of the time. And that's exactly where the Jacos, stanleys, victors (etc) came from and are coming from. they are there own unique musical melting pot.

then it starts all over again. and over again. whatever this or that bassplayer brings to the instrument because of their unique mix creates a whole new "style" - and then there are people that like or dislike them - but this happens 1,000's of times over and over again - every time it's a unique combination of influences and life situations.

stanley clarke was influenced by a different mix of musicians than jaco was - that's why they were different. and then someone was influenced by both of them despite the fact that jaco & stanley had their own unique mix of influences - then that creates a whole new thing in someone else.

everybody is a walking musical melting pot despite your level or style of playing. that's what make music so much fun - it's not something to be argued about... if i like somethign you don't - great!! - put the two of us together and eventually we'll find something we agree on - combine all that together (both our mutual likes and vice versa) and "BAM" - you've got a brand new thing on your hands. it's like a dominoe effect.

nobody's wrong here - we're all right in our own way.

the people who like to solo - your influences are both solists and "traditional" player - and vice versa. paul mcartney did a thing at a prince charles b-day concert years ago with jeff berlin - paul soloed his a**off!!

peace

 

[cgworkman]

But "please stop playing altogether"? That's quite a statement, isn't it?

Yes you're very right Bovine. I didn't quite mean it the way it sounded. Last month I went into the studio to fix the bass tracks on 12 songs. The bassplayer refused to play what the leader wanted (It was a rock-a-billy style record). The basslines were very simple and I enjoyed doing it very much. The bassplayer that played originally said he "couldn't get into it" - that the basslines were to "out there". He said he really had a problem with it because it wasn't traditional enough. It was basically country music with a dash of rock - how out there can that be?!? Now i did not go into that session playing a bunch of jaco/victor/marcus/stanley/whoever (actually i've never done that) - I played to fit the style that singer/leader wanted. Not by dragging the song down - or by being so flashy that you're an idiot!

I'm not talking about bassplayers in general when i make that statement - i'm talking about people who refuse to do what fits the music at hand.

I agree if something makes you happy as a bassplayer - keep at it. But let me ask you Bovine - if you were on a paid gig (or even unpaid) - wouldn't you do your best to contribute to the musical picture the best you could? or would you make a fool of yourself?

Speakign of Steely Dan - I love 'em. They're a bassplayers education as far as i'm concerned. But i'm sure there are a few out there who disagree. Read up a few posts about what I said about each musician being his own melting pot.

despite the differences between us all - we're all still bassplayers and that means something. eventually we'll find common ground with something.

 

[cgworkman]

nobody's wrong here - we're all right in our own way.

I just want to say to everybody - from the way all of you handle yourselves in this forum - i really believe that everyone here is respectable and mature people. It's all of our likes and dislikes that make smusic so much fun - and so diverse.

Everybody keep on rockin'!!!

 

[dlloyd]

from the way all of you handle yourselves in this forum - i really believe that everyone here is respectable and mature people.

Heh! How little you know!

 

[cgworkman]

Heh! How little you know!

okay - maybe not......

 

[Mobay45]

If you have the luxury to play "your" own music all the time - then great, do that. But every working bassist will have to pop and snap if you want to keep working. god forbid anybody listen to the above mentioned bass players that have basically invented what it is to "solo" or "slap" today. I don't like country music - but I can play country with the best - because i have enough sense to check out what country bass players are doing. and most importantly - i respect what they do whether i like it or not.

A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of going to a concert/clinic by a very well known jazz trumpet player by the name of Mike Vax. There were some young musicians in the audience so when the group took a break, Mike took some time to answer some questions, most of which would apply to any musician.

One question that was asked was "What is the most important thing a musician needs?" to which Mike answered "A business card.". He went on to suggest that these young musicians concentrate on a degree in Music Business instead of Performance. The other thing that applies here was when he brought up the many different groups he has played with over the years. He told us that the most important thing a musician can do is do his best to fit in with the type of music he has been hired to play. He prides himself in being able to play almost any kind of music and play it well.

Some interesting thoughts from a long time professional musician.

 

[cgworkman]

I agree - I seen an interview once and the person said that he always makes a point to once in a while listen to the things he doesn't like - this way he gains a new understanding of that style, etc. He stated that sometimes you can learn more from something you don't like than something you do...

Stevie Vai is a good example - he's primarily a heavy metal guitarist. but over the years i've heard him play almost every style i can think of - and extremely well too! I think that's amazing (even for a guitarist )

 

[hands 5]

Maybe a controversial post, but a post on solos came up and made me start thinking, so here goes:

First let me say that I respect the technique and obvious diligent practice that has shaped Victor Wooten's bass playing. And he seems like a heckuva nice guy.

That said, I can't seem to get past about 10 or 15 minutes of his "Live at Bass Day" DVD. When he and his brother have the "thump-off" or whatever it's called, it just starts sounding like chicken scratches to me. And the hair-thingy's that Reggie Wooten has on his guitar? What's that all about? Seems like pure show to me. I know that this was a "bass day" but I'd much rather see a melodic bass player like John Pattitucci or Jaco or a real groover like Larry Graham or Verdine White than someone who was playing just to display his technique.

Again, no disrespect to Victor, this is just MHO. What do Y'all think?

I Feel Ya "

 

[hands 5]

i would have to agree with the fact the both wooten and jaco are amazing but their solos and non-melodic and kind of, over the top. i prefer Stuart Hamm or Larry Graham for solos because they are more melodic.

Well for one Larry Graham doesn't really solo he use 3 or 4 notes on the Fuzz box just for the effect his thing is keeping it funky,and staying in the pocket.


If there drinking and dancing,they're buying if not you won't be playing here very long.

 

[hands 5]

however, what the players of bass day do, is show off at what their excelent at. Though Wooten is an amazing melodic player, when it comes time do him slapping, no one else can do it, not at his level..so while people are showing off their level of melodic solo's, wooten shows his level of slap, which i can hardly comprihend (spelling), with that said, why not show off something like that, it bogels peoples minds, and its doing something different then everyone else who plays bass day, doing something different is always good, especialy if your sick at it

Victor is really not doing anything new or different.Bill Dickens has been playing like that for years,and Abraham Laboreil was flamingo slapping with double stops and tripletts way back in the mid to late 70's with the group Friendship and some early Lee Ritenour.

 

[hands 5]

I agree - and i also think that some bass players are happy where they're at. And that's why they tend to go against change and growth. They become musically lazy. Like miles davis said - quote: "If you don't grow as a musician, you become lazy. If you become lazy you're already dead!" Unquote.

Someone said earlier just because there are different styles and angles doesn't mean they have to like it. Well that's true but if you stop growing as a bass player then please stop playing all together. bass players have a hard enough time getting respect as it is, without having the ones without a clue around.....

If you have the luxury to play "your" own music all the time - then great, do that. But every working bassist will have to pop and snap if you want to keep working. god forbid anybody listen to the above mentioned bass players that have basically invented what it is to "solo" or "slap" today. I don't like country music - but I can play country with the best - because i have enough sense to check out what country bass players are doing. and most importantly - i respect what they do whether i like it or not.

that's what being a bass player, and more importantly a musician is all about...

I agree with some of this however you don't really need to slap/pop to get work as a bassist because there are quite a few around here in my neck of the woods(and I'm sure in other places)that does not slap whatsoever.but what thet do bring is a solid technique along with a good tone,a good attitude,knowing there parts,and being at the gig on time.

 

[shaver]

yeh its not new, but it is different...what other bassest has a slap solo in a blue grass song, or wings his bass around his body dureing a jazz number...its just different, its cool