Steve Morse on Bass

[jaxadam]

I don't know if this has been posted or seen by you guys before, but I thought it was worth a shot.

[nomedia="http://youtube.com/watch?v=38QoyEF2_RA&mode=related&search="]YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.[/nomedia]

 

[Rano Bass]

Great technique even if it gets a little boring after a few minutes, as i said... very good technique.

 

[Baird]

I would never be critical of another bassist..... but..... the technique is amazing but it is missing "feel" IMO.... if that makes sense.

I play bass now because I switched from guitar in the mid '80's when Clapton and Morse sucked according to most and if you couldn't play the Malmsteen/Paul Gilbert stuff, you sucked!

 

[Caca de Kick]

I can't dance with a chick to that...

 

[adouglas]

I would never be critical of another bassist..... but..... the technique is amazing but it is missing "feel" IMO.... if that makes sense.

Makes total sense. I agree.

I'd much rather listen to Kenny Gradney laying down some simple, swampy, low-down in-the-pocket groove on a Little Feat tune than this. It's an illustration of why the world really doesn't need seven-string basses IMHO.

 

[Rano Bass]

I can't dance with a chick to that...

I can't even dance by myself to that!
I'm shure that guy is a great bass player, just not my cup of tea.

 

[bovinehost]

Okay, first - I can't do that.

Second, if I could, I wouldn't.

 

[Psycho Ward]

Okay, first - I can't do that.

Second, if I could, I wouldn't.

!!!

 

[bassmonkeee]

Videotaping yourself. Playing along with a cd. Sigh....


When did the world become the mirror in a teenager's bedroom?

I prefer the original players:

[nomedia="http://youtube.com/watch?v=Mk_GMvIea6s&mode=related&search="]YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.[/nomedia]

Added bonus of real Musicman instrument, too. You'll notice that Dave LaRue spends most of the tune playing fairly simply, but when he has to go unison with Steve Morse, he pulls it off WITHOUT RUSHING.

 

[bluesquidd]

Feel or No Feel, This guy did something special on bass. The song is hard enough to play on guitar. I think his approach is good.
One thing I've been seeing a lot on youtube and other mediums is people bashing virtuoso players. I'm amazed when I type in Jaco, Jeff Berlin, Gary Willis, Steve Morse, Dave LaRue, etc on youtube.... that a lot of people seem to bash for the sake of it. And of course the bashers have no credentials themselves. It seems like we are in an anti virtuoso era.
We lost the "guitar solos" in the '90s. Back in the 80's when there were players that were technique oriented, either jazz, fusion, or the neo-classical shredders, I use to wonder what would the next level of musicianship would be. And it seem to die. I'm not talking technical playing for technique sake. But, I'm amazed when I read quotes on youtube of Stanley Clarke or Jaco, how they are almost hated.
Maybe it's an American thing. I know it's an American thing. That's why jazz players can tour in Europe and almost starve here.

 

[MingusBASS]

It it doesn't have soul, I've got no use for it. The piece above didn't move me or inspire me in any way. I'll make no apologies for that. I love fusion when it's done well but I'd take George Porter Jr. layn' it down with the Meters over any of those youtube wanker "virtuosos". Groove damn it!

 

[bovinehost]

I'm amazed when I type in Jaco, Jeff Berlin, Gary Willis, Steve Morse, Dave LaRue, etc on youtube.... that a lot of people seem to bash for the sake of it. And of course the bashers have no credentials themselves. It seems like we are in an anti virtuoso era.

That guy on the vid might be one hell of a groovin' pocket player for all I know. Maybe he hosts a blues jam on weekends or something. What he did on that video did nothing for me - it didn't speak to my soul or my heart or make me want to vote Libertarian or save the world or - anything really.

I recognize how difficult it is to do (and that I'll never do it) but, to me, it is not virtuoso. It's clinical efficiency. Some people like that kind of thing, it DOES speak to them on some level, and here's what I say: good for them! I have nothing against this guy or anyone else being clinically efficient.

Jaco was musical. I've seen Jeff Berlin as far back as the Bruford band with Alan Holdsworth (1978, maybe) and Berlin tore me up even then. Steve Morse? Been a fan since the early days of Dixie Dregs. Dave LaRue came to my birthday party. I'm saying that I like all sorts of things.....some of them considered kind of wanky, I suppose, but I certainly don't think I'm anti-talent.

But when it comes to music and ability, we're all going to be attracted to different things. Does the video guy have ability? Oh my yeah. Scads of it.

Is it my thing? Nah. But I'm not bashing him, believe me.

Jack

 

[strummer]

Sheeit

What's the matter with y'all
That guy is smokin'

And when he's holding it down in between note-fests, hes got a solid thing going i think...

I don't think I'd play like that either, even if I cound, but that doesn't mean it isn't cool to listen to.

In fact, it reminds me of that bass player that was with Morse before LaRur, I forget his name. Anyway, there's an album from -79 (I think) called Night of the living dregs, and most tracks on there have real note heavy bass playing...

 

[ptg]

Ok, couple 'o things...
While that particular piece doesn't have a lot of soul, it's obvious he can play anything and everything he wants to.
And I have to admit if I could do that I would and add it to the more melodic stuff I can do so I have more colors to add to my picture, if you will.
Tell 'ya though, when I see bassists that are that good it almost makes me want to stop and say what's the point? I wouldn't even know where to begin to play like that.
But anyway, it's all good...

 

[strummer]

Tell 'ya though, when I see bassists that are that good it almost makes me want to stop and say what's the point?

The point is, or at least for me, having fun, and getting gigs without knowing how to even begin playing like that. It's like Jeff Berlin once said: It isn't a required skill...

 

[jaxadam]

Wow...

I'm a guitar player, and that song is hard enough to play on the guitar. I thought some of you bass guys who are Steve Morse fans might at least appreciate it.

 

[bluesquidd]

I agree. The guy is playing along with the music. You can hear it in the backgroud and he seems to be playing it note for note. Maybe they don't think the song "TUMENI NOTES" has feel. But in the end, everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
I'm pretty sure Steve would get a kick out of it.

 

[Rano Bass]

"Tumeni notes" IS a great song, don't confuse things guys. Most of us are saying that guy obviously has great technique, and maybe he's a good groove player, what i know is that that kind of thing doesn't impress me.
I prefer the Steve Morse version with Dave LaRue playing that (and on a four strings) and a drummer.
Played by itself it isn't very pleasing to my ears, and yes, maybe Steve would get a kick, and a good laught out of it.
Again... that guy seems to be a good player, that video just didn't do it for me.