Tony Levin at Bass Player Live

[dmarotta]

At the recent Bass Player Live event in L.A. I caught many of the clinics being conducted by some amazing bassists. One of the highlights for me was the clinic conducted by Tony Levin.
While other bassists showed off their machine gun chops that most of us can never use, Tony demonstrated the art of producing a killer tone from his bass and how simple , well crafted bass lines can make a song pop. I was sitting next to Big Poppa and when Tony played just a whole note , we both turned to each other with open mouths. Truly, the sound of Money!
His humble, humorous stories of sessions with John Lennon and Peter Gabriel gave us some insight of what these artists expect of a bass player and how important the bass part can be .
Thanks to Tony and Musicman for a great weekend.
Dave Marotta

 

[RMS]

I'd rather sound/play like T.Lev than Jaco, Vic Wooten, etc. anyday.

 

[tkarter]

Tony can rip but never over plays a line.

Dave you are no slouch either when it comes to playing.

I would love to learn from either of you.

tk

 

[Aussie Mark]

i'd rather sound/play like t.lev than jaco, vic wooten, etc. Anyday.

+1

 

[steve f]

At the recent Bass Player Live event in L.A. I caught many of the clinics being conducted by some amazing bassists. One of the highlights for me was the clinic conducted by Tony Levin.
While other bassists showed off their machine gun chops that most of us can never use, Tony demonstrated the art of producing a killer tone from his bass and how simple , well crafted bass lines can make a song pop. I was sitting next to Big Poppa and when Tony played just a whole note , we both turned to each other with open mouths. Truly, the sound of Money!
His humble, humorous stories of sessions with John Lennon and Peter Gabriel gave us some insight of what these artists expect of a bass player and how important the bass part can be .
Thanks to Tony and Musicman for a great weekend.
Dave Marotta

Great post - when I was a kid I dreamed of sounding like Stanley and Jaco, now I'd much rather sound like Tony or Pino. For me it's much more about the groove and contributing to the music, not the solo spot.

That might be because I suck but we don't need to dwell on that...

 

[DaddyFlip]

that might be because i suck but we don't need to dwell on that...

+1

 

[meeder2]

Tl

Tony can create a unique emotion in a song by the space and breath he puts into it, most notibly with PG, Paula Cole, Sara Maclaughlin etc. But can turn into a tornado with Liquid Tension Ex, Crimson...Not to
mention some of the Jazz greats he plays with.

 

[Big Poppa]

I love tony and am proud to have him in the family....Dave we had a nice little norweigian wood with Tony you and I and Jennifer......

The one thing I want to point out is that all of those players are what makes the bass great and I dont want ot disrespect any of them.....they all bring passion and art to the bass

 

[tkarter]

They all do just that BP for sure. Well said.

tk

 

[paranoid70]

Tony is definitely the master. I love Peter Gabriel, but you must admit that Tony's bass lines are a big part of what makes his songs so memorable.

How long has he been playing Music Man basses?

 

[Hellboy]

Tony is definitely the master. I love Peter Gabriel, but you must admit that Tony's bass lines are a big part of what makes his songs so memorable.

How long has he been playing Music Man basses?

Very late 70´s I´d say. He played a Precision back in -78.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsGlNQISKEs"]YouTube - Peter Gabriel 1978 LIVE - "Opening-On the Air"[/ame]

Without a mustache. Two years later, 1980, with Paul Simon. Mustache and Stingray.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7OPcZxp30g"]YouTube - Paul Simon Late In The Evening[/ame]

Tony´s "Anno Domini" when it comes to playing Musicman should read B.M./A.M. Before/after mustache......

//J

 

[steve f]

Very late 70´s I´d say. He played a Precision back in -78.

YouTube - Peter Gabriel 1978 LIVE - "Opening-On the Air"


//J

OH YEAH! Thanks for posting that clip.
In 1978, one of my closest friends was diagnosed with a spinal cord tumor right up near the brainstem. He had surgery and radiation and was in the hospital and was a mess. I got a couple of tickets to this tour at the Lyric Opera House in Baltimore and went to Hopkins Hospital with the tickets. I told my buddy that a ticket was his if he could get his ass out of the hospital in time - he did.
It was a great experience all around.

PS he passed away a few years ago so this was particularly nostalgic to see, I never thought to search youtube for footage from this concert...

 

[Hellboy]

OH YEAH! Thanks for posting that clip.
In 1978, one of my closest friends was diagnosed with a spinal cord tumor right up near the brainstem. He had surgery and radiation and was in the hospital and was a mess. I got a couple of tickets to this tour at the Lyric Opera House in Baltimore and went to Hopkins Hospital with the tickets. I told my buddy that a ticket was his if he could get his ass out of the hospital in time - he did.
It was a great experience all around.

PS he passed away a few years ago so this was particularly nostalgic to see, I never thought to search youtube for footage from this concert...

Glad that your friend made it for 25 years but sad to hear about him passing. Music is a powerful thing indeed. Glad that you liked the clip.

Sincerely//Jan

 

[strummer]

tony can rip but never over plays a line.

Dave you are no slouch either when it comes to playing.

I would love to learn from either of you.

Tk

+1

 

[bovinehost]

At the recent Bass Player Live event in L.A. I caught many of the clinics being conducted by some amazing bassists. One of the highlights for me was the clinic conducted by Tony Levin.

Someday I would like to repeat the experience we all had at the Desert Bash with you, Cliff, Tony, BP, Dave LaRue, John and Luke sitting in a row, talking about things and playing a bit. I'm REALLY sorry I didn't get to see you guys at BPL. It's always an education.

And, for me, having Dave Marotta on the forum is an honor. Play that funky music, white boy!

Jack

 

[Rano Bass]

for me, having Dave Marotta on the forum is an honor.

Jack

Well said Jack, Dave is also a great player.
Just watch this: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QuKym39qi0"]YouTube - MAROTTA plays[/ame]

 

[oddjob]

Someday I would like to repeat the experience we all had at the Desert Bash with you, Cliff, Tony, BP, Dave LaRue, John and Luke sitting in a row, talking about things and playing a bit. I'm REALLY sorry I didn't get to see you guys at BPL. It's always an education.

And, for me, having Dave Marotta on the forum is an honor. Play that funky music, white boy!

Jack

Couldn't agree more, Jack. I had the pleasure of the "mini" hang with Dave and Cliff at the Desert Bash and it was an education. Love Tony's playing, love Dave's and love Cliff's (and all 3 were smoking that night)

 

[oli@bass]

Well said Jack, Dave is also a great player.
Just watch this:

Fabulous!

More and more, I get the impression that a looper would be a great tool for practice.

 

[Powman]

Tony can rip but never over plays a line.

Dave you are no slouch either when it comes to playing.

I would love to learn from either of you.

tk

This is an interesting perspective. While I also love the flash of good bass slapping (Wooten, Miller et al) I have come to realize that most (95%) songs out there don't really have and call for this type of bass playing. Not that Tony Levin is any slouch as someone lese pointed out (Liquid Tension stuff).

What got me thinking about this is that I have really only been playing bass seriously for about 1 year. Back then I was just satisfied to play a couple of songs live without getting tomatoes, beer bottle and garbage throw at me (Get off the stage loser...)

But we have got to the point that we are going after paid gigs now! This is a dream come true, but I am not quitting my day job

So now, I need to focus on what is truely important to be a good bass player. Sounds like Tony Levin's workshop nailed it on the head. Good tasteful bass lines are critical. So I am going to continue to focus on the folllowing skills:

1. Good tone...this includes good right and left hand techniques, well muted strings, no buzzing, low finger noise etc.
2. Good understanding of music theory for bass players so that I know why I am playing a bass line a certain way and so I can create my own bass lines. Ie scales of commonly played keys, Ionion, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian modes etc
3. Know the notes on the fretboard better...I still get a bit hazy at naming the notes between frets 6 to 11...but its getting better. I play there all the time but ask me to quickly tell you the note and it takes me a few seconds..

I do slap sometimes, but not that well...But if I am going to invest time in practicing skills I would rather focus on these three rather than slapping.

Any thoughts from the experienced folks here???

 

[Big Poppa]

Play with drummers...good ones...talk to better players with pinted questions...When you cant play with drummers play with cd's mp3's and drum machines....time and feel time and feel.....repeat after me.....find the pocket.....is it back or pushing...its different with each song and genre....time and feel baby