Okay, this is probably a can of worms, like mentioning Patitucci, but what do you think of this guy? I heard him on the new Metheny CD, which isn't my thing. No solos, as usual. But he sure has some good intonation and time. His bass sounded almost like a fretless BG on one track. Has he done anything else, maybe something with some improvisation? Don't flame me too hard; I'm just curious.

Running him through www.allmusic.com shows a really interesting career:

* He produced Brecker's new ballad album -- and if that's not IT I'll never know what IT is.

* He recorded and produced a bunch of things with Oregon and some Oregonians.

* He recorded with Tom Paxton and some other well-known folkies.

* He's been in the Metheny Group for about four times longer than Mark Egan.

I'm a big admirer of Steve Rodby's playing with Pat Metheny for both his sound and his solidness. Anybody know how he records his bass, and what he uses for basses, etc...

Steve Rodby (sr@steverodby.com)
http://www.steverodby.com

These are only email links, which seem to yield nothing. There's a little more at http://www.opendoormanagement.com/traut-rodby/. ANy more details would be greatly appreciated...

There are two CDs he did with guitarist Russ Traut, one's called THE GREAT LAWN and I can't remember the other one. Duo, a nice mix of standards and Motown tunes. He's got a nice solo on SOME OTHER TIME...

I think you would have to singularly give the guy credit for putting acoustic bass in a place where one might not have imagined being prior. Both through his balanced sound--of acoustic/amplification and his feel for playing DB outside swing bag per se.

BTW--I first heard about him through a play along record of my Dad's before he joined PMG. He's on vol 20. As per usual Mr. Raney complained of the time speeding up :scowl:

Exactly, this guy has put the upright in a more pop like setting, and makes it sound right. There are early Jamerson recordings where he plays upright on motown stuff, but Steve is making it happen now, and opening the a few doors along the way...

I think he's a great player. I forget he's on an upright sometimes. I have a couple PM DVD's and he has a big rack f gear. Don't know what's in it, but he sounds great.

These are only email links, which seem to yield nothing. There's a little more at http://www.opendoormanagement.com/traut-rodby/. ANy more details would be greatly appreciated...
Asking the man itself is IMO the best source!
I emailed him a few years ago, and got a fast reply.

Rodby also wrote a good column for one of the bass magazines some years back. Saw him in the 80's playing both DB and EB in the heyday of Metheny's electric sound. Good concert, solid playing but the bass was pushed down in the mix too much for my taste.

John Pizarelli tells a good story about taking his father to a Metheny concert. Bucky kept remarking about the number of guitars Metheny used and how the stage hands would deliver them between tunes. It was an alien world to him.