I just got a recording of this guy with joe pass and let me say -- This guy is the s***.

This is some of the most amazing DB playing I have ever heard. The album is called chops and it is just guitar and DB.

Makes me wan't to drop EB and take up DB :D

Just had to post this because this disc is making me so happy. I have not stopped listening to it for 2 days.


S

He recorded a pretty crazy version of "Scrapple" with Martial Solal awhile back. Really fast, NHOP played the head while Solal just dropped big atonal cluster bombs seemingly at random. Good fun.

Yeah that album is pretty impressive. For a real treat, get the DVD of NHOP playing with Kenny Drew and Alvin Queen. It's in the Brewhouse Jazz series and has great footage of NHOP's playing.

I hate his tone though. Whether that's him or the various pickups, etc. he likes to use, I'm not sure but I hate it nonetheless. That doesn't change the fact that his playing is great in so many ways. He's one of the few players I don't mind listening to just to listen to his lines and his intonation, etc. even though I don't like his sound.

Adrian

But what do you think of his tone?

:)

I used to think NHØP was pretty good (still do) - and then I heard Ron Carter...

- Wil

I don't get it with his tone either. I've never seen him live; does he sound the same on a bandstand? As great as he is, it's hard for me to listen to more than a few tunes before I switch over to something with Charlie Haden on it.

I also wonder whether it is just him or the electrics. He was at one stage apparently using the Pierre Josephs String Charger which is a magnetic thing and someone else said that they saw him once and he had something like eight pickups on his bass!

Adrian

A quick point that isn't meant to start a war, but to say one guy's **** is worth more, or more meaningful than, some other guys **** is a pretty bizarre statement to make. In certain cases, like Pops or Bird or Scott LaFaro, you can say that their achievements meant a lot to the lineage of the craft, but beyond that every musician is a real person playing his heart out. Enough said.

On pickups, tone, and history. Keep everything in its context or it doesn't mean anything. An example: Pops didn't know a thing about melodic minor concepts and didn't have any concept on floatational rythm sections or how to play with one. Did this make him square? Of course not.

In the 70's the piezo pickup was a novelty. Suddenly you had a big, thick, sustained bottom on a rhythm section which had never happend, particularly live, before. This jump in bass technology also freed up the drummers to exercise more of his dynamic range. Changes that drastically changed the face of our music. We all understand the difficulties in amplifying our instrument and our struggle is nothing new. NHOP's tone on some of the 70's records is something that we are trying to shed, but remember that it was hip at one time. Just like that haircut that you had in high school. NHOP also spent a lot of time in the all acoustic world. There is recorded evidence of this as well and sounded great.

Why he records today with all of his electronics is a mystery to me, but my guess is that he has no interest in going through the agony that our 'Amps & Pickups' thread discusses. I still choose to fight, but NHOP has about 25 years on me...

Originally posted by adrian_cho
someone else said that they saw him once and he had something like eight pickups on his bass!

Adrian
At one time, NHOP was endorsing the Wilson pickup, which had a piezo for every string. Installation was invasive, and the finished product looked clumsy. Maybe this is what your friend saw.

It might even have been eleven pickups and not eight but the Wilson was definitely one of them.

The DVD I have of him does not have him using the Wilson but he it appears he is using a well disguised String Charger.

Adrian

And please remember my whole context, the statement was
"I would say.... That means to me and in my opinion.
All of which I'm sure you would grant me....

No argument here.

I find myself guilty of passing my opinion off as verifiable fact (January B-Day, I've been told) and, as any recovering substance abuser does (the substance in this case is BS), over-reacts... :)

I'm out at the CNote with a real nice band tonight at 11 for a set or two. Stop out if your schedule permits.

It's in my PROFILE. (snickering)

Jan 5, '65.

Originally posted by Ray Parker
But what do you think of his tone?

:)

I like his tone - saw him at the Brecon Jazz Festival and bought a CD. I like his solo pieces and maybe it is more the fact of his intonation and accuracy that is more pleasing to my ear - I probably haven't grasped all the subtleties of DB tone. I just listen and hear nothing to dislike - I've got a few CDs with Charlie Haden and I don't hear a huge difference in tone - although I can appreciate a different approach to music. I have got CDs where the bass tone sounds a lot more "amplified" - Curtis Lundy springs to mind?

It couldn't be as bad as that '78 Ron Carter/Herbie Hancock/Tony Williams album where it sounds like Carter is playing EUB...

When I saw Oscar Peterson last summer, NHOP's tone was fabulous and his articulation very clean. I guess he just doesn't record well.

Is there such a thing as a "definitive" NHOP record? www.allmusic.com seems to suggest 1997's 'Those Who Were'. What can some experienced DB listeners suggest?

I have also this dvd and i never see the string charger they look more lire a realist or underwood. But I find the tone the dvd very great he have a lot of sustain and presence

To Shumph's original post here, there is a great transcription of NHOP's solo on the tune, "Have You Met Miss Jones," the opening track on the CD, CHOPS, in the book, Bass Standards: Note-for-Note Transcriptions of Jazz Bass Classic Performances, published by Hall Leonard (www.halleonard.com).

the oscar peterson paris concert 1979. recorded at salle pleyel. oscar nhop and pass. on pablo recordings. incredible recording!
cts

'Chops' is a wonderful album I only recently discovered.

FWIW, I don't care for his tone either.

in the book, Bass Standards: Note-for-Note Transcriptions of Jazz Bass Classic Performances, published by Hall Leonard (www.halleonard.com).

I cant find this book...either on his site or on Amazon...sounds like a great book to have. Anyone have a link?

I don't have a link but the book does exist - I happened to come across it in a big bookstore one day and snatched it up. It's a good book.

As I've stated many times over the last couple of years in this forum...I believe NHOP to be the bassist of our times(Many may disagree) but for those who have listed more information on the Great Dane! here's a few more... Cd's starting from the early years :- "The Viking""Trio1"The Eternal Traveler"
Later Recordings worth a listen :- "Threesome",
Dick Hyman & NHOP"Elegies Mostly", NHOP"BEST"(very good)"To A Brother"(GREAT CD) "Üncharted Land"
Latest recordings "This is all I ask"& "Those Who Were". Also as stated DVD :- Kenny Drew at the Brewhaus"is a monster!!!! Also Easter Special with Oscar Peterson..on Video.
Finally, I have at least another 50+ CD/Albums in my collection featuring the master and I don't think I've ever heard a BAD recording from this man! including his tone.... I just love it!:D

There's a great album called 'Oscar Peterson and the Bassists' which features OP on piano in a trio with NHØP and Ray Brown. I like what both bassists bring to the concert but one of the unique things is being able to hear them working together - it's pretty easy to work out who's playing what (even without the fact that they are panned to opposite sides of the mix). It's worth getting for studying the work of either bassist (and OP on the ivories is, of course, no slouch either).

Wulf

This guy is amazing no matter how you approach his tone, his technique is, well, you know. On one level, there are all other bassist, and then there is NHOP. I have one of the first vinyls he did. He looks like a teenager. An obscure Danish release from the 50's with a drummer and a trumpeter. His tone is definitely acoustic and his chops are out of this world. In this session, he sounds like a young Brown/Pettiford protegy on steroids! I've got a vinyl of Sam Jones and him-a double bass thing-interesting. I've seen videos of him playing. His bass technique is impeccable. For triplet phrases, he uses three fingers on his right hand pizzicato.

Check out the albume "Duologue" with Alan Botchinsky (spelling?)
Just bass and trumpet/fluegelhorn.
Wonderful album, one of my favourite NHØP recordings. So musical, and in this duo setting, his tone works wonders!

Frode Berg

Check out the albume "Duologue" with Alan Botchinsky (spelling?)
Just bass and trumpet/fluegelhorn.
Wonderful album, one of my favourite NHØP recordings. So musical, and in this duo setting, his tone works wonders!

Frode Berg
I've just ordered Dig It. Looking forward to hear it.
Thank you for the advice on Roger as a bass teacher, after only two lessons he has made me pick up the double bass:D (I have to buy one first, though..)

And yeah, NHOP is one of my favorite bassists. I really don't know much about the tone issue, but I like his tone. And I guess that's what's most important.

Good luck with the double bass!
Playing both electric and upright for me is a win win!
I learn a lot from both even though they are quite different playing wise.

Hope you like Dig it! Let me know, ok?
And say hi to Roger!

Frode

Check out Bireli Lagrene's Blue Note release with NHOP.

If you can find the duo he did with Tete Montelieu (sp), that's frightening.

I just saw Niels-Henning at live consert, April Jazz in Espoo, Finland that is ( April 24th ). It was a drumless trio setup with Johnny Griffin on tenor sax and Kirk Lightsey on piano. A very nice concert venue and I was sitting about 20 feet away from NHOP, so I got plenty of watching and hearing.
I´m writing a rewiew at the moment, and can translate it to English, if anyone´s innersted..

R2

I just saw Niels-Henning at live consert, April Jazz in Espoo, Finland that is ( April 24th ). It was a drumless trio setup with Johnny Griffin on tenor sax and Kirk Lightsey on piano.

Kirk was the "special guest" last year at the Jazz Summerschool I attend regularly, so I got to hear him play in various small group combinations and accompanying singers - plus we got to ask him questions - he had some great stories and insights into some of the "Jazz greats" he has played with!! :)

But anyway - the performance was always enlivened when he was playing - he seemed to add tremendous energy and make a big difference to whatever he "sat in" on!!

I can imagine that would have been a great gig to hear!!

Kirk's living in Paris now, right? I used to hear him a lot at Bradley's (I miss Bradley's), Bradley Cunningham used to call him "Mr.CP" which was a play on "Mr.PC" but also stood for "crowd pleaser", cause he swung so hard. Very under rated player.

R2 - you should post the review, at your convenience...

I don´t know about Kirk´s recent whereabouts, but
Johnny Griffin lives in Copenhagen ( I quess that´s why he
played with NHOP ).
Kirk was wonderful. The rewiew will show up.

R2

I don´t know about Kirk´s recent whereabouts, but
Johnny Griffin lives in Copenhagen ( I quess that´s why he
played with NHOP ).
Kirk was wonderful. The rewiew will show up.

R2

Wow, I thought he (Grif)was still living in the Netherlands. He used to have a farm...

Check out Bireli Lagrene's Blue Note release with NHOP.

In the same genre, I dig NHOP's two note chord comping behing Lockwood on Beautiful Love from the Tribute to Grappelli (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=UIDSUB040404270944322263&sql=Agz620r1au48p) CD. Nice music.

Greeting my little finnish mate, How's Life in the top end?
Yes, would LOVE to read your review on NHOP as you were only 20 feet from my all time hero! What Pick-ups? What's in the metal case? What amp was he using? tell me ALL the goodies!!!!

Regards,
Mick :hyper:

Hey, Mowerpants
Life is good up here. I´m writing the rewiew, I quess I´ll have time for it over the weekend.
There were some strange looking instruments in the metal case. I noticed skulls, shakers, feathers, bat wings, needles and dolls made of clay. The smell was kind of funny, too.

R2

Silly Me, all this time I thought that metal case had something to do with producing his sound! Now you tell it was just full of his on the road toys to play with ...and something to smoke! :cool:

Watch this video please. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUyf8YMzoD8

Watch this video please. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUyf8YMzoD8

Just fabulous. Thanks.

Watch this video please. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUyf8YMzoD8

Holy crap. Vintage footage of NHOP. Somebody just opened the candy store.

Thanks, jAcKyL.... you made my week.

If my math is correct, NHØP is all of 17 or 18(!) in the clip that opens that video. Talk about a prodigy. I really dig his sound on his 60s recordings.

... he sounds amazing there, but he did until he died. At least in his living-room, where I had the pleasure to have lessons with him. I don´t care for the recorded sound he preferred, but his acoustic sound was totally flawless. (Although he had a very strange preference for brand new thomastik strings, and changed more often than most anybody else, because he liked them fresh...)
I may add, he played differently at home also. Not the virtuoso firefork stuff we know of records like CHOPS, or all the other stuff. That was real beauty, how he played at home.
When I asked him about the difference, he stated that (believe it or not) his musical situations often forced him to overplay due to distractive comping. Or rather, due to being distraught by comping.

Anyways, I love the documentary, and he and the lessons I had with him are inspirations that last a lifetime.

Best

Sidecar

Relief city for me. Thanks.

This was my favorite period for NHOP. I heard him with Dexter for the first time in the 60's. I thought it was Ray. (but with more chops). The left hand triplets in the first clip are right from Ray who got them from Red.
IMO, when amps came in alotta the music went out for many of us.

The stuff with Ben is great.

"Savoy" with Teddy is in the original key of Db. The bridge can destroy a bass solo...Gb G, B C, E F, to A then 2 5 back into Db.
Niels just blows through it like it's nothing.

I love THAT sound.

Wow! Stuff Smith!!!! with NHOP

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5J0t-Fgn6AE

NHOP isn't featured here, but keep your eyes open, more footage from this might pop up.

they have a live Stuff album from this band/period from over on eMusic that is really good, and NHOP gets plenty of burn.

An afterthought and OT, but I find it sad for American jazz musicians that Ben Webster died in Europe where he achieved hero status.
His last years over here were musically barren and financially exhausted.
Sorry.