I saw Reid Anderson play a duet concert with tenor-player Bill McHenry this weekend. The show was in an 80-seat hall with neither player using any amplification.

Anderson's sound was really full and his musicality was impressive. His intonation was solid -- it can't be easy to concertize on a borrowed instrument, but he sounded fine. He played one of his compositions as a bass solo, and it had enormous emotional range. On the nit-picky side, Anderson's left hand had a bit of "floppy fingers" that impeded ideal vibrato control. Nice fella, and a musician I'd be happy to see again.

As for McHenry -- interesting player! His music reflects much successful work and a happy place. Big, full, warm tenor sound, good intonation and truly incredible dynamic control in all registers. He's a very melodic player -- picture Paul Desmond playing free improv on tenor and you're in the ballpark.

If either of these guys comes your way, don't hesitate.

Anyone know what bass and strings Reid was playing that night or what his usual set up is?

Originally posted by E_bottom
Anyone know what bass and strings Reid was playing that night?

In Portland, he played a bass belonging to Adam Chilenski, who's a student at UM-Augusta. It looked to be Czech-ish and Adam says it was made in the 80s. In short, a perfectly fine but by not highly distinguished bass was made to sound like fine music.

Reid told me that he enjoys playing whatever's there when he shows up. It would drive me nuts!

Reid's all over the latest disc from Mark Turner, "Dharma Days." Nasheet Waits is on drums and Kurt Rosenwinkel is playing guitar. Smokin' modern jazz....

I'll have to check that disc out...I've been really drawn to the Bad Plus recently, and have been searching out recordings with each of them as sidemen. I just got Ethan Iverson on a Billy Hart record (have yet to listen to it though)

Interesting I'd love to have heard him outside of the bad plus. I had an opportunity to meet him and see him with the bad plus a few years ago and I liked the way he played but I always like to hear players in other contexts.

Reid told me that he enjoys playing whatever's there when he shows up. It would drive me nuts!

There are worse things that could happen.
http://www.thebadplus.com/multimedia/photos/images/TBP_bassdamage.jpg
http://www.thebadplus.com/multimedia/photos/pop-ups/TBP_bassdamage.htm

Holy crap! What case were you using?

thats reid anderson in the photo, not aaron

Daaaaaamn...........

Anyone know what bass and strings Reid was playing that night or what his usual set up is?

I've only seen him play on his bass once, but he was using Spiro reds (mittels). I have heard that the particular sound he has on The Bad Plus' first album is the result of recording straight from the Realist into a SansAmp Bass DI; it is indeed a very edgy and up-front sound, but you can get the same thing in the studio with just a mic and a bright bass when you're using Spiros (whether you want it or not :rollno:).

That photo is a nightmare.

...The Bad Plus' first album is the result of recording straight from the Realist into a SansAmp Bass DI...

I thought it might actually be the original Sansamp, not the bass DI. I'm pretty sure Tchad Blake uses about a 1/2 dozen of those on every record, but he generally will use a wet/dry signal.

Hey there all,
Just recently I've been checking out a lot of bill mchenry with various groups with ben monder, and with reid anderson, and man, what a killer show that would be to see duo. Reid went to Curtis I know for his education, so I guess he would've studied with hal robinson. I've never seen him use a bow, but he has pretty flawless looking technique, and sound imo. And his tunes, daamn...what a great writer!

looks like he forgot his case that day ed.

Hey there all,
Just recently I've been checking out a lot of bill mchenry with various groups with ben monder, and with reid anderson, and man, what a killer show that would be to see duo. Reid went to Curtis I know for his education, so I guess he would've studied with hal robinson. I've never seen him use a bow, but he has pretty flawless looking technique, and sound imo. And his tunes, daamn...what a great writer!

I'm pretty sure Reid was at Curtis before Hal started there in '94. The previous instructor, Roger Scott, taught a lot of great classical players like Peter Lloyd, Charles Barr, Nick Tsolainos and others.

I know I'm digging up an old thread, but whatever.

I saw The Bad Plus a couple of weeks ago. Fantastic show... Reid's tone was fantastic, as was his playing. I talked to him for a bit after the show, he was using his own bass with a Full Circle through one of those newer Ampeg combos. I'd also like to mention that Dave King is an absolute monster on the drums. A monster who knows how to be quiet too. SO much control!

I borrowed a few of his records from my teacher, he's a solid composer as well. I hope I get a chance to see him with other musicians as well. I'm going to have to take a trip to New York sometime...

didn't see it mentioned here. i highly recommend "the vastness of space" to anyone who wants to check out reid's writing. the band is andrew d'angelo, bill mchenry, ben monder, and marlon browden. one of my favorite records. it's expensive to buy the disc, but it should be on itunes as well.

adam.

Thanks for the recomendation. Vastness of Space is great.

The Vastness of Space is fantastic. I also really like Abolish Bad Architecture.

Reid is probably my favorite bassist. I finally got all of his older solo records just yesterday and they are killing. Bill McHenry is another one of my favorite musicians. "Roses" is a great record.

I'll have to check that disc out...I've been really drawn to the Bad Plus recently, and have been searching out recordings with each of them as sidemen. I just got Ethan Iverson on a Billy Hart record (have yet to listen to it though)

That Billy Hart Quartet CD is awesome. Ben Street sounds great on it

I also just got the Billy Hart record. Fantastic.