Bob Cranshaw's Upright Bass

[Ike Harris]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uX6BhvatEeY&feature=user

Nice story on the bass, but I'd like to hear it played more. You can tell it's a killer.

Ike

[KSB - Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Ike Harris

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uX6BhvatEeY&feature=user

Nice story on the bass, but I'd like to hear it played more. You can tell it's a killer.

Ike

I used to play up at Lynn Oliver Studios on 89th & B'way. You went in thru the book store on 89th and up the back stairs. Down the hall and to the studio (3 rooms). EVERYBODY played there. Just after joining the Union/802 in 1968 while still in Music&Art Highschool I started playing the their Jazz workshop.

I might have met Bob Cranshaw there for the first time but don't recall but he was a good mentor and sent me on many gigs over the years.

Lynn had pictures all over the walls and when I asked about that Bass which had clamps holding it together at the c-bout he told me it was an old German Bass and Bob had bought it from him. Bob told me about the same story.

I don't know if the numbers are right though because a German Bass like that, possibly 19th century, fully restored still would be a stretch to get much over 20k these days unless it's some FAMOUS German maker from the early 19th century (pre-factory) or 18th or 17th century which I don't believe it is. The Bass though in Jazz does have some great history. I guess that adds a little value along the way.

The repairman he mentioned that fixed I believe was Joe Cilicek(sp?) (proun. Silicheck), a Czech guy I think that all the guys raved about. I took a drive up there once just to meet him but didn't have anything to fix then, I just wanted to go there and meet him, see hsi shop and look around.

If any of you have heard the famous Lee Morgan recording Sidewinder, that's Bob playing on it. When 'Jesus Christ Superstar' was on B'way in the early 70s Bob was the bassist in the pit. Whenever I was free I would go and sit next to him (as if learning the book to sub) and watch him play. He had a modded Fender by Carl Thompson then. Bob got the best sound on BG in NY and his feel, his FEEL was to die for. Talk about swing! He was so strong with the beat you would think he invented it. I would place Bob on the top of the list with any of the greats including Ray Brown on DB and Chuck Rainy on BG. He probably doesn't play as many notes as either but in the Swing and Feel department, he is unbeatable.. Bob is on my Favorites.. Thanks for listing him here today..

[milomo]

Originally Posted by KSB - Ken Smith

Bob got the best sound on BG in NY and his feel, his FEEL was to die for. Talk about swing! He was so strong with the beat you would think he invented it. I would place Bob on the top of the list with any of the greats including Ray Brown on DB and Chuck Rainy on BG. He probably doesn't play as many notes as either but in the Swing and Feel department, he is unbeatable.. Bob is on my Favorites.. Thanks for listing him here today..

That's a great post. A huge +1, to me he's one of the unsung heroes in jazz, he could drive a band like almost nobody else, and is the engine on more great records than you could possibly count. And an added bonus is he's one of the nicest guys there is, especially for a legend.

[Don Higdon]

Originally Posted by KSB - Ken Smith

The repairman he mentioned that fixed I believe was Joe Cilicek(sp?) (proun. Silicheck), a Czech guy I think that all the guys raved about. I took a drive up there once just to meet him but didn't have anything to fix then, I just wanted to go there and meet him, see hsi shop and look around.

Wow! I haven't heard that name in 40 years. You really are old.

[artfahie]

There was an old album called "O K Billy !"... it was the Billy Taylor band when it was the house band for David Frost... what a great band. I wish I could find that album... it probably never made it to CD... that's the first time I became familiar with "BC", I've been a fan of his ever since. Admittedly, I do purchase Billy Taylor CD's... "Music Make Me Young" (or something like it) is the title of my favorite one !

[dylanjohnson]

+1 Ken.....
I've always felt that Bob had one of the best feels playing jazz on electric. What a beat! I miss hearing him on upright though. A great example of his playing is the Jazz Casual video of him w/ Ben Riley, Sonny Rollins and Jim Hall. Laying it down!

[scott reed]

artfahie,
I found a used vinyl copy of OK Billy on amazon.com for $25 -
no condition listed.

[pdbass]

Bob Cranshaw is undoubtedly one of the most unsung bassists, hell, musicians in music. He's amazing, and he's left us a legacy that just keeps on going and going.

I met Bob about 12 years ago, when I was 22. He was coming into Pittsburgh to play with the Milt Jackson quartet. Something came up at the last minute and someone had referred him to me as a sub! At 22, here I was on stage with Ben Riley, Milt Jackson, and Mike LeDonne on their first night in town! That Sunday, I went to see the group with him playing and he took me backstage (Sesame Street jacket on, and all). He treated me like a long, lost friend and he counted out my cash in his dressing room.

We stayed in touch and a couple of years later he came again to play with Milt. I drove him around and let him use my amp for the gig. As he was packing up, I commented on how good his Fishman preamp sounded. He told me to "take it"--Bob Cranshaw name label and all. I still use that thing! Soon after that, I went up to NYC for a visit. I gave Bob a call and he invited me over to his apartment in New York. He talked alot about his semi-retirement and how important he thought it was to be in the musicians' union, and that was giving him a paycheck every month (no doubt, thanks to his numerous gigs over the years). We went to his "music room" which had numerous electric basses, which he didn't hesitate to put into my hands. I gravitated to a Sadowsky that he played alot. "It's a great bass" I told him! He promptly told me to take the damn thing home with me, and I've had it ever since!

Bob is a really beautiful cat. Unfortunately, we're not in touch like we used to be, but I still listen to his records at least once a week. His big sound, strong groove, and incredible PROFESSIONALISM are only surpassed by his warm heart and friendly nature. I've had alot of sh*tty run-ins with the most famous bassists of jazz, but I've never heard of anyone saying something bad about Bob. He's taught me so much, whether the record is spinning or not!