When the gig "goes there"

[modeshapes]

I just got home a couple hours ago from playing a wedding. The office that sends me on these jobs told me, in my e-mail with all the necessary info, that I was playing "only acoustic bass" on this job.

I know from previous experience that on these private affairs where the client thinks they want a civilized jazz combo to play classy music all night, they are not taking into account that the guests are going to have a few drinks and want to shake a tail feather.

Fortunately for me I didn't bring an "acoustic bass" -- I brought a fretless Barker which gave me a warm, woody tone when plucked in the neck area. Perfect for the standards and background music. But when "Mustang Sally" was inevitably called, I simply moved my right hand down over the pickups and got the electric bass sound that goes with an R&B backbeat.

The gig had "gone there" -- meaning a place the client didn't necessarily anticipate, but that we knew all along was a possibility and we needed to be ready to deliver the appropriate goods.

I've been on gigs that took such a turn while playing my acoustic bass. I've played "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" on my 3/4 size Merson.

Boy, was I glad to have the Barker with me instead on this particular night and be able to navigate the stylistic change of plans with ease!

[Lorenzini]

Hey man, great to hear that the bass is flexible enough to do both.

I've been considering EUBs, cheap uprights or hollowbody fretless bass guitars...

Barker is now one of my considerations.

Thanks!

[Lee Barker]

I am now putting on my white shoes, white belt, gold neck chain and really annoying sunglasses and turning into that dread icon of America's car lots, the salesman:

When you consider the learning curve (assuming you're a bass guitarist) on an upright or an EUB, the logistics issues of an upright and the feedback challenges of a ABG, the Barker moves to the front of the lot, right under the pennants and bare light bulbs.

There, I'm taking off the sunglasses. But I kinda like the shoes...

[Pickebass]

I stopped bringing my 3/4 bass out a long time ago for that very reason. Many people consider themselves "jazz" fans and those some folks think Miles Davis was a great drummer. After a few drinks it's amazing that no matter where you are, what style of music you play the "standards" are all the same.

At the end of the night Mustang Sally and I feel good always seem to make the list.

BTW... Playing "Ain't no stopping us now on a standup bass is an amazing feat"

[modeshapes]

Originally Posted by Pickebass

BTW... Playing "Ain't no stopping us now on a standup bass is an amazing feat"

That's very kind of you to say, but having been there when it was happening I must add:
a) it was painful even with low action,
b) I never said I played it "well"
c) I'm glad it wasn't recorded (to my knowledge).

[Lee Barker]

Originally Posted by modeshapes

c) I'm glad it wasn't recorded (to my knowledge).

Oh Andrew, I guess I never told you that all Barker Basses are equipped with a tiny solid state transmitter and all notes ever played on every one are sent to Master Control here. Big tapes, turning slowly on big tape decks and a few laconic techs who mostly play sudoku and hand write letters to their cousins in Des Moines make up the scene. Periodically we check the tapes.

However, I think yours was made before we started adding the GPS feature.

When you've got all that lower-bout room down there--we call it the Barker Bassment--you've got to put something in it.

[markjazzbassist]

Originally Posted by Pickebass

Many people consider themselves "jazz" fans and those some folks think Miles Davis was a great drummer.

haha. hilarious.