BASS PLAYER LIVE! - what did you get out of it?

[d180fuzz]

***PHOTOS NOW ADDED***

Greetings, all. I attended my first BPL last weekend here in sunny La-la land, and for me, it was time well spent.

I'd love to hear what my fellow TBers got out of it. General parameters for your impressions will take the form of one of them nifty "fill in the blanks" emails we all love to receive from perfect strangers. Feel free to veer from the format if you've got something else worth mentioning...I'll start the madness:

Did you attend both days? No, feet were still on fire Sunday morning from standing on them for the better part of 15 straight hours the day / night before. Plus, I slept in...

Whose clinics did you attend? Stu Hamm (always a hoot, sweet "lucy in the sky" cover on his Washburn ABG, standing room only), Bakithi Kumalo (funny guy w/ great anecdotes, inspiring rags-to-fame story), Alain Caron (wow....smooth), Tal Wilkenfeld (self-admitted "poor speaker", but she SPEAKS WITH HER HANDS! Again, standing room only).

Best nugget of wisdom from the masters? From Vinnie Colaiuta and Tal - find musicians to play with that JUST GET IT; having to talk about it too much is a waste of time and can stifle creativity. The story of my life currently...

Most impressive bass and / or equipment YOU actually played? Mesa / Boogie M6 2x12 combo w/ a MM Big Al - wow. So dang present and LOUD (the Boogie, that is). Decent break-up, too (no match for the D180, though). The Big Al was also nice - lots o' buttons!

Most impressive / inspiring performance, at the clinics or the Key Club Saturday night? One word - ROCCO. I don't think I've ever heard another bass player that was as locked to the kick as he was. Steve Bailey was also freakin' sick, on the 6 and the upright.

Suggestions for a better BPL? Find a venue for the nighttime concert that has seating for more than just the elite (or those willing / able to shell out the big bucks for the privilege of sitting down). It's a really long day, and to have to remain on your feet for the marathon concert was a bit much. I actually saw Key Club staff remove older folks from a table, only to rope it off for NOBODY. In the Key Club's defense, they did eventually un-rope the few seats available - AFTER MIDNIGHT...

Alright, now you go.

[d180fuzz]

bump for "doesn't anyone have anything to share with the class?".

[BassXgirl]

Where is everyone?

Did you attend both days?
Of course! How could I miss Rocco on Sunday

Whose clinics did you attend?
Bathiki. I agree he had some great stories. I had no idea about his journey to get to where he is and it was a real eye opener. He was a funny and super nice guy. Justin's: what he had to say was very REAL and applicable to many of the players in his audience. Tal Wilkenfeld: Now I know my hand is the same size as hers Juan Alderete: had some great advice for my hand "issues".

Best nugget of wisdom from the masters?
Oh man...this one is hard. Soooo many things to think about.
I might have to get back to you on this.

Most impressive bass and / or equipment YOU actually played? Alleva-Coppolo Basses kick massive booty. I don't think I played one this time around, but Jimmy Coppolo is such a nice guy...really. I had to give him a shout here.

Most impressive / inspiring performance, at the clinics or the Key Club Saturday night?
ROCCO!! Seeing Dave Garibaldi, Rocco, AND Tal playing on the same stage was awesome. I was in bass geek heaven.

Suggestions for a better BPL?
T-shirts in WOMEN'S sizes heheh it IS a concert afterall. There is always a lot of swag at these things and the t-shirts are almost ALWAYS large and extra large. The women are showing up more and more and we want T-shirts that fit. I don't mind the standing. I don't really know of any clubs that size that accomidate that many people and still allow them to sit. The Knitting Factory is a pretty cool place, but its sort of the same thing...no seats.

[soong]

Sigh you guys are lucky...sounds like it was awesome. Nothing goin on here in Aus...

[BassXgirl]

Aaawwww :/ I do feel lucky that I have such access to some of these events. When BPL was in NY, I wasn't able to attend so I know the feeling. Now Its so close I can walk to the Key Club.

There was an Aussie in Tal's clinic. He said "g'day Tal". She said "did I hear a g'day?". I thought their exchange was cute. Representing Australia .

[d180fuzz]

Alright - a response! Thanks for your feedback. By the way, what was Alderete's advice for your hand issues?

I read a little interview with Jimmy Coppolo in Premier Guitar magazine and he seemed like a really nice, down to earth guy. I appreciate his bass-building sensibilities, and his instruments are beautiful (in particular, the white-washed swamp ash bass - wow). I didn't try one out, though; there always seemed to be a noisy crowd scene around the Aguilar stuff.

As for Mr. Kumalo, I found him standing next to me at the concert Saturday night, so I had to tell him that I really enjoyed his clinic, particularly the story about being asked as a young man to fill in for his hungover uncle on saxophone - and how "the instrument smelled very bad" from the thick african beer his uncle overindulged in and subsequently deposited in the reed and guts of the horn. He busted out laughing and then shook my hand - what a generous and humble man.

Originally Posted by BassXgirl

There was an Aussie in Tal's clinic. He said "g'day Tal". She said "did I hear a g'day?". I thought their exchange was cute. Representing Australia .

You thought that was cute - I thought your "hand-size" comparison with Miss Wilkenfeld was - and thus, a name-to-a-face, BassXGirl. Thanks again for your post!

[BassXgirl]

Lol I was not expecting Tal to do that! Two mini bassists comparing mini hands lol. She amazes me. I was glad she did that. I've wanted to compare before but just hadn't asked her before. I don't think anyone got a pic of it I was serious! Hahaha I wanted one . I had met a friend of Juan's the day before. He told me I should talk with him since he'd had some hand probs before. He had a lot of good exercises and stretches. He also mentioned getting a foam tube from a craft store, laying on the floor with it under your back lenghthwise to stretch out all the upper back and shoulders. His hand issues ended up stemming from his shoulder but it took 4 years to pinpoint. I'm going to do this AND take Vinnie's advice and look into acupunture.

I forgot that Bakithi stinky sax story! It was hilarious, especially the eay he told it. Haha

I wish I would have talked more with Jimmy. He's been so nice to me and even came up and gave me a hug. I wonder if he'd make me a 32' scale bass ????? That was a great interview btw. All the luthiers.

Now....you know who I am. I'm wondering who you were. ????

[d180fuzz]

two mini bassists comparing mini hands....too funny! yeah, she really is down to earth and seems like a genuinely cool person.

i'll have to check my camera, but i think i may have been too busy trippin' out on your interaction with her to take a pic.

interesting about alderete's shoulder / hand issues; i've seen the mars volta play several times and he does seem to sort-of "crunch" (or shrug) his shoulders when he plays - i wonder if that's the root of his problem.

totally off topic - call me crazy, but i caught a bit of that show "community" on tv last night, and there was a mini-bassist on stage with a band that, quick as the shots were, looked a bit like you. was it? she even had a hat on.

as for me, i'd probably blend into most death-metal concert crowds pretty readily - big mexican guy, big beard, long hair....i'm pretty sure we passed each other in the halls of SIR a couple of times.

[koobie]

Sounds like a great event, thanks to the OP for the informative post. Is this held in L.A. every year? It might be worth a trip down for the next year's event, good way to get in some sun at the time of year when the NW is getting dark/wet again.

[varunkapahi]

wow! if only i could get into something like this

[BassXgirl]

Originally Posted by koobie

Sounds like a great event, thanks to the OP for the informative post. Is this held in L.A. every year? It might be worth a trip down for the next year's event, good way to get in some sun at the time of year when the NW is getting dark/wet again.

This is the second year that it's been held in LA. They've been doing this in NYC for years though. People do fly out here from all over the country to attend.

[nortonrider]

How much was it?

Could you buy just a single day pass?

[BassXgirl]

You can buy just a single day pass. It was $40. for two days + $20 for the concert.

It was cheaper this year than last. I didn't know this until AFTER I bought my tix: There is a code on the BP website that you can type in when you order and that gives you a little bit of a discount. Its all well worth it, imo. It's a lot of fun and a great opportunity to mingle with some top notch players (famous or otherwise).

[BassXgirl]

Originally Posted by d180fuzz

interesting about alderete's shoulder / hand issues; i've seen the mars volta play several times and he does seem to sort-of "crunch" (or shrug) his shoulders when he plays - i wonder if that's the root of his problem.

If I remember correctly, I think he said it started after dislocating his shoulder. His shoulder was dislocated at BPL. He is HARDCORE. He was playing with a broken wrist AND a dislocated shoulder.

Originally Posted by d180fuzz

totally off topic - call me crazy, but i caught a bit of that show "community" on tv last night, and there was a mini-bassist on stage with a band that, quick as the shots were, looked a bit like you. was it? she even had a hat on..

What!? There's a BassXgirl imposter out there!? *kidding*
No, that wasn't me. I'm curious to know who it was though. Was it a real band or actors pretending to be a band?
Beware the mini-bassists! We're coming to gitcha!

Originally Posted by d180fuzz

as for me, i'd probably blend into most death-metal concert crowds pretty readily - big mexican guy, big beard, long hair....i'm pretty sure we passed each other in the halls of SIR a couple of times.

I don't remember, but i'm sure we must have crossed paths there. Where were you sitting in Tal's clinic?

[d180fuzz]

Originally Posted by BassXgirl

If I remember correctly, I think he said it started after dislocating his shoulder. His shoulder was dislocated at BPL. He is HARDCORE. He was playing with a broken wrist AND a dislocated shoulder.

Hardcore he is. I saw the cast on his wrist; didn't know his shoulder was fried too. That Vato Negro set was pretty psycho - that drummer killed!

Originally Posted by BassXgirl

What!? There's a BassXgirl imposter out there!? *kidding*
No, that wasn't me. I'm curious to know who it was though. Was it a real band or actors pretending to be a band?
Beware the mini-bassists! We're coming to gitcha!

I'm guessing it was a fake band. I just caught it for a few seconds. One of the characters from the show was the singer.

As long as you minis don't start biting our ankles, we should be able to coexist in bassdom...

Originally Posted by BassXgirl

I don't remember, but i'm sure we must have crossed paths there. Where were you sitting in Tal's clinic?

I wasn't sitting - by the time I got over to that stage (well before clinic start-time), it was standing-room only, so I was in the back. That clinic seemed to be the best attended for that day (as far as I saw); folks just kept coming and squeezing in wherever they fit (or didn't).

Oh, I checked my camera - no pic of the "minis comparing hands"; sorry. I did end up with a few other semi-decent pics, though - I'll post those in this thread soon - stay tuned...

[d180fuzz]

Alright folks - I've separated the chaff from the less-chaffy, and here they are. Interestingly, I didn't take any pics of the instruments or equipment on exhibit; I guess that's what NAMM's for...

DISCLAIMER - I only attended on Saturday, so no Sunday pics. Also - I'm not a professional photographer, I'm shooting with a 6-year-old point-and-shoot digital camera without a tripod (sorry Fender32; I have one now, though), and where lighting was poor, a flash seemed distracting.



Upon my arrival, Alain Caron is already in super-clean-and-efficient-six-string-slap-mode in the Markbass / MusicMan room.
BPL '09 is on!


Stu Hamm clinic, the first of the day.


Stu plays a beautiful chordal interpretation of "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" on his prototype Washburn ABG.


Bakithi Kumalo rocks his signature South African grooves during his clinic.


Steve Bailey (that's him in the foreground) goes all fanboy during Alain Caron's clinic. Jimmy Earl was also in attendance.


Tony Levin and funk fingers fly in the MusicMan / Markbass room. His Ampeg rig is off-camera, to the left.
I love the hang tag...


A legend, ecstatic.


Vinnie Colaiuta breakin' it down as Tal listens intently.


Now Tal, in turn, breaks it down.
What's the deal with orbs?

On to the Key Club...


Helene LaFaro-Fernandez (Scott LaFaro's sister) presented Charlie Haden with his Lifetime Achievement award.


Charlie Haden and Alan Broadbent began the musical program. Alas, no Ornette...


Complex rhythms, noiseguitar, and pedal-drenched fretless ensued during Vato Negro's set.


Bobby Vega and his son Rocco present THE Rocco with his Lifetime Achievement Award.


Rocco and friends belted out some choice T.O.P. tunes.


Tightness.


And then the solos started...



I wish I could remember this guy's full name - Mark something - dangit. I do remember that his solo rocked the hardest and was the most emotionally engaging (IMHO, of course).


Stu Hamm, blurring the lines...


Miss Tal Wilkenfeld - illumined; from above.


Tal layin' it down.


Bobby Vega pickstyle on the sea-foam Jazz.


Once again, Steve Bailey goes fanboy ; this time on Jimmy Earl.


I love this shot...Lurking in the shadows, one of my favorite drummers / vocalists / keyboardists - Mr. Kirk Covington, of Tribal Tech / Volto! / Slaughterhouse 3, etc. He'd come out later to play some drums.


David Garibaldi plays a smokin' drum solo as Stu Hamm looks on.


Why fret? Steve Bailey doesn't. Simply amazing.


That's a bit of a stretch, Mr. Bailey.


Steve Bailey conducts the BPL orchestra. Tal seems to be enjoying herself.


Rocco takes the lead as Tal and Steve look on.


The 5-man upright jam, featuring Bunny Brunel, John B., Bakithi Kumalo, Steve Bailey, and Brian Bromberg.


Another player I'd never heard before and whose name I missed - he had the machine-gun slap style working. Sick!


So good, it hurts.


Janek Gwizdala, high on Fodera. Verdine holds it down.


Well kids, there you have it. Hope you enjoy the pics. Thanks to Bass Player magazine for a great day of bass school and music. Let's do it again next year!

[Honk'n_down-low]

Nice Job - cool shots!

[BassXgirl]

Thanks for the pic posts.
I might come back later and post a few of mine too. I'll see what I have from sunday's clinics.

Were we really the only TBrs to go to this?? Where is everyone :/ ?

I missed seeing Tony Levin use his funk fingers. I have to say though, they kind of scare me!

I thought Vinnie was hilarious. . I love how Steve Bailey gets all fanboy. Haha.

Btw, there is some video up now on Bassplayer.com

[d180fuzz]

Originally Posted by Honk'n_down-low

Nice Job - cool shots!

Thanks Honk'n!

So I'm with BassXgirl - were we the only TBers that went to this great event? Come on, kids, let's hear what you thought!

P.S. don't fear the funk.......fingers.

[BassXgirl]

Ok i'm back and trying to join in on this pic party.
Here's a few of mine.
But first here's my disclaimer:
I actually AM a photographer but in defense of some of my pics here. I only took a little pocket cam with me for "gotta get my groove on" purposes.

Now on with the show!

Charlie Haden.


Juan Alderete playing with broken wrist and dislocated left shoulder OUCH!


Vato Negro Guitar-O


At the concert: Rocco playing with TOP up close and personal!


Here's one from Rocco's clinic on Sunday.


It's Tal W., Jimmy E., and Rufus P. at bass jam numero uno.


Tal and Vinnie showing us how it's done!


Bakithi Kumalo jammin at the Carvin booth