Great bassist, Lousy solo album

[Brad Johnson]

Originally Posted by burk48237

Great point Brad, And when he does come up with a great bass line, it's usually a simple line that the tune forms around like "Walking on the Moon" and " Let your Soul be Your Pilot".

You probably saw the movie when he had the jazz artists backing him. Daryl Jones was playing one of his lines and Sting told him he could change it. Daryl looked at him with the "Why? It's perfect" look.


I agree. Most of his best lines aren't flashy though some of the earlier Police lines were and they worked too IMO. "Ten Summoners Tales" was chock full of excellent work, songs in 7/4 and 5/4 that just sound natural. A lot easier said than done.

Honestly, if it came down to being able to play "Donna Lee"-esque lines or do what Sting does*, I'd be happy with what he does. In fact, that's basically where I'm at, to a degree. I'm not one of the local guys who people talk about in awe as far as playing and I'm cool with that. If anything I get mentioned as one of the few people around locally with a ridiculously large library of songs to pull from. I can put my own thing on them without destroying the vibe because I respect that vibe. I don't know anyone who knows more songs than me and it's not because I was trying to learn them

What I think I'm successful at is playing tastefully, putting the right notes in the right places and coming up with interesting but not baffling changes

Funny thing is, just last week a top local guitarist was telling me I need to put out a solo project. My answer... "Why... I don't really have anything to say".

He said that doesn't stop anyone else.



*It's extremely rare IME to find someone who can do both.

[fullrangebass]

It's funny that playing the Police (or Sting) basslines and singing Sting's vocal lines are second nature to me . The fact that I'm able to pull it off (adding my own vocal flavor to the songs) make these songs appear in many playlists (with groups that I play with).

It's easier for me to compose and play melodic off-beat lines than to stick to four-to-the-bar notes

[KennethB]

Yeah, Sting's the man. One of my favorite songwriters of all time. One thing I like about him is his sense of harmony. There's some cool chords in there. And then you've got songs like "Fields Of Gold". Couldn't be simpler but as many of you have said, is very hard to come up with. Beautiful melody.

Also +1 to everything Brad Johnson has said about Sting.


As far as great bass players go: most of them I find somewhat lacking when it comes to writing. Jaco is an exception. I like a lot of his writing. Like "Three Views Of A Secret" for instance. Also I enjoy some Marcus Miller- tunes a lot.

[nysbob]

When I did my solo record, it was all about the tunes and trying to do right by them. I could give a rat's behind about wanking on a bass...it's not something I enjoy listening to particularly or aspire to do.

Writing interesting tunes is, though.

[juanete]

Two words: SOUL CIRCUS, I dislike that album (even though Vic is an amazing player)

As far as the ones I like: pretty much all Ron Carter's and Christian McBride's albums are very good...

[lilterier]

Well, of course wooten, dickens etc.. are discussed and praised on these kind of forums all the time etc.. but it's quite a fact that they are not very good musicians.

A good musician is a good composer, otherwise your just a good immitater, get it?

Wootens best work is with bela fleck, because bela fleck was the creative source and wooten could support him, wooten cant do anything alone, he's depended on other musicians.

[ThorBassManiac]

Originally Posted by lilterier

Wootens best work is with bela fleck, because bela fleck was the creative source and wooten could support him, wooten cant do anything alone, he's depended on other musicians.

Wooten does nothing but collaborate with other musicians - he was rooted in playing with his four brothers, his solo albums are all collaborations with musicians he has sought out to work with, and he regularly composes pieces in Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. In my opinion, some of the Wooten-headed Flecktone tracks are the best material they've created.

Originally Posted by Brad Johnson

Aparrently, with the actual compositions, some people disagree.

True, and all people are defintely entitled to their opinions. However, there is rarely a musician Wooten works with that does not comment squarely on his composition ability. This regularly comes up in his biography, which is a good and interesting read, by the way. Of course a musician's view can be just as worthy as a listener's, but it should be known that many professionals are awed by his creations irrespective of his bass playing.

[Baryonyx]

Originally Posted by lilterier

Well, of course wooten, dickens etc.. are discussed and praised on these kind of forums all the time etc.. but it's quite a fact that they are not very good musicians.

It's also quite a fact that you're a cretin if you believe this!

[lilterier]

Originally Posted by Chris2112

It's also quite a fact that you're a cretin if you believe this!

Well, to put it this way..

Sting and Paul Mccartney are great musicians.

Why? not because of their chops but because their ability to create music, if u dont got musical ability(the ability to compose) then u cant be a good musician either..

Sting and mccartney are lightyears ahead of bassplayers like wooten..

[funkalicious101]

composition ability = musicianship?!?!?!

say whaaaaaaaat?

[Sounbwoy]

The Soul Circus album was an intentional move for him to explore a more mainstream form while keeping some of what he's known for. That was the gist from an interview in Bass PLayer when the album was first released. It wasn't meant to be "radio friendly" but there are a couple songs on there that have gotten airplay.
If people are basing their opinion on the album as bass players, then MAYBE it's a lousy album, especially if they're looking for long solos and all that other stuff that no one but hardcore bass players would want to listen to. Personally, while I don't play it as much as other stuff I have, I don't dislike the album. I would never call it a lousy album.

[ThorBassManiac]

Originally Posted by Sounbwoy

The Soul Circus album was an intentional move for him to explore a more mainstream form while keeping some of what he's known for. That was the gist from an interview in Bass PLayer when the album was first released. It wasn't meant to be "radio friendly" but there are a couple songs on there that have gotten airplay.
If people are basing their opinion on the album as bass players, then MAYBE it's a lousy album, especially if they're looking for long solos and all that other stuff that no one but hardcore bass players would want to listen to. Personally, while I don't play it as much as other stuff I have, I don't dislike the album. I would never call it a lousy album.

Thanks for the backup... I knew I wasn't alone on this!

[Sounbwoy]

Originally Posted by ThorBassManiac

Thanks for the backup... I knew I wasn't alone on this!

I GOT you, Bro!! I GOT you!!

[machine gewehr]

Billy Sheehan's Compressions is a real disaster for me.

OTOH Cosmic Troubador is one of the best albums I've ever listened to.

[Baryonyx]

Originally Posted by lilterier

Well, to put it this way..

Sting and Paul Mccartney are great musicians.

Why? not because of their chops but because their ability to create music, if u dont got musical ability(the ability to compose) then u cant be a good musician either..

Sting and mccartney are lightyears ahead of bassplayers like wooten..

Ah man, it's been a while since I saw a troll around here

[StanFan]

Originally Posted by machine gewehr

Billy Sheehan's Compressions is a real disaster for me.

OTOH Cosmic Troubador is one of the best albums I've ever listened to.

Haven't heard Cosmic Troubador, but agree with you on Compression. The only song I like is Chameleon, and this is what made me buy the album. The other songs didn't appeal to me at all.

[bassoceros]

I was surprised to not see anyone mention Chris Squires 1975 effort (fish out of water)...either positively or negatively...I own like 5 copies of it on Vinyl and CD myself.




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