Jazz bass and piano duo jam

[Mike Flynn]

OK I'm probably jumping the gun here by sticking this up - it's a rough and ready jam between me and my very good friend, and brilliant pianist, Tom Pilling. We are starting a band and we're both writing stuff - I wrote a piece last week that when we tried it was very much like E.S.T. which I'm reall excited about.

So this is a bit rough and ready, the bass is a bit too loud and the quality isn't amazing - but there are some nice bits of interaction as well - I've no idea what you'll make of it - feedback welcome - this is very much a jam...

Duo jam
http://www.munkio.com/music/Victor/Pbj%20Mix.mp3

Cheers

Mike

[SBassman]

Cool

[Jeff Moote]

Bass is too loud? I don't know if I'm hearing the same clip, but as good as I think this is, I can hardly hear the bass.

It's partly your tone... not cutting through the piano, and partly it is just mixed very low.



I think it's a good clip.

[bassicinstinct]

Can't make out the bass at all.

[Mike Flynn]

I just switched the link to a louder mix of the track - thanks for listening

Mike

[roee_co]

beautiful just beautiful

[DWBass]

I dig it! My only comment would be to give each other more space... meaning while the piano is soloing, give a good solid bass groove without adding a lot of inflections because it'll tend to clash and you want listeners to be able to focus on one thing at a time. And viceversa while you're soloing, the piano should just comp very lightly behind you. I dig it though. This type of stuff is right up my alley!

[SBassman]

I had a similar response to someone else - I didn't think the bass was cutting through enough. I'll go listen to the other mix now.

But, you can clearly hear the potential of you two. You're both very talented, and I could see some serious Stuff coming out of you two.

Man, I'd soil my shorts repeatedly if I could find a piano player like that to work with.

[Mike Flynn]

Originally Posted by DWBass

I dig it! My only comment would be to give each other more space... meaning while the piano is soloing, give a good solid bass groove without adding a lot of inflections because it'll tend to clash and you want listeners to be able to focus on one thing at a time. And viceversa while you're soloing, the piano should just comp very lightly behind you. I dig it though. This type of stuff is right up my alley!

Cheers DW - this was just our warm up, we just plugged in and played, so we're letting rip with a dozen ideas at once - it isn't really how we play a song or a composition more just pure blowing - I completely agree with your comments. Like I say we played a piece I wrote last week and it sounds great - I surprised myself with how solid my writing is becoming and Tom is such an exceptional musician I think we could have a serious band on our hands with some more rehearsals and writing sessions - this is a blow out by comparison. Thanks for checking it out. Mike

[Mike Flynn]

PS - here's my other jazz band's new page on my website: Biog Fan: http://www.munkio.com/music/music_bigfan.html Have a listen - they are great players too. M

[Aaron Saunders]

Mike, I'd like to say how excited I am to hear this. Make sure you and the piano player get some recordings of specific tunes -- I'd love to hear a nice, slow ballad or a run through Billie's Bounce .

I'll be honest. To my ears, 99% of the equation Electric Bass + Jazz ends up as a stylistic nightmare. Can't stand it. At this point in my development, I can't do it either. However, I'm loving the potential of this. The slap parts lose the feel and groove of the song, but I'm really liking the rest of it. Also, in the vein of BG + Jazz, the only other bassists I've heard that I thought did it well are Jeff Berlin (also, dig the Jeff Berlin Trio + Miroslav Vitous video over on TBDB right now), Carles Benavent, and my teacher Zak Colbert. To be honest, I haven't heard Steve Swallow. My main beef with electric players in jazz is their concept. They try and fit into the role of an upright player, but without double bass sensibilities, and end up completely ignoring the technical potential of the electric bass. The DB and the BG are such different instruments, especially in jazz, that when the BG tries to fit into the DB role, it sounds like catbutt. However, your concept of playing, music, and electric bass in jazz is what separates you from the multitudes of half-cocked players out there. There's so much here that's waiting to be developed, Mike. Awesome.

[middlebit]

Let me first say that I really dig your sound and choice of notes, Mike!
The foundation for a working duo is definitely there (I realize it's only a jam situation). As has been mentioned earlier, I agree that you could leave some more space for the pianist, but that will come when you get used to each other. I also think that some of your rhythmic outbursts clash with the direction of the groove. But with a few weeks of good practising and listening you guys will be on top of that, no worries!
Hey, this is just a personal thing...but I just can't handle the sound of popping and aggressive fretnoise in this sort of musical situation...you would make me a lot happier if you went with your fretless!

[Aaron Saunders]

Originally Posted by middlebit

you would make me a lot happier if you went with your fretless!

I thought about that too, and while I know Mike's intonation and upper-register technique are pretty spotless with his fretless, some of that chording and upper register playing might be lost if he were to switch to the other instrument. I do agree about the fretnoise, though -- sometimes that was a bit intrusive on the music. Hmm. Maybe play with slightly higher tension strings? They might be a little harder to do the MG stuff with, but it'll go a long way to getting rid of that fretbuzz.

[Jeff Moote]

Originally Posted by Mike Flynn

I just switched the link to a louder mix of the track - thanks for listening

Mike

Much better I listened the whole way through this time. I can't come up with any complaints. For just blowing through changes to warm up, there is nothing wrong here.

[middlebit]

Oy, I honestly wasn't aping you back there, Aaron! Must have been writing at the same time...


(yeah, right he goes )

[Aaron Saunders]

Originally Posted by middlebit

Oy, I honestly wasn't aping you back there, Aaron! Must have been writing at the same time...


(yeah, right he goes )

[Mike Flynn]

Thanks for such considered responses - believe me we worked on a cool song after this and it's really sounding good - and as soon I don't have to explain chord voicings to the songs to Tom I'm going to be using the fretless a lot - he live across town from me so I can only carry one bass!

I really appreciate the feedback guys - very helpful - and pretty much echoing my thoughts on what we're trying to achieve - the end result will be A LOT tighter....

M

[nick g.]

As others hae already pointed out, the first and probably only thing I could fault this track for is the bass just being too busy. Root notes aren't always the devil.

But, anyway, it's a very cool tune, and I'm sure it'll 10x better with a little more breathing room.

[Mike Flynn]

Thanks anyway RandomBass.

Cheers

M

[Mike Flynn]

Originally Posted by SMASH

Whao, a handle change eh? Just recently I was thinking you'd left the site. Excellent stuff as always.

Can't add anything worthwhile to what the others have said, but am glad to see you're still around. Good luck with the new projects.

Yeah I switched a while back - and I know I wasn't here much over the last year but I'm enjoying being back - sorry for any confusion - take it easy bro.

M