Shamed by Morris Day

bman · #1 01-07-2002, 08:47 PM

I was watching a Saturday Night Live re-run on Comedy Central today.
The musical guest was Morris Day (I think. Not really my kind of music.)
Anyway, it was ultra funky so I thought I'd get some schoolin' by watching the bass player. He was jamming his ass off on a red Fender Jazz. Looked like a custom shop ax. (It may have been either Jimmy Jam or Terry Lewis. Again, I'm not a big fan. But they looked familiar.)
My point?
Not only was this guy playing a SICK groove, he was dancing like a madman while he was doing it. All in time. In synch with the other musicians.
Made all those years of practice seem rather futile, if you know what I mean.
Those guys could PLAY.

I felt shame. I sit in the box, two minutes, then I go free.

Anyone see that performance?

JimK · #2 01-07-2002, 09:13 PM

Jimmy Jam(keys), Terry Lewis(bass), Jesse Johnson(guitar), Jerome, Morris Day(vocals/fool)were The Time. Yes, they were very good. Ever see Purple Rain? That slide step during "Jungle Love" kills me...still!

Still, the *best* version I ever heard of "The Bird" was done by a local Va. Beach band called The Squares(Oteil Burbridge on bass).

Jam & Lewis wrote, performed, produced many an '80s R&B star/hit. The SOS Band, Cheryl Lynn, Janet Jackson all had that Jam/Lewis touch.

**rickbass** · #3 01-08-2002, 08:56 AM

I agree with you, bman. He has a certain groove-style down in cement. Plus, he also uses a lot more hand motion than is really necessary to look like he is smoking, (keep watching SNL reruns and watch Stuart Zender w/Jamiroquai blow Lewis's funk out the door with his much more subtle style).....IMO

But here's the rub - have you seen him anywhere since that spot??? My guess is, "not."

The moral of the story is - don't specialize or limit yourself to one style if you want to stay in the game over the long haul.

Christopher · #4 01-08-2002, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rickbass1
But here's the rub - have you seen him anywhere since that spot??? My guess is, "not."

Lewis is bringing the cheddar as a big-shot producer. He don't have to play to get pay, if you know what I'm saying.

**rickbass** · #5 01-08-2002, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Christopher
Lewis is bringing the cheddar as a big-shot producer....

I'm sure he's better off there, Christopher.

He was a one-trick pony on the bass. The one trick is a good trick, but that doesn't keep the checks coming like production.

Chriss62 · #6 01-08-2002, 12:13 PM

i watched that rerun!! I thought the were great! it was cool how the were al dancing. Really funky stuff

Bassdadto2 · #7 01-08-2002, 12:34 PM

Jerome's last name was Benton.

The Time was the Baddest band in the land. If you don't know, now you know!!

Get "what Time is it?" and be amazed. "777-9311" is must -learn for anyone wanting to be a funker!!

Stuart Zender was good. Funkier than Terry Lewis? Eyedonthinkso!

**rickbass** · #8 01-08-2002, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bassdadto2
The Time was the Baddest band in the land. If you don't know, now you know!!....

Any of James Brown's bands wrote their school books.

Wherever you find your brand of funk is "the correct answer." That's why included the "IMO."

Brad Johnson · #9 01-08-2002, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bassdadto2
Jerome's last name was Benton.

The Time was the Baddest band in the land. If you don't know, now you know!!

Get "what Time is it?" and be amazed. "777-9311" is must -learn for anyone wanting to be a funker!!

Stuart Zender was good. Funkier than Terry Lewis? Eyedonthinkso!

IIRC "777-9311" was performed by Prince... and a drum machine

Bassdadto2 · #10 01-09-2002, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Brad Johnson

IIRC "777-9311" was performed by Prince... and a drum machine

Maybe so, but the Time was able to reproduce that groove on stage, which is where it counts!

Bassdadto2 · #11 01-09-2002, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rickbass1

Any of James Brown's bands wrote their school books.

Wherever you find your brand of funk is "the correct answer." That's why included the "IMO."

No disrespect to the James Brown Bands, but the Time was a different animal. They were more rock. They might have learned from James (as we all did), but they made it their own.

Boplicity · #12 01-09-2002, 12:36 AM

THis thread more rightly belongs under "bassists", but as it has already drawn a lot of commentary, I think I'll leave it here. (Maybe DanceHallClasher won't agree, though.)

Brad Johnson · #13 01-09-2002, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bassdadto2

Maybe so, but the Time was able to reproduce that groove on stage, which is where it counts!

I would hope so... it "was" sold as their song

ZoomBoy · #14 01-09-2002, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Brad Johnson

IIRC "777-9311" was performed by Prince... and a drum machine

And IIRC much of the Time's material was written by Prince under a few of his various pen names as well!

Woodchuck · #15 01-09-2002, 04:48 PM

I'd vote for Zender over Lewis. Zender came up with his parts, while Prince came of with Terry's.

Bassdadto2 · #16 01-10-2002, 10:27 AM

[quote]Originally posted by Woodchuck
I'd vote for Zender over Lewis. Zender came up with his parts, while Prince came of with Terry's. [/QUOTE

Anthony, I knew you'd chime in here. I saw Jamiroqui live, and i saw the Time Live. Zender was awesome, but Jamirqui never made me bend at the waist, crank my neck, and go "AWWWWWWWWWWWW YEAH!" like the time did, and it was all about feel. I prefer the feel of The Time over Jamiroqui, regardless of who came up with the parts.

On a related, but different note, has your band ever worked with any of the acid jazz guys? When I was in Butterflow, we worked with The Brand New Heavies, Nuyorican Soul, and Incognito (although I am not sure why any of those bands are considered Acid Jazz) and Andrew Levy was another bassist in this category. What a nice, fat groove he has!

pedro · #17 01-10-2002, 11:35 AM

[I felt shame. I sit in the box, two minutes, then I go free.

That reminds me. I was coaching in Omaha and Eddie Shore sends me this guy that's a ….LOL!!

I've seen them and you're right he does lay it down all while dancing his butt off. He does a bit more slap then I would like but then again any slap is really too much for my taste.

JimK · #18 01-10-2002, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bassdadto2
On a related, but different note, has your band ever worked with any of the acid jazz guys? When I was in Butterflow, we worked with The Brand New Heavies, Nuyorican Soul, and Incognito (although I am not sure why any of those bands are considered Acid Jazz)

Couple years ago, I asked the same thing...I get the Acid part...where's the Jazz part?
BNH, Jamiroqui, etc sound very much like a retro-'70s R&B/Soul band(NOT a bad thing, IMO).
Anyway, a bassist from the UK(NOT Bruce Lindfiled) answered my question-
Basically, we're getting the "watered-down" version of Brand New Heavies here in the US.

"I felt shame. I sit in the box 2 minutes, then I go free".
I was at an AHL game here in-town last night...kinda boring so we amused ourselves by picking lines outta Slap Shot...

Brad Johnson · #19 01-10-2002, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Bassdadto2 sez:
"The Time was the Baddest band in the land. If you don't know, now you know!!

Get "what Time is it?" and be amazed. "777-9311" is must -learn for anyone wanting to be a funker!!

Stuart Zender was good. Funkier than Terry Lewis? Eyedonthinkso!"

This is what I was responding to. Getting "What Time is it?" and being amazed at "777-9311" has nothing to do with Terry, no disrespect to Terry, recorded or live... it's just not Terry that you'd be listening to