I hate certain tunes. For instance I can never play "Feelings" again. I have and do but I am just going through the motions anticipating the next song.
I am playing this afternoon with a Chuck Magione type "jazz" band and I hate the prospect of all those simple lines like "Feels so Good".
Sometimes keeping to "less is more" is a very difficult thing to do. Still I'd rather be playing than not.
The best musicians take the most tired tunes and breathe life in to them as if they're most exciting and fun tunes they've ever played. It's a valuable skill to have as a working player. Band leaders are going to be much more inclined to hire a player that puts his/her all in to the music than someone just going through the motions waiting for the next tune or the break because they feel like the band's repertoire is beneath them.
Granted, it might be a little tough keeping a straight face playing "Feelings" but I don't see what the problem is with "Feels So Good". The tune may not be a master piece but the bass part definitely displays good craftsmanship in that genre and I think it should be possible to find something fun or, at the very least, educational in playing the line.
"Less" doesn't always mean "less difficult" and vice-versa.
Remember that tune by Sade "Smooth Operator" with that little bass solo in it. I must have played that song ten thousand times (well alot)in the 80's. As long as you stick to the original solo line you can play around with stuff. like:
Transpose every other note up and down an octave, (i had alot of time to figure these things out)
Wait till the last set when people are drunk and play the solo backwards.
We would flip a coin to see who called what key to play it in (within the singers limits of course).
I used effects in limitless ways, some really dumb,most quiet tasteful I think.
During the solo the guitarist and drummer would play heavymetal then jump back to bossa on the next verse.
We all played the solo in unision.
After a while its all boring to us players. But I keep in mind that the people have come to hear "That song they love" and you better play it nice and tasteful. It also gets you alot more work!
I hate certain tunes. For instance I can never play "Feelings" again. I have and do but I am just going through the motions anticipating the next song.
I am playing this afternoon with a Chuck Magione type "jazz" band and I hate the prospect of all those simple lines like "Feels so Good".
Sometimes keeping to "less is more" is a very difficult thing to do. Still I'd rather be playing than not.
Every band has Achilles heels. For my bands, it's usually Mustang Sally. But it fills the dance floor and gets people singing and having fun so I play it every gig and smile as I sing it. Everyone has songs they hate that they have to play. I think the sign of a true pro is someone who will never let you know how badly they hate their least favorite song.
I have and do but I am just going through the motions anticipating the next song.
