Cutting off your solo (jazz double bass)

[AZNBassist]

I did a search and I was surprised that I couldn't find anything.

What do you do when people cut off your solo?

Personally, I think its really annoying, and musically rude. Yet, it happens so oftenly and really isn't thought of. It's like, you as the bass player are backing the soloist and making the rhythm section, and thus making the soloist sound good, yet even after doing that they don't even have the courtesy to let you finish your solo without butting in with the head, or even ask you if you want to take a solo (another topic for discussion)

Now usually the people I play with there arent problems like this, theres good communication and everyones solid on things. But out there in the real world, when this happens, what do you guys do?

[Marcus Johnson]

I keep soloing.

[mandocaster]

If it is your regular band, you ought to be able to talk to them. "Did you play over the end of my solo on purpose?" "Are my solos too long?". If you are subbing, just try to keep the band leader happy, and chock it up to the fun of live music.

In any case, you shouldn't show anger or irritation on stage. That is never a good thing.

[Mike Arnopol]

I have to be honest. I love soloing. But when I listen to bass solos I don't like long solos as much. Bass solos in the best of situations can be more difficult to follow and difficult to hold people's interest.
I was just listening to Michael Moore. He's probably my favorite soloist. He doesn't like to solo for a long time. Always much shorter than the other soloists. But much heavier content. So watch out for solo length. I really try to play shorter solos with stronger content these days.

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Originally Posted by Mike Arnopol

I have to be honest. I love soloing. But when I listen to bass solos I don't like long solos as much. Bass solos in the best of situations can be more difficult to follow and difficult to hold people's interest.
I was just listening to Michael Moore. He's probably my favorite soloist. He doesn't like to solo for a long time. Always much shorter than the other soloists. But much heavier content. So watch out for solo length. I really try to play shorter solos with stronger content these days.

What the gentleman with the Rorschach arm said. Very well put.

I try to always solo too short rather than too long, and on some gigs (quintet, etc.), I might only get a short solo or so per set. It's usually not an issue. I try to make the band sound good, and try to make the most of the solo space I have. Not too long ago, I played with a touring artist who quite rudely - I felt - came in at the bridge of one of my solos and played the head out. I was annoyed, but tried not to show it. After all, it was his gig. If I were playing with this person regularly, I'd seriously think about either addressing that habit or finding a permanent sub for myself. But on a one nighter as a sideman, meh....

[Roger Davis]

In trios and quartets I usually get enough solos and don't have a ploblem. With the seven piece Dixie outfit I play with I was lucky to get a half. So I had a word with the leader and told him that I would like two full chorus solos per gig, by arrangement, and he was OK about it. The last number is usually a barnstormer and we all get two choruses each. So there's no doubt in anyone's mind I usually walk the bass right to the front of the stage. It's not only assertive but good stagecraft IMO.

[MLysh]

What's even worse, in my opinion, is when the horn player and pianist start having a chat as soon as the bass solo begins. Suddenly, they've become a part of the audience: the really annoying part. I've noticed that alcohol and attractive women seated close to the stand exacerbate this problem.

[two fingers]

Originally Posted by Mike Arnopol

I have to be honest. I love soloing. But when I listen to bass solos I don't like long solos as much. Bass solos in the best of situations can be more difficult to follow and difficult to hold people's interest.
I was just listening to Michael Moore. He's probably my favorite soloist. He doesn't like to solo for a long time. Always much shorter than the other soloists. But much heavier content. So watch out for solo length. I really try to play shorter solos with stronger content these days.

+1 Every time I've ever heard a bass solo live (other than Vic or Billy Sheehan etc.) it got boring after about 15 seconds. Plus, while you are up there playing your solo, someone else in the band is watching the crowd. If I were your band leader, and we started losing the crowd, I would cut you off too.

[Bruce Lindfield]

Originally Posted by AZNBassist

I did a search and I was surprised that I couldn't find anything.

What do you do when people cut off your solo?

Personally, I think its really annoying, and musically rude. Yet, it happens so oftenly and really isn't thought of. It's like, you as the bass player are backing the soloist and making the rhythm section, and thus making the soloist sound good, yet even after doing that they don't even have the courtesy to let you finish your solo without butting in with the head..

If it's the end of the chorus and the band come in with the head then I would feel quite happy that they were "on the ball" - what's worse is where the band are quite lost and as Bass Player you always get last solo and then they have got to find how to get back in - so the worst scenario (IMO )is where your solo finished and the band don't come back in!!

Then you have to think - shall I carry on and "restart" the solo or just maybe play a walking line until they get their act together and then have to worry about where everybody will be in the form!!??

[fingers]

Maybe getting cut off is a sign the solo is too long. I'm probably going to get flamed but I'm not a big fan of bass solos on the whole. There are a VERY few guys that can really captivate IMHO.

On a standards gig I solo whenever asked but never ask. I take a chorus maybe two if the form is short and get out. Others have said that the bass solos lose audience members. I then figure that I have a limited amount of time to make the most memorable statement I can.

To me the best format is for the bass to solo once or twice the whole night and really make an event out of it. I play in one group that does that and then I stretch out. So much more impact.

[fingers]

I think more cats should get a deeper sense of satisfaction from the thing that got you the gig in the first place... and it ain't soloing.

[nickmo007]

I must solo for 10 plus choruses on every song or I walk off the bandstand!

[nickmo007]

No but seriously, I think that if you look at the big picture of the music, it may dictate if solos should be long/short or cut. Also if the group has a supreme leader, they are thinking in terms of that big picture and not in terms of the bassist developing his solo to its intuitive end.

[Bruce Lindfield]

Originally Posted by nickmo007

Also if the group has a supreme leader...

This just made me think of a Fascist Dictatorship!!

[Bruce Lindfield]

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

If it's the end of the chorus and the band come in with the head then I would feel quite happy that they were "on the ball" -

Originally Posted by fingers

I take a chorus maybe two if the form is short and get out. Others have said that the bass solos lose audience members. I then figure that I have a limited amount of time to make the most memorable statement I can.

To me the best format is for the bass to solo once or twice the whole night and really make an event out of it. I play in one group that does that and then I stretch out. So much more impact.

I think this is what I was saying - that I would rarely expect to get more than one chorus on a Jazz Double Bass solo and so if the band come back in with the head - then fine!

The only problem might be if they came back in at another point....

[Paul Warburton]

When I solo, I try to interest not only the listeners in the audience, but the other listeners.....the ones on the bandstand in what I'm saying musically.
I'd say, a good 70% of the time, it's a go.

[Marcus Johnson]

Originally Posted by fingers

I think more cats should get a deeper sense of satisfaction from the thing that got you the gig in the first place... and it ain't soloing.

I wish more bandleaders thought like that. Often, I get a solo on every freakin' tune, because they know I can solo. Way too much bass soloing, IMO.... it doesn't make musical sense to me. One or two well-crafted solos is plenty over the course of an evening, and I think they carry more meaning that way.

Obviously, it's a little different in a duo, or even some trios, where we have to be prepared to carry more of the load.

I often enjoy gigs where I'm hired for the first time, when the bandleader may not yet be aware of my soloing capabilities.

[Mike Arnopol]

I'm with Marcus. Obviously in duo or trio settings there's more blowing, but even then I keep my solos shorter. As artists we need to have as our first priority what our dramatic function in the music is and then our playing serves that. When I was in my 20's it was like 10 choruses on Cherokee---no problem. Now even though I'd like to think that I can keep up with the horns at fast tempos I know that I don't enjoy listening to bass soloing on fast tunes. Like Marcus my rep is as a soloist. When I'm playing in a quartet or larger I tell the leader that I don't want to solo on every tune. I'm getting further and further away from the "jazz as sport" concept. Our solos need to fit the dramatic intent of the particular tune at that particular moment. Once we deeply understand that our solos will evolve to serve that purpose. If I'm following a guy that plays a "chops" solo I used to be like "I can cut that" and try to out-chops the guy. Now I'll likely take the opposite tactic. After a "chops" solo I'll try to play something less dense-- bigger and broader with more space and melodic development. I used to solo and build up to this intense chops ending. Always good for a big crowd response. Now I might devolve my solo to transition to the next solo more seamlessly. Not much crowd response (they aren't sure when the solo is over) but much more compositional and artistically satisfying. These days I'd much rather take a half chorus on a ballad than ten choruses on "Impressions".

[arseniotall]

do what i did..pour water in the horn case and kick it across the stage during the piano sax duet...no wait that was because he didnt let me tune the stings to pitch AFTER making me put my pickup on someone elses bass...wait...oh yea just play ridiculous changes ONLY behind the horn player that cut you off.

and it ain't about what got you the gig its simply about human respect. If there is a problem with you taking long solos they need to tell you that. Not continously cut you off during your solos. If they want to effect YOUR musical space start effecting there's.

DISCLAIMERS: 1. I wish I never have to solo 2. My wife would not recommend acting like or taking advice from me in ANY social situation.

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Originally Posted by Mike Arnopol

I'm with Marcus. Obviously in duo or trio settings there's more blowing, but even then I keep my solos shorter. As artists we need to have as our first priority what our dramatic function in the music is and then our playing serves that....

When I'm playing in a quartet or larger I tell the leader that I don't want to solo on every tune. I'm getting further and further away from the "jazz as sport" concept. Our solos need to fit the dramatic intent of the particular tune at that particular moment. Once we deeply understand that our solos will evolve to serve that purpose. If I'm following a guy that plays a "chops" solo I used to be like "I can cut that" and try to out-chops the guy. Now I'll likely take the opposite tactic. After a "chops" solo I'll try to play something less dense-- bigger and broader with more space and melodic development. I used to solo and build up to this intense chops ending. Always good for a big crowd response. Now I might devolve my solo to transition to the next solo more seamlessly. Not much crowd response (they aren't sure when the solo is over) but much more compositional and artistically satisfying. These days I'd much rather take a half chorus on a ballad than ten choruses on "Impressions".

Originally Posted by Marcus Johnson

I wish more bandleaders thought like that. Often, I get a solo on every freakin' tune, because they know I can solo. Way too much bass soloing, IMO.... it doesn't make musical sense to me. One or two well-crafted solos is plenty over the course of an evening, and I think they carry more meaning that way.

Obviously, it's a little different in a duo, or even some trios, where we have to be prepared to carry more of the load.

I often enjoy gigs where I'm hired for the first time, when the bandleader may not yet be aware of my soloing capabilities.

These deserve to be read twice.