Solo bass gigs

[bopeuph]

Haven't been on for a while. I just got back in the country a few weeks ago from my ship gig. I came back to a very poor economy, didn't I?

Well, I can work as an educator I'm finding out, because of my knowledge of various instruments, I'm in high demand. But there are NO gigs for trio, unless I want to try to get my old gig back 50 miles away for 50 dollars once a week. Everything else in town is solo. 100 bucks if you're lucky. So many guitar and piano players are working, but not many others.

So, my question is, how feasible would it be to do a 3 hour gig on solo upright, and still keep the gig? What are some ideas? All I see around YouTube with some things is Stanley Clarke and I found one Ray Brown vid a while back where he plays I Thought About You (I think that was it). Everything else I see is at least a duet if not more.

Ideas?

Nick

[fryBASS]

You could look to some of the solo bass guitar players for inspiration... I suppose its do-able.

[bopeuph]

I like this. Though, I am trying to find a way to handle standards and keep listeners interested. I should have specified that here, old standards are what people listen to.

Nick

[jweiss]

For the right amount of money I'm sure you could line up some solo double bass gigs. Hopefully they won't charge you too much

[MDEbass]

cool idea and good luck! I'm sure it can be done...not sure how i would do it though. I have a loop pedal that I'll loop chords and stuff and stuff to practice along with, and I'm sure the same thing can be done if you need more to add to solo bass playing. good luck...

[Mike Arnopol]

I've done some solo concerts and while being extremely challenging, it's worth it. Check out Dave Hollands solo cd---I think it's called something like "one in All". I love Marc Johnson's solo bass stuff. He plays a solo piece on each of the Right Brain Patrol cd's as well as at least one of the Bass Desires cd. John Pattituci plays some lovely solo works also. Good Luck!

[sean p]

dave holland's solo album is called 'one's all.' one of the first bass albums i ever heard, and a huge favorite of mine. there's also 'emerald tears.'

solo bass gigs are great! folks love the sound of our instrument (is it any wonder?) and can really get to it. i play solo a few times a year at wine bars, coffee shops, yoga classes... i'm not doing standards, though - mostly original material and improvisations. i think whatever your material, filling three hours with solo double bass would be a stretch. i like about 90 mins.

sean

[JtheJazzMan]

if you have a good pickup and amp setup, you could use a loop pedal too.

of course theres the solo jazz stuff like holland and bromberg, but check out dave friesen and eberhard weber on youtube as well. theyre into improvising melody not always in one particular style.

i know some players who love solo bass gigs, theyve been playing for 40 years or so, so its also one of those things you need a wide range of experience to do.

[thesneakyjesus]

Honestly I love the idea.

Two questions...

#1) willing to play electric
#2) willing to use a loop pedal?

check out the boss RC20

If you could comp on the electric then pick up the upright and solo over that it would be a bit gimicky... but pretty sweet.

Also, you could just really work up your double stops and....


actually maybe this is impossible lol

[davidAaronCarte]

Eeeew to all this plank discussion
Solo upright gigs are totally doable, the trick is getting that much material
I've done a few shorter sets than that, and something that helps to break it up is if you can get a singer-friend to stop by and take a few with you
Most of the ones I know are usually happy enough to sing a couple tunes if you buy 'em a drink and give a chance to self-promote
Also, tunes that leave some space for comping/hits work best - Black Orpheus is cool (there's a great Ray Brown vid), and I've been experimenting with My Heart Stood Still too

[slapagroov]

3 hours would be a beast of a night by yourself. But, here's a few ideas of some that I like to do solo: Work Song, Autumn Leaves, Afro Blue

[TomSauter]

I did a solo gig once and it was really tough. I was trying to play the bass notes and the melody at the same time for most of the gig, with not too much soloing. Every time i started playing single notes it felt really empty to me, and i'm sure it sounded like noodling to the people at the gig

[damonsmith]

In improvised music it is a common thing. I have done a lot of solo busking playing tunes, though. That is a good way to get a set together, just pick some tunes that lay well on the bass so they sing, and go out and play them somewhere.
I think you have to be comfortable playing melodies by themselves, tricks like getting in the bass notes are nice but it is good to just play clear, singing melodies, maybe walk or double/triple stop through the changes and then solo.

Loop pedals kind of defeat the purpose. People tend to like solo bass as well as bass duos.

[fingers]

Are you guys crazy? I wouldn't want to hear 3 hours of solo bass and I'm a bass player. 45 minutes or an hour in the case of a concert setting like Damon is probably used to could great in the right hands but 3 hours in a restaurant...

[Bruce Lindfield]

Originally Posted by fingers

Are you guys crazy? I wouldn't want to hear 3 hours of solo bass and I'm a bass player. 45 minutes or an hour in the case of a concert setting like Damon is probably used to could great in the right hands but 3 hours in a restaurant...

I think you're probably right - I wouldn't mind hearing a few bass solos - but 3 hours...

I go to my local jazz club each week and the audience is hard core Jazz fans and a a lot of players - they love their Jazz, but still seem to go to the bar when it's the Bass solo!!

[Jason Sypher]

Yeah, that's a tough one. I think it can be done but only with a lot of forethought and good programing.

Do you sing? A voice can do a lot to bring people in and change it up. Jay Leonhart comes to mind:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AfPa1_vOzg

True, people love the instrument. And most know absolutely nothing about what it can do. Your job would be to take them on a "musical journey" (sorry about that) with the bass. Are you willing to play all kinds of music? Even make a few fun pieces that might get people involved? In short, are you ready to entertain? I'm thinking of your average place, not a stone quiet listening room full of musicians. Can you play free? Do you have a lot of different techniques at your disposal? Can you integrate them into an act?

I'm a bass player. Love the instrument in all music. Occasionally go see Edgar play solo or a great free player. I'm not being cynical or trying to encourage selling out or whatever you call "entertaining". But I think it's a tough gig all alone, but a great and very worthwhile challenge. In fact, my wife is telling me to do it all the time. Good luck.

[Bruce Lindfield]

As we are in the Jazz Technique forum - I was assuming this was about Jazz....?

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by Jason Sypher

In fact, my wife is telling me to do it all the time. Good luck.

I wish I had a wife like that, Jason.
Oh, I am sorry.....you're talking about playing the bass.

[TomSauter]

Originally Posted by fingers

Are you guys crazy? I wouldn't want to hear 3 hours of solo bass and I'm a bass player. 45 minutes or an hour in the case of a concert setting like Damon is probably used to could great in the right hands but 3 hours in a restaurant...

The gig I did was a banquet for some female doctors, I think they wanted a harpist but decided on solo bass for some reason. I pretty sure they didn't like it I agree that 3 hours of solo bass in a restaurant probably wouldn't go over well, I got tired of myself by the end of the first set

[Jason Sypher]

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

As we are in the Jazz Technique forum - I was assuming this was about Jazz....?

Not sure I understand what you mean. What isn't jazz?