Al Jarreau -- 1994 Bass Player

[pbasswil]

I just watched a live performance of Al Jarreau in Germany in 1994. Steve Gadd locking in beautifully with a poppin' & percolatin' bass player:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enhGV...eature=related

or

http://tinyurl.com/b57mqb

Anybody have any idea who he might be??

TIA

[chuck norriss]

try his website's forum. his diehard fans might know.
Gadd is great--I saw him last year at Catalina Bar w/ his 4 piece band.

[pointbass]

I believe that's Nathan East ... he played behind Al for a while during the '90's. I didn't watch the entire clip, so I'm not 100% certain.

Nathan is an amazing bassist ...

[Clark Dark]

Andrew Ford

[pbasswil]

I think Clark Dark has it. From freezing that video around 1:47, and comparing him to a few pictures down the page at this Andrew Ford interview...
http://tinyurl.com/467aa56
... I'm satisfied.

Supportive, melodic, and toneful playing. You know what hit me about it? He was leaving nice, cleanly-sliced silences between the notes. I'm a sucker for that kind of breathing articulation.

Sounds like someone you'd want as a friend, too, judging from the interview.

[burk48237]

He's had some great bass players with him. Jimmy Hislap, Marcus Miller, and Abe Laboriel all toured with him in the 80's

[Roy Vogt]

I might as well muddy the waters further-it looks and sounds like "Ready" Freddie Washington to me. The Ken Smith 5 string and the 90s era High Top Fade are vintage Freddie. I did see him play with Al on tour in 1980 (it was his first big gig and Al told a story of how he blew the competition away at the bass auditions). Freddie might have been out with Michael Jackson at that point so I could be wrong. I don't think it's Nathan because it's a Smith and not a Yamaha.

[pbasswil]

Originally Posted by Roy Vogt

I might as well muddy the waters further-it looks and sounds like "Ready" Freddie Washington to me. The Ken Smith 5 string and the 90s era High Top Fade are vintage Freddie. I did see him play with Al on tour in 1980 (it was his first big gig and Al told a story of how he blew the competition away at the bass auditions). Freddie might have been out with Michael Jackson at that point so I could be wrong. I don't think it's Nathan because it's a Smith and not a Yamaha.

Hm, are you pausing at 1:49 of that video? I don't think it's Freddie. I think it matches with the picture of Andrew Ford in the indigo and navy fat-stripe shirt, about halfway down:
http://tinyurl.com/467aa56
Tendency to jowliness and slight receding chin. Freddie has a more protruding chin. (And usually a moustache!)

But hey, that's just my opinion, I've been wrong plenty of times before. :^)

[Roy Vogt]

Originally Posted by pbasswil

Hm, are you pausing at 1:49 of that video? I don't think it's Freddie. I think it matches with the picture of Andrew Ford in the indigo and navy fat-stripe shirt, about halfway down:
http://tinyurl.com/467aa56
Tendency to jowliness and slight receding chin. Freddie has a more protruding chin. (And usually a moustache!)

But hey, that's just my opinion, I've been wrong plenty of times before. :^)

Well, I just went to get the answer straight from the horse's mouth and emailed Andrew to ask him. I'm hoping I'll get a definitive answer, but the more I think about it the more I think you're right.

[pbasswil]

Originally Posted by Roy Vogt

Well, I just went to get the answer straight from the horse's mouth and emailed Andrew to ask him. ...

Neato! If you know him, tell him he sounded just terrific with Steve Gadd!

[Roy Vogt]

It's Andrew, here's his note:
"Man, Roy, bless you bro, what an honor that anybody cares....sometimes playing the groove goes way under the radar, yes that is me and what a great year that was playing with Gadd, Neil Larsen, Larry Williams, and Icarus Johnson, some of my favorites coming up, spent 4 years with Al and that was probably my favorite, Gadd was making a record every night...thanks again bro"
Wow, I don't think you could put a better band together if you tried! Phew!

[pbasswil]

Originally Posted by Roy Vogt

It's Andrew, here's his note:
"Man, Roy, bless you bro, what an honor that anybody cares....sometimes playing the groove goes way under the radar, yes that is me and what a great year that was playing with Gadd, Neil Larsen, Larry Williams, and Icarus Johnson, some of my favorites coming up, spent 4 years with Al and that was probably my favorite, Gadd was making a record every night...thanks again bro"

A gracious and humble response -- as expected.
This is the first I've ever heard of Andrew; and he's absolutely world class. (Hell, 2 of his peers were thinking he might be N East or Freddie! -- not too shabby.) I bet S. Gadd couldn't have been more content with the pairing.
I'm so glad his playing caught my ear, so I asked the question and became aware of him.

Wow, I don't think you could put a better band together if you tried! Phew!

Nope; what effortless groove.

Thanks for emailing him, Roy.

[abstractart06]

Man the groove on that set was tight! Al's performance is pure genius. Also check out George Benson and Al Jarreau doing "Tutu", absolutely great .

[pointbass]

Yes, Roy, thanks for the clarification

Andrew is a wonderful player and absolutely deserves to be mentioned along with Mr. Washington and Mr. East! All gigantic bassists, players that other players love ....

[j-raj]

Andrew is a killer bassist, man that must have been cool to be on that gig for 4 years.

[Papersen]

Originally Posted by Roy Vogt

It's Andrew, here's his note:
"Man, Roy, bless you bro, what an honor that anybody cares....sometimes playing the groove goes way under the radar, yes that is me and what a great year that was playing with Gadd, Neil Larsen, Larry Williams, and Icarus Johnson, some of my favorites coming up, spent 4 years with Al and that was probably my favorite, Gadd was making a record every night...thanks again bro"
Wow, I don't think you could put a better band together if you tried! Phew!

Finding info like this is what makes TB an incredible forum.