The Bassists of James Brown

The Owl · #1 08-28-2005, 06:05 PM

I wanted to start a thread on this subject, the bassists that gave James Brown his nasty, funky grrrrooooves! I'm sure there were many,but some come ot mind:

Most famously, Bootsy Collins (who went on to become an intergral part of the P-Funk Mob!)

Tim Drummond, who only stayed with The Godfather a short time, he used to get a lot of flack just simply for being white from people outside the band). Tim was a killer player with lots of soul and a distinctive "walk" in his bass playing.

Bernard Odum

Post away with comments, observations, names etc------

morebass! · #2 08-31-2005, 09:52 PM

I dig them all. Heck I'd probably lay it down pretty good with James kickin' my a$$ every night.

I assume you saw the Bass Player article? Lots of good info there. Bootsy on the cover probably sold some issues but I came away thinking that he was not a huge part of the history.

The Owl · #3 09-01-2005, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morebass!

I dig them all. Heck I'd probably lay it down pretty good with James kickin' my a$$ every night.

I assume you saw the Bass Player article? Lots of good info there. Bootsy on the cover probably sold some issues but I came away thinking that he was not a huge part of the history.

Very true, Bootsy wasn't in for avey long stretch at all but the time he was in, he kicked some major ass, to the point I think he got fired by James for overplying ('ol JB was to put it mildly, a control freak).

43% burnt · #4 09-01-2005, 09:43 AM

Bootsy is my favorite. I've been listening to alot of JB's lately...amazing stuff!

Lo end PUNCH · #5 09-01-2005, 09:44 AM

TM Stevens also had a stint with James.

willgroove2 · #6 09-01-2005, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Owl

Very true, Bootsy wasn't in for avey long stretch at all but the time he was in, he kicked some major ass, to the point I think he got fired by James for overplying ('ol JB was to put it mildly, a control freak).

he didn't get fired for overplaying, he got fired for dropping acid before a gig and having a freak out on stage because he thought his bass neck turned into a snake

The Owl · #7 09-01-2005, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willgroove2

he didn't get fired for overplaying, he got fired for dropping acid before a gig and having a freak out on stage because he thought his bass neck turned into a snake

YIKES!!!!

Alan Vorse · #8 09-01-2005, 05:57 PM

I have seen Charles Sherrell play with Maceo Parker and Fred Wesley a couple times, and I would not count him out.

johnp352 · #9 09-05-2005, 08:40 AM

Bernard Odum
Charles Sherrell
Sam Thomas
Tim Drummond
Catfish's brother Bootsy
David Williams
Hubert Perry

and for all of you with 17 string or whatever it is this week, "basses"..AS fahnkified as the bass lines are the G!@#$%r lines....I mean now that you have the supersonic, only heard by bats range on your salmon platter like lute bass..why not cover the whole mess? I'd think doing the interlocking parts of Jimmy Nolen and Country Kellum would be a lot more challenging (not to mention FUN and REWARDING) then plowing through yet another stab at JSB..been there..

SO...

Pick up a copy of "The Funkmasters" by Allan Slutsky (better than Shadows of Motown..he wrote that too), and the boxed set "Star Time" by JB.
Take some time..and learn how to play. Good Luck. Been at it 30 years myself.

Ty_Boogie · #10 09-05-2005, 10:34 AM

less strings-----do more, that's the short version I guess?

johnp352 · #11 09-05-2005, 10:38 AM

is that a ....5....string bass in your picture?

we have to talk...

Ty_Boogie · #12 09-05-2005, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnp352

is that a ....5....string bass in your picture?

we have to talk...

I own a 4.......... LOL

I had to try it, I like it, and more than 5 is just not for me.

everyone has their likes and dislikes, I don't agree with evreything, but I respect that

now let me tune up my 5'er.......;-)

silly aliens messing with it again

johnp352 · #13 09-05-2005, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ty_Boogie

I own a 4.......... LOL

now let me tune up my 5'er.......;-)

silly aliens messing with it again

ok..5..you know T..it might be a good idea after all..I mean if you break a string, there's always an extra one..right there on the neck

like a spare tire!

and the "aliens" ? umm, no Ty..as you are in the Motor City..that would be the ghost of James..you know.."ty..all you need is 4..listen to Bernadette..Ty..one finger..4 strings..."

Alan Vorse · #14 09-05-2005, 05:09 PM

Pick up a copy of "The Funkmasters" by Allan Slutsky (better than Shadows of Motown..he wrote that too), and the boxed set "Star Time" by JB.
Could you elaborate on how Funkmasters is better than Standing in the Shadows of Motown?

chilliwilli · #15 09-05-2005, 08:40 PM

i think its better done, everyone's parts are there not just bass and it just seems to have a lot of good info.

I wish standing in the shadows of motown could be the same way with all the player's parts not just Jamerosn

only drawback to funkmaster's book is that his tab in it which doubles the size of most pages and drives up the price

Alan Vorse · #16 09-05-2005, 08:47 PM

Well, I liked the biographical info in Shadows. Plus the lack of TAB made me get my reading together and become a real player. But Funkmasters is great too. They both made me a better player.

Sippy · #17 09-05-2005, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willgroove2

he didn't get fired for overplaying, he got fired for dropping acid before a gig and having a freak out on stage because he thought his bass neck turned into a snake

That happens to me all the time.. psht.. like it never happens to you guys... right?.. *ahem*.. I mean NO!

johnp352 · #18 09-05-2005, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harmolodic

Pick up a copy of "The Funkmasters" by Allan Slutsky (better than Shadows of Motown..he wrote that too), and the boxed set "Star Time" by JB.
Could you elaborate on how Funkmasters is better than Standing in the Shadows of Motown?

I think Alan digs deeper into what makes a groove work in Funkmasters. In JB's music, it's the interplay/interlock of the four main ingredients..bass/drums and usually two guitars..that make it work. By analyzing this interplay, you get a better idea of how the groove works. Granted, this is not the same as learning "Going to a GoGo" as played by (was it John Entwhistle?), but for my money and time, I learned a lot more from Funkmasters. I took the time and learned the guitar parts as well, and I programmed the drum parts into my sequencer..a good learnng experience, and something, as mentioned above, not available in Shadows. As an aside, it was interesting to mix certain parts together..a guitar riff from one piece with the bass line from another..I often came up with fresh ideas. I also experimented with turning guitar parts into percussion lines in the sequencer.. f.e. Catfish's guitar riddims made great cowbell parts..all of this helped me understand and enjoy James Brown a lot more.

It'd be nice to have him do a similiar book on your tag line, no? Analyze the use of harmelodics in Ornette's work with Prime Time...

cdef · #19 09-06-2005, 01:20 AM

I seem to recall reading somewhere (maybe on the back of the first Jefferson Airplane LP?) that Jack Casady had "been on the road with James Brown" - can anybody corroborate that, or is it something I subconsciously made up?

**RobC** · #20 06-04-2010, 06:31 AM

Now that seems unlikely...

My question is about Hubert Perry- the photo of him in the BassPlayer article on JB bassists shows him very clearly as left handed- can someone confirm this?

Rob.