Bill Dickens

[Baryonyx]

I dig Bill Dickens. I love his tone, his style, his chops, everything! He's a fantastic player. However, the only material I have of his is the stuff on his instructional/live DVD. I heard a while ago that there was a rumor that he was going to make a solo album, has this gone off the radar completely?

I also know he has a background as a session man, on which records would I be able to hear him? I recall seeing a wild picture of him back in the day with hair and a Ken Smith bass!

Any input much appreciated, let us discuss this master of bass!

[son_of_mogh]

He played with Ramsey Lewis in the mid-80's. Saw Ramsey at the Count Basie Theatre along with Stanley Clarke, Gato Barbieri and Anita Baker (?) on some mega-tour they all were doing together.

[Baryonyx]

I saw that he even did the bass playing for a Macdonalds ad campaign in the late 90's!

[Basstard79]

Nah.

Phenomenal chops... and what else? I've listened to some of his stuff. Bazillions of notes, slapped and tapped at the speed of light, not much music.

No offence intended - you have the right to like whomever you choose.

[megadethjohn]

The dude has more to his playing then just ripping it up at light speed. I saw him over the summer at an outdoor jazz gig playing with someone who's name eludes me now. Anyways his playing at the time was very laid back. He played just what the song needed and no more. Sure he likes to show off on all those youtube vids but he can hit the pocket when he needs to.

Super cool guy to. I wandered back behind the stage to find him after he got off and he was cool about me pestering him with a bunch of questions.

[Philbiker]

He used to play one of the basses I own - Peavey Axcelerator 6.

[JAUQO III-X]

Bill Dickens is an extremely talented and versatile bassist.I have heard pretty much the entire cd and when he releases it, it will really show what Bill has to offer in more ways than one.

He's really not just a one trick pony



And he still has that KS bass but pretty much never plays it.


If you're in the LA area in January, he'll be playing at The Baked Potato.

[john turner]

Originally Posted by Basstard79

Nah.

Phenomenal chops... and what else? I've listened to some of his stuff. Bazillions of notes, slapped and tapped at the speed of light, not much music.

No offence intended - you have the right to like whomever you choose.

i've seen bill dickens play live many times over the past 15 years, and have met him personally many times at namm shows when we were both at the conklin booth together. nothing could be further from the truth (That he has no "music" to his playing). he's a very musical, intuitive musician, but unfortunately that kind of thing doesn't get noticed by people.

bill has toured with -barry manilow-, among man others. now if that's not a gig requiring supreme musicality from all bandmembers, i don't know what is.

[Baryonyx]

Yeah, a lot of people overlook the fact that Bill plays piano, drums and guitar, and has a very firm grounding in music. It's just that chops get attention. Watching him play, especially when he solos in a jazz context, you get a real feel for his sense of melody and phrasing.

I always thought that watching him on his DVD, he comes across as a really pleasant, funny guy!

[Basstard79]

OK, I can easily assume you know way more than me (no irony here!). I'll limit myself to saying I didn't like what I've had the opportunity to hear. And his tone.

[JAUQO III-X]

Originally Posted by Basstard79

OK, I can easily assume you know way more than me (no irony here!). I'll limit myself to saying I didn't like what I've had the opportunity to hear. And his tone.

Most people don't and that's one of reasons they go no further than that.

[keb]

Yeah, just ignore his helicopter impersonations... I haven't heard everything the man has to offer, but I have heard him play some really fluid, melodic stuff which actually inspired me more than the hyper-slapping (really!)

[KJung]

Bill's solo playing always made my head hurt... kind of like Victor but without the soul or something.

However, he surely has some chops, and I always wanted to hear him in a more 'musical' context (I greatly prefer Victor's playing with the Flecktones also, where all those chops and skill are forced into a very musical context with good writing, etc.).

Does anyone know if Bill recorded with Ramsey back in the day? I'd like to hear that, since Ramsey is about the most tasteful player in the business. I bet that is smoking.

[JAUQO III-X]

Originally Posted by KJung

Does anyone know if Bill recorded with Ramsey back in the day? I'd like to hear that

Yes he did but the name of the recordings escapes me.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

Yes he did but the name of the recordings escapes me.

I tried to dig through Ramsey's catalog on Amazon to find a disc that Bill is on, but there's not enough info on the site to determine who played bass. I can just hear him in that context though. I bet it was really something.

[JAUQO III-X]

Hey Ken, me and Bill are suppose to talk today and I'll ask him.

[Laklandlover]

Urban Renewal (1989) - Ramsey Lewis
Chance Encounter (1982) - Ramsey Lewis
This Is Jazz, Vol. 27 (1997) - Ramsey Lewis

[KJung]

Originally Posted by Laklandlover

Urban Renewal (1989) - Ramsey Lewis
Chance Encounter (1982) - Ramsey Lewis
This Is Jazz, Vol. 27 (1997) - Ramsey Lewis

Thanks!!! Any one you would recommend over the others regarding Bill's playing?

[fullrangebass]

One of my all time favorite recording is Neil Zaza's live CD w/ Bill Dickens and Bob Rock. One h*ll of a groove and tasteful playing with a chockful of chops. And all that as part of a band with great musicians playing music (not showing off in a tasteless manner)

[JAUQO III-X]

Les Fleur
Classic Encounter with the London Symphony orchestra(recorded at Abbey Road).
Urban Renewal (He co produced some tracks and played all instruments on those tracks).


And here's some clips of Bill with Ramsey Lewis.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzGUhzqwRDc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IC21kbkU518