Can you fill me in on Willie Weeks?

So Low Bass · #1 06-13-2009, 09:55 AM

I stumbled on the Dallas Crossroads a while back and fell in love with all of it. If you want to see some great bassists: Nathan East, Willie Weeks to name two. I have owned the Clapton live double cd for years, and was always luke warm about East’s choice of notes and his tone. It all seemed a bit more “current” than Clapton. Back to Crossroads, there he was… a GREAT player but….. Then I went onto the Vince Gill set and there was Willie for the first time in my little head. Nice, Nice, Nice!! I think he plays a ’58P with flats????

Onto the Chicago Crossroads and there Willie was; with Clapton. I wish Nathan well but…. Willie just lays back and drives at the same time. I have to add here that Michael Rhodes blew be away with Vince Gill too. Just blown away. (Gill isn’t the three chord hunk-with-a-Stetson jimbo country star, is he?) Last night I stumbled upon the Clapton/Winwood MSG show on PBS and there was Willie. So…

What can you tell me about the man? What does he play, and what rigs has he used over the years? He reminds me of Greg Reeves. Any info on Michael Rhodes would also be appreciated.

Les Izmor · #2 06-13-2009, 10:05 AM

Can't help with gear specifics, but if you haven't heard Willie Weeks on the Donny Hathaway Live album (or cd, or mp3 or whatever it would be called now) you're missing some of the most soulful funky bass playing ever. And that is not an overstatement. He plays a solo about three quarters of the way through "Everything is Everything" that defines what a bass "spotlight" should be in my opinion: supercharged grooving, while showcasing creative playing that might not be appropriate for the traditional supportive role the bass is meant to play.

**Stumbo** · #3 06-13-2009, 10:13 AM

Here are a few links you may want to check out:
Weeks, Willie (Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton, etc.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Weeks
http://www.bassplayer.com/article/wi...s/Jul-05/11378 Interview
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5X6juXuook with Donny Hathway Live

Also, here's a link to a list(with links) of more that 20 groove, funk and R&B bass players that many be of interest to you: Longtime reader, finally joined

You might want to check out the links in my sig. below for more TB bass info links.

JTE · #4 06-13-2009, 05:34 PM

Get the live Donny Hathaway album (the one that has "Everything is Everything (Voices Inside)". Just do it.

He's also on John Scofield's tribute to Ray Charles "That's What I Say", Ronnie Wood's "I've Got My Own Album To Do", and a bunch of Nashville stuff (including Ashlee Judd's big sister's stuff).

jte