Charlie Hunter = Mind Blown

lm183902 · #1 07-19-2008, 12:17 AM

I've seen Charlie a few times now, and he never ceases to amaze me. The man is a far better bass player than me even while playing guitar simultaneously. I saw him last weekend in Denver and was fortunate enough to get right up front. I don't think my eyes drifted away from him the entire show. (except during a surprise Scott Amendola sit-in)

Any more fans out there?

acleex38 · #2 07-19-2008, 12:27 AM

Oh yeah - no question. I've been a fan since '94 and love the direction he's gone on his last two albums. Copperopolis is one of my favorite albums of the last 3 years.

lm183902 · #3 07-19-2008, 12:35 AM

Yeah, Copperopolis and Mistico were both in heavy rotation for a while for me, and according to Charlie, there's another album on the way soon.

I almost forgot to mention this. The trio played what had to be the smoothest arrangement of Duran Duran's "Hungry Like The Wolf" I've ever heard. I love that he's not afraid to explore such broad range of tunes and styles.

naetog · #4 07-19-2008, 01:12 AM

I saw him once, 7 years ago and it blew my mind. supremely humbling to watch. great music too.

JohnDavisNYC · #5 07-19-2008, 07:39 AM

he was in my studio a few times this year as a sideman, and he is a really awesome, funny dude, and an amazing musician. on one record he was just playing bass (and rocked my '74 Ripper most of the time, or his EB-0, i think it was...) and it was great to hear him just play bass! that record is by vibraphonist Tim Collins, and the record is called 'Fade'... it's a cool record, my partner engineered that one. The mastering is a bit weird, though. The mastering engineer made it sounds too 'rock' and got rid of way too much nice dubby low end. He was also in with clarinetist Ben Goldberg tracking basics for Ben's record. Charlie was playing his 7 string guitar/bass (he dropped the 8th string recently, and tunes up a half step...) and it was a nice quartet with trumpet, clarinet, Charlie, and Scott Amendola. That record is being mixed somewhere in the Bay Area, and will be a really cool record when it is done.

Watching him do all that bass/guitar stuff for real was mind blowing in such close quarters... he is a really great musician, and a really great person.

John

lm183902 · #6 07-20-2008, 12:07 AM

Thanks John, I love me some inside info. I can't wait to hear some new Charlie Hunter recordings.

I must also add, you're no slouch yourself John. Some of the synth tones you achieve are nothing short of amazing, not to mention the incredible playing.

Also, I've seen you mention your studio a few times now, what is the name of said studio, if you don't mind me asking?

JohnDavisNYC · #7 07-20-2008, 02:18 PM

Hey man, thanks for the kind words! Engineering is my day job... I spend more time behind the console than a bass! I co-own this place: www.thebunkerstudio.com

Cheers, john

lm183902 · #8 07-20-2008, 10:35 PM

Wow! very cool indeed.

I like to see that you're using Logic as your DAW. I'm a recent convert from Pro Tools, and for the most part, couldn't be happier.

I'm hoping to eventually spend more time behind a console as well. I just moved and am trying to find an internship at a studio - but at this point, I feel like trying to break into the industry is a bit hopeless. It seems like everyone is an engineer these days.

Edit: Wow I sound bitter for a 23 year old

JohnDavisNYC · #9 07-21-2008, 06:12 AM

I actually very rarely use Logic... I am a tape/Radar guy... logic is cool, but i don't really think DAWs are very good... the sound quality of tape or a high end digital multitrack totally smokes ANY DAW... but then again, I am a pretty bitter and opinionated 27 year old!

But Logic definitely is the better choice, hands down, though, for a Mac based DAW.

I don't know the studio scene in Denver, but there has got to be a cool small studio where you could help out... if not, save up for some gear, start recording bands anywhere you can, and learn as you go! I have been fortunate enough to have a few engineering mentors (Roli Mossiman, from Jojo's band, Joel Hamilton from Brooklyn, and Allan Tucker, an amazing mastering engineer) and also to have had some good live sound gigs when I was younger (FOH for John Patitucci, Danilo Perez, Michael Brecker, r.i.p.)... meet as many people as possible and do as much recording and/or live sound as possible! My business partner and I cut tracks for a major label EP on a $300 1/2" reel to reel machine and a mackie 1402 with only a memory man for effects. Just record, record, record, and you'll keep getting better.

I really like the TapeOp messageboard for a good online recording hang... nice people, good discussions, no elitism... you could probably find some cool peeps in your new locale on there.

Cheers,
John

lm183902 · #10 07-21-2008, 12:26 PM

Thanks for the great reply John.

I wasn't aware you were so young. I don't know if that should make me feel hopeful or unaccomplished.

Yeah, I'd definitely be going to tape if it were anywhere near the budget. I have a huge problem of juggling between spending any extra funds on either bass or recording gear, and those funds aren't too plentiful to begin with.

Thanks for the TapeOp board suggestion. I've definitely experienced a lot of the elitism you mentioned elsewhere, unfortunately. One of my biggest problems up until now was not having any sort of mentor. I'm from a rather small town, so even finding bands to record was problematic, but I know I shouldn't have too much of a problem now.

Sorry for derailing this thread so far, but you're such a great resource to have around, I had to take advantage. Thanks again, man.

bassist15 · #11 07-21-2008, 02:47 PM

Im not a member on the TapeOp board now. I board a 16 track recorder about a month ago and have immersed myself in it. Recording myself playing some self-penned songs.....now my duo....and then i had a songwriter over recording with my duo. Im gonna start finding some bands to record and I'm thinking of going into audio engineering in college. I cant get enough of it.

lm183902 · #12 07-21-2008, 04:49 PM

Yeah, I just graduated from a recording program, and while I learned quite a bit, I feel like there's no substitute for being in an actual studio and learning in a real-life environment. I feel like I've learned just about as much on my own as I did at school, however going to school will enable you to familiarize yourself with a lot of gear you might not otherwise get to use, so in that sense, it's worth it.