curtis mayfield question

liquid sunshine · #1 10-31-2010, 03:03 PM

i know curtis played many different instruments but i'm not sure what he played on the recordings the bass almost always has a defined style that tells me it was played by the same person throughout almost every album just wondering if anyone knows more about it

corinpills · #2 10-31-2010, 07:28 PM

I don't specifically know the answer, but he did record and produce all his own material (and a few other artists) from about the time he left the Impressions. The only thing that would make me doubt that it's him on bass is the fact that his guitar playing is all in a weird open F minor tuning. Not to say that couldn't translate to bass for someone with such obvious musical skills, but it's not the most natural thing in the world.

markjazzbassist · #3 10-31-2010, 08:38 PM

curtis mostly played guitar (fender thinline telecaster).

his bassist was joseph "lucky" scott. he played on most of his stuff. great player who used a fender jazz bass. he was also his music director (as stated in the "curtis/live" record banter).

lucky scott is one of my favorites, great groove and sense of harmony. i love his playing

lmfreeman9 · #4 10-31-2010, 08:43 PM

Ditto. I saw him live shortly before he was critically injured in that stage mishap. He played guitar with a ton of wha wha and amazingly duplicated the Superfly sound perfectly on stage.

Mark Olson · #5 10-31-2010, 08:43 PM

+1 for Curtis Mayfield bass being awesome! I've had a lot of Curtis' music, and I own Superfly on DVD hahaha. Really, really nice bass work on all his stuff.

faulknersj · #6 10-31-2010, 08:44 PM

Listen to the Curtis Mayfield track 'Beautiful Brother of Mine' for the biggest nastiest funk fuzz tone ever!

liquid sunshine · #7 10-31-2010, 08:55 PM

thanks i have really been digging love me(right in the pocket) as one song that stands out from so many great songs of his

jerry · #8 10-31-2010, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faulknersj

Listen to the Curtis Mayfield track 'Beautiful Brother of Mine' for the biggest nastiest funk fuzz tone ever!

Same for the song 'If There's A Hell Below', massive distorted tone! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2cTc7DofrA

skwee · #9 10-31-2010, 11:22 PM

Everybody clap your hands
Give yourself a chance
Now you've got soul
Everybody knows
that it's all right, whoa
its all right!

Keldur16 · #10 10-31-2010, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Olson

+1 for Curtis Mayfield bass being awesome! I've had a lot of Curtis' music, and I own Superfly on DVD hahaha. Really, really nice bass work on all his stuff.

its supafly. GET IT RIGHT!!!

corinpills · #11 11-01-2010, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markjazzbassist

curtis mostly played guitar (fender thinline telecaster).

his bassist was joseph "lucky" scott. he played on most of his stuff. great player who used a fender jazz bass. he was also his music director (as stated in the "curtis/live" record banter).

That Curtis Live album is astoundingly good and it sounds so great- so real and in your face like you're actually in the club. That version of "We've Only Just Begun" is so amazing until they get to the bridge. I don't know what's going on there, but the rest of it is gaw-juss.

lmfreeman9 · #12 11-02-2010, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerry

Same for the song 'If There's A Hell Below', massive distorted tone! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2cTc7DofrA

+1 On Hell Below, one of the great unknown funk expressions!