A guy that realy CAN give Wooten a run.

[Exophysical]

I dont know why Alain Caron doesnt get as much credit in the US as he does in the rest of the world but this guy is top 5 for sure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkOYGlI-zoo

I've heard people criticise his slap technique as overly technical and mechanical, which does have a bit of truth to it. I see comparing him to Wooton like comparing the heart felt groove of John Bonham to the technical wizardry of Neil Pert. But listening to him cut loose on the fretless is the very definition of soul IMO.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITQd2NtbOKA

I prefered his older work with UZEB to his new band but regardless I truely do concider him the best.

[Op_of_Faith]

The guy's a bad ass! I remember him from Uzeb, whom I discovered as a kid...yeah, he's nasty!

J

[bstringkyle]

He is awesome, and his Tecnique is picture perfect

[Poor Tom]

wowza! I never heard of him before, but I really dug those videos. Can't believe the amazing horn like tone he gets out of that fretless. The overall sound of the band is so funky too. Gonna have to get some of this for my ipod.

[bstringkyle]

I just bought 3 of his songs from Itunes.

[octaverazor]

not my cup of tea.

[the JT]

I love Caron! I tried his slap technique, which mostly involves down/thumbstrokes and 1st finger pops, constantly alternating. Thats how he plays his fluid, almost bebop lines with slap technique. Needless to say, I couldn't get anywhere near his accuracy and control, even after a few weeks practice.

[bass12]

Funny, last time I saw Caron it sounded as if he really hadn't been practicing. His slapping was a bit sloppy and he was getting tripped up rhythmically! Anyway, the man can definitely play, but I'd rather listen to Vic any day.

[Gawd]

Yes, Alain Caron is great, and his double thumb technique is a lot cleaner than Wootens.
I was at a clinic with him and Horacio Hernandez a couple months back, it was amazing. Personally I dig the stuff they did together more than Alain's solo stuff. Either way he's a great bassist.

[Exophysical]

Like i said, I prefer his Uzeb stuff. In UZEB he was contributing to a very talented band now he's just got a very talented band contributing to him. Much the way Primus functions as mostly a backdrop for Les claypool but even more so IMO.

[DWBass]

Originally Posted by Gawd

Yes, Alain Caron is great, and his double thumb technique is a lot cleaner than Wootens.

In his defense, he must have really woodshedded on creating his technique but if given the challenge, I'm pretty sure Wooten could cop the sound and style using his own technique with no problem. Wooten also eq's his sound a bit differently. Caron seems very rehearsed in my opinion (not a bad thing, Jaco did this as well). Wooten does things on the fly and way more spontaneously! This doesn't mean anyone is better. They just have different styles of expressing themselves.

[DWBass]

This guy has his technique down pretty good. I don't see Wooten having a problem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5eq_31e5-s

And another..........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSo06Y78xvc

[soong]

Wow. Howe does he get such amazing sustain in the fretles vid?

[MikeBass]

Originally Posted by Exophysical

I dont know why Alain Caron doesnt get as much credit in the US as he does in the rest of the world but this guy is top 5 for sure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkOYGlI-zoo

I've heard people criticise his slap technique as overly technical and mechanical, which does have a bit of truth to it. I see comparing him to Wooton like comparing the heart felt groove of John Bonham to the technical wizardry of Neil Pert. But listening to him cut loose on the fretless is the very definition of soul IMO.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITQd2NtbOKA

I prefered his older work with UZEB to his new band but regardless I truely do concider him the best.

I'e been saying this about Caron for a long time.

As for him sounding "rehearsed", I've heard that he is pretty much a perfectionist about things (as most are I would guess to an extent), but I guess with him, more than others.

But talk about ultra clean "double thump" technique!

Uzeb did one of the best renditions of "Good Bye Pork Pie Hat" I think I ever heard. (Alain on upright).

The scary thing about him is he's equally adept at fretted & fretless (6 string no less) AND upright.
I wish there were some youtube clips of him laying it out on upright.

There was a story that he told about learning TeenTown. He sad when he had it down on fretless, he learned it "slapped" on fretted. Then went on to lean it on upright- at tempo!

Yeah, he doesn't get NEAR enough mention around here.....

[Leftybass12]

This guy is really good, but Vic Wooten is still better than him

[stevetx19]

haha...'slam the clown'? Really?
i'm into fusion as much as the next guy, but that was some cheezy *stuff*

[Ben Wilkie]

Pretty awesome... But I dunno, Vic just has more soul in his music. He's an artist first, bass player second.

This guy is a freak, sure, but it just sounds like another jazz-fusion-for-white-people-wank-fest to me. Sorry! It's enjoyable, and fun to listen to, but some people are musical gods for reasons other than their technical ability.

PS: That IS a buttload of sustain he's got on his fretless piece, though.....

[Exophysical]

Originally Posted by stevetx19

haha...'slam the clown'? Really?
i'm into fusion as much as the next guy, but that was some cheezy *stuff*

Rush is pretty cheezy too, Parliment is about as cheezy as it gets, I'll still enjoy them both for the talent.

[Chad Michael]

Victor and Alain, two amazing bassists.

I don't mean to take anything away from the amazing things that Victor does, but... Alain's playing has more flavor. To me.

[dmusic148]

He's great, and original. I don't hear anyone else slapping out 16th's in such a driving, propulsive manner. Very cool.