Jack Casady?

Skel · #1 11-23-2006, 11:24 AM

Ok, as usual I JUST NOW discovered while listening to a Jefferson Starship CD, that Jack Cassidy is a very impressive bass player. Funny how these great bands are actually very talented musicians - no smoke and mirrors.

Skel

jerry · #2 11-23-2006, 05:31 PM

Casady is one of the grandaddys of great inventive bass playing in rock! If you haven't, check out his work with early Hot Tuna. Jack's one of my all-time favorite rock players.

Skel · #3 11-23-2006, 10:44 PM

Thanks Jerry, I was never really into a lot of music that I'm now discovering to be great. I'll try to check out "Hot Tuna" -I know I could learn some stuff listening to Jack Casady.

Skel

Skel · #4 11-24-2006, 04:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlennW

There might have been some smoke.

Ha ha! That smoke is good for ya, IMHO.

Lazylion · #5 11-27-2006, 10:35 AM

Are you sure it was Casady with Starship? I thought they changed the name from Airplane to Starship after he and Kaukonen left to do Hot Tuna.
Do yourself a favor and get the Airplane's live album "Bless It's Pointed Little Head". If you want to hear Casady rompin' and stompin', that's the place to go! He's even on the cover all by himself!

Skel · #6 11-27-2006, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lazylion

Are you sure it was Casady with Starship? I thought they changed the name from Airplane to Starship after he and Kaukonen left to do Hot Tuna.
Do yourself a favor and get the Airplane's live album "Bless It's Pointed Little Head". If you want to hear Casady rompin' and stompin', that's the place to go! He's even on the cover all by himself!

Actually no. It was whoever (whomever?) was playing on the CD with that song that has the lyrics "Only you believe like I believe"...something like that - lot's of great electric violin on this CD. So, whoever the bass player was - I was impressed.

Miyan · #7 11-27-2006, 02:04 PM

That was Pete Sears playing bass and Papa John Creach on violin. Jack Casady did play on a couple of songs on the first Starship album, (Blows against the Empire). Crown of Creation and Bless it's Pointed little Head are great.

the_home · #8 11-27-2006, 03:27 PM

Follow the above mentioned suggestions and get some early Hot Tuna (any Hot Tuna for that matter - it's all Jorma and Jack - they've been playing together 40+ years). Also listen to Jefferson Airplane rather than the Starship if you're looking for Jack's classic rock.

chadds · #9 11-27-2006, 03:30 PM

I am so glad Jack's name was spelled correctly in the second post otherwise we might be talking about someone related to the male lead singer of the Partridge family. Danny was the bassist.

Skel · #10 11-27-2006, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chadds

I am so glad Jack's name was spelled correctly in the second post otherwise we might be talking about someone related to the male lead singer of the Partridge family. Danny was the bassist.

Yea, I guess a moderator fixed that or something. Thanks and sorry for the misspelling - it was bugging me too.

**MAJOR METAL** · #11 11-27-2006, 07:14 PM

Jack has got some very unique monster chops , I have much respect for him.

DEVILMAN · #12 11-28-2006, 05:26 PM

I've got "After Bathing at Baxters" from '67 on vinyl, & Cassidy rips it up with his hollowbody. Great stuff for now & definetly then...

~S~

Fred Hammon · #13 02-12-2007, 02:14 PM

Here's some vintage Jack with Jorma Kaukonen (Hot Tuna) circa '69.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kT196UksWxc

**Thor** · #14 02-12-2007, 02:40 PM

On 'Blows Against the Empire' Jack does some monster work. The cut, 'A Child is Coming' has some great chops, and unusual feedback passages, all bass produced. There was a LOT of famous musical guests on this recording.

Also, 'Live at the Fillmore' has some, but not all, overlapping songs with 'Bless it Pointed Little Head'. 'She Drives Funny Cars is a great cut. As are the classics, 'White Rabbit', Somebody to Love and one of my personal favorites, 'Today'.

Let's not forget 'Volunteers', great album.

Some of the cheesier releases have a great version of 'High Flying Bird' bootlegged from Monterey Pop, great cut as well.

Jack has an instructional bass DVD out with Homespun Tapes where he is backed by Jorma. The DVD is geared to 'Level 2' for people making the transition from beginner to intermediate
playing. But he does give up a few of his signature tone secrets. He also backS Jorma on Jorma's guitar instructional tapes, those are geared toward intermediate finger pick guitar players and is a 3 tape set. The songs are all Hot Tuna folk and blues classics.

I still am reminded of a number of basic things when I listen to him. Groove - great solid rock groove. Tone - nobodys got better rock tone than Jack. Drive - he can drive a song by himself and the band takes total advantage of that. Finesse - he's got all the right notes. Attack - he has excellent attack
on his notes. He's got the whole package.

A friend of mine took a lot of guitar lessons from Jorma at the camps at the Fur Peace Ranch. She now tours playing folkstyle and helps Jorma teach there. She says that occassionally Jack will do a bass camp. Word is that he is considered very demanding as a teacher, much more so
than Jorma is.

I like a guy who always strives for excellence.

Fred Hammon · #15 02-12-2007, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Word is that he is considered very demanding as a teacher, much more so
than Jorma is.

I've met Jack on several occasions and he is indeed a natural teacher plus a "no-nonsense" kind of guy when it comes to delivering information (Jack-Acidy)...but not without a real wacky sense of humor once you get to know him.

Have you seen this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=papi84CXQ5U

bassist15 · #16 02-12-2007, 07:17 PM

Jack is certainly one of my favorites. Im always trying to learn more about him. It seems there isnt to much information about him. I know he was a frequent jammer with Hendrix and Mitch Mitchell(Hendrix's drummer). Mitchell and Casady were very good friends and everytime the bassist spot was open with Hendrix , Casady was discussed. IF only that would've happened. The track he is on with Hendrix , the bass is very low. I only have Surrealistic Pillow and it doesn feature alot of bass , but its been along while since IVe listened to it.

edmidlifecrisis · #17 02-12-2007, 07:55 PM

Hi all, I had to respond to this thread. I've been a Hot Tuna fan since the early seventies, I've seen them live dozens of times. Jack's always been my favorite bass player and I love Jorma too. I did see the original Jefferson Airplane once, around 1970 or so.

I've been learning to play for just under a year now(like my screen name says).

I'll be taking Jack's class at the ranch next month. Can't wait, and nervous as hell too, I've also heard he's demanding. Scared to death. Wish me luck!!

jerry · #18 02-12-2007, 08:11 PM

If any of you guys do the Netflix thing, rent the Fly Jefferson Airplane DVD, lots of great vintage Jack on there.

Fred Hammon · #19 02-12-2007, 11:22 PM

Quote:

I'll be taking Jack's class at the ranch next month. Can't wait, and nervous as hell too, I've also heard he's demanding. Scared to death. Wish me luck!!

Don't worry. He's not mean or harsh, just serious. I've never taken a class with him but I have had conversations with him where he kind of adopts the "elder statesman" vibe and it's best to listen and not say too much when he's in teaching mode. Otherwise he's a lot of fun with a great sense of humor.
You'll have a great time and I hope you can report back to this thread and let us know how it went!

**Thor** · #20 02-13-2007, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerry

If any of you guys do the Netflix thing, rent the Fly Jefferson Airplane DVD, lots of great vintage Jack on there.

Also, Jefferson Airplane appears on the 'Gimmie Shelter'
DVD, backing up the Stones at Altamonte. There are 2
memorable moments in that segment, one where Jack turns
around and it is obvious he has broken his A string, but
you don't hear him miss a beat. He gets a chance to fix it
when a Hells Angel knocks Marty Balin out while on stage
and Kantner gets ito an argument with the guy over it.
Classic concert footage.