jam band bassists/songs to know...

Hizzoner · #1 09-18-2009, 10:11 PM

I want to complile a list of bass players/artists and most important tunes to learn for becoming aquainted with the genre/style.....I became totally enamored after seeing andy hess playing with mule on you tube..LOVE that vintage tone....

say for example, you had to make a list of important cover tunes to know, etc.. for an audition.... what would be a proper primer/setlist?

start with:
whipping post

I am totally inexperienced but intrigued by the genre and know just a bit about the dead, allman bros, govt mule, phish, etc,...but am novice to this genre...what tunes/styles should I learn? This is kind of a request for must know tunes to add to the repetoire so I can really comprehend the bluesy rock/jam style...

Thanks friends
Mark

Hizzoner · #2 09-19-2009, 09:15 AM

sat bump

ZENBASSGUY · #3 09-19-2009, 01:50 PM

Franklins tower-the dead
Cortez the killer-neil young ( gov't mule version)
in memory of elizabeth reed --allman bros.
all along the watch tower- hendrix version or DMB version these should get you about an hours worth of jammin along with whippin post

standupright · #4 09-19-2009, 02:06 PM

check out a bunch of stuff by widespread panic.

MusicBokonon · #5 09-19-2009, 02:13 PM

Split Open and Melt-Phish
Anything from the Dead.

jerry · #6 09-19-2009, 04:17 PM

'Live At The Fillmore East' by the Allman Brothers, but besides specific songs it seems it would be beneficial to learn chord structures and how to improvise and "jam" around on them.
Jam with buddies as much as possible.

PSPookie · #7 09-19-2009, 04:20 PM

Scarlet Begonias -> Fire on the Mountain
Thorazine Shuffle
2001
Dark Star

Just some ideas

nortonrider · #8 09-19-2009, 04:23 PM

Thorazine Shuffle - Gov't Mule
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4s4hW-oGZ0

It's a good endurance workout on a bass.

LightGroove · #9 09-19-2009, 07:16 PM

I say go to jambase.com and check out the bands..... then you tube em,., way too many to mention and a vast assortment of styles taboot ...

J. Crawford · #10 09-19-2009, 07:26 PM

Anything with Pino.

Joe Gress · #11 09-19-2009, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LightGroove

I say go to jambase.com and check out the bands..... then you tube em,., way too many to mention and a vast assortment of styles taboot ...

+1

Jam Bands are so diverse and each band really has their own style. Naming songs would be very difficult.

I suppose check out the greats as a starter:
moe.
Phish
Grateful Dead
The Allman Brothers band
Umphrey's McGee
Widespread Panic
Gov't Mule
Dave Mathews Band

mellowgerman · #12 09-19-2009, 07:45 PM

one band that's commonly overlooked as a jam band of the 60s is Jefferson Airplane. if you want to hear some mind-blowing bass improv check out this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrTS7b028A8
jack casady = god

adube810 · #13 09-19-2009, 08:11 PM

the disco biscuits... their songs are pretty simple and get some pretty awesome exploratory electronica style jams
spacebirdmatingcall, iman, magellan, basis for a day are some great songs to jam to

standupright · #14 09-20-2009, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adube810

the disco biscuits... their songs are pretty simple and get some pretty awesome exploratory electronica style jams
spacebirdmatingcall, iman, magellan, basis for a day are some great songs to jam to

holy crap. the disco biscuits. i didn't think anyone else had ever heard of that group. i picked up their cd at a random surf shop in north carolina about 12 years ago. crazy.

Bochafish · #15 09-20-2009, 10:39 AM

IMO, there are not really any 'standards' for the genre. Most jams I've gone to will start with an improv in a random key, usually minor. Be prepared for this situation because it almost always starts with someone saying, "Hey bass player, lay us down a groove in this key." Have a few original grooves down before hand.
Every jam band has a song with a 1-2 or 2-1 progression, like B to A. (Fire on the mountain by the Dead, etc.) Know blues changes, and a 1-5 progression and you are good.

Some guys are really into the Dead, and will play alot of their tunes. I used to play in a Phish cover band, so I happen to know a lot of their tunes. Just depends on what crowd you happen upon that night. Edit: I went to one jam where 4 different girl singers all wanted to sing "Bobby McGee," so maybe learn that if you don't already know it.

Besides The Dead and Phish:
-Widespread Panic- southern rock jam, simple changes, good drinking music

-Umphrey's Mcgee- More prog influenced, very technical stuff at parts, lots of changes

-Medeski, Martin, and Wood- Are really jazz, but are on the jam scene a lot. The stuff with John Scofield is out of this world. I would throw bela fleck and the flecktones in this category too.

- Sound Tribe Sector Nine- Electronica influenced jam, lots of programming, instrumental. Lotus, Sub-id, Pnuma Trio are like this too.

- Antibalas, Fela or Femi Kuti, Chicago Afrobeat Project- There are a few afrobeat influenced jam bands out there.

Number27 · #16 09-21-2009, 03:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mellowgerman

one band that's commonly overlooked as a jam band of the 60s is Jefferson Airplane. if you want to hear some mind-blowing bass improv check out this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrTS7b028A8
jack casady = god

mmm.. that's one of my favorite all time bass solos, along with berry oakley's on mountain jam.

ljazz · #17 09-21-2009, 03:28 AM

One of my favorites.....

The Derek Trucks Band..... Todd Smallie on bass.

Great band, and Todd is killer.

Passinwind · #18 09-21-2009, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hizzoner

I am totally inexperienced but intrigued by the genre and know just a bit about the dead, allman bros, govt mule, phish, etc,...but am novice to this genre...what tunes/styles should I learn? This is kind of a request for must know tunes to add to the repetoire so I can really comprehend the bluesy rock/jam style...

If you want to really "get" it, go see the bands playing it live. Recordings really never give you the whole story IME.

The Grateful Dead could take pretty much any tune and make it sound like the Dead. IMHO it's way more about the approach and interaction than about specific tunes.

bassman1987 · #19 09-21-2009, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ljazz

One of my favorites.....

The Derek Trucks Band..... Todd Smallie on bass.

Great band, and Todd is killer.

^^ This! Their most recent album is some of the best music I've heard in a while. It's more rootsy than some of their previous stuff, which is also amazing!

IdealWay · #20 09-21-2009, 04:23 PM

Go see live music, first of all! Then watch the way the players interact and try to dissect what is happening musically.

One of my all-time favorites is the Steve Kimock Band (and his earlier projects: Zero & KVHW). Do yourself a favor and listen to as much of his music as possible. He's collaborated with many amazing bassists like Bobby Vega, Alphonso Johnson, Reed Mathis, Oteil Burbidge, and George Porter Jr.

Also, check out the Mickey Hart Band w/ George Porter Jr. on bass, fantastic stuff! You can watch free full-length shows at www.iclips.net.

Enjoy the trip!

(EDIT) Almost forgot! There's a band called Garaj Mahal, featuring Kai Eckhardt on the bass; they could keep you busy for a looong time. Enjoy!