Jamiroquai-Zender

[PinkFloydDan]

Wow. I just got some free cds and I ordered 3 Jamiroquai cds--holy. This Stu Zender kid is amazing. I love this stuff.

How in the heck does a kid get so good? I am completely envious and I SUCK!!

Wow.
Love it.
Return of the Space Cowboy is in right now. I also have Synkronized and A Funk Odessy.

Cannot wait to Ipod them.

[middlebit]

Yeah, he is great - tone, feel, choice of notes - you name it! Of course, you DO realise he only plays on 'Return of The Space Cowboy' out of the albums you mentioned, right?

[Vorago]

Check out Emergency on planet earth and be prepared to be blown away. One of my favourite bassists, and I jam along with the first two albums on daily basis.

[sethlow3]

The zender stuff as far as i know is

1) emergency on planet earth (minus we're too young to die")
2) return of the space cowboy (minus the title track)
3) traveling without moving

I've been a BIG fan of his for a while now. The two trax he wasn't on above can be found here....

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=stefano

This is the video version of "return of the..." and the live zender version of "we're too young..." Zender truly is a monster on all of this material! Most of his lines were either improvised in the studio, or basic parts hummed to him Jay Kay.

[PinkFloydDan]

Originally Posted by middlebit

Yeah, he is great - tone, feel, choice of notes - you name it! Of course, you DO realise he only plays on 'Return of The Space Cowboy' out of the albums you mentioned, right?

yes, I just figured that out. All bassists are great.

[middlebit]

Originally Posted by PinkFloydDan

All bassists are great.

Well, there you go! I have to disagree with that, Dan but I think I know what you mean (as in : the other Jamiroquai bassists are great). I think all the albums have great grooves etc.
But I just like the Zender-era better for the sound of the bass itself- I think it's more raw and earthy. Also, there is a lot more space (no pun intended) in the tunes than some of the later heavily (over-)produced stuff.

[Woodchuck]

Originally Posted by sethlow3

The zender stuff as far as i know is

1) emergency on planet earth (minus we're too young to die")
2) return of the space cowboy (minus the title track)
3) traveling without moving

I've been a BIG fan of his for a while now. The two trax he wasn't on above can be found here....

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=stefano

This is the video version of "return of the..." and the live zender version of "we're too young..." Zender truly is a monster on all of this material! Most of his lines were either improvised in the studio, or basic parts hummed to him Jay Kay.

And also Deeper Underground. He plays his Stage 1 5 through an Ashdown combo. He left the band shortly after recording this, and as you all know, he's my main influence and one of the reasons I'm signed to Warwick.

[superbassman2000]

Originally Posted by Woodchuck

And also Deeper Underground. He plays his Stage 1 5 through an Ashdown combo. He left the band shortly after recording this, and as you all know, he's my main influence and one of the reasons I'm signed to Warwick.

yeah, he is the reason i even looked at warwick basses...but then after looking at the price tag, i had to go back to rondomusic.com

but he does have the perfect tone for that band imo...just awesome!

[Paddy]

Ok kiddies - name dropping time

I met Nick Fyffe at the Bass Centre while he was with Jamiroquai - nice guy, nice player. He popped in before a trip with the band to Tokyo (or somewhere in the Far East!). Hard life or what...

[Funkzfly]

I can tell you now, Nick ain't doing as well as you might think since he's been replaced by the massively talented Paul Turner...Nick's playing was alright...but Paul's playing is Massive.

Nick's currently out of work...last session work he had (I think) was with the UK Dance Outfit The Shapeshifters. He toured with Hard Fi for a while in the U.S because their Bassist was refused entry to the Country as he had previous drugs charges.

Zender is currently working with his Band Leroi, who I believe got signed by EMI recently. Leroi itself is a massive departure from Stuart's stuff with Jamiroquai, but all the same it's not too bad. Check out Leroi's MySpace site at http://www.myspace.com/leroimusic

[Paddy]

He comes across as a nice guy. (Name dropping - pitiful )

Although if I'm being brutally honest his playing could seem a little samey - but I like it. Hope he gets a gig soon.

Later.

[Funkzfly]

I liked Nick's playing, but I think a lot of the staunch Zender fans didn't (understandably I suppose). Hopefully he'll get back on his feet soon and get some work.

A little off topic but you're a Sei owner? Man, lovely Basses! Came close to buying one from the Gallery last year...someone I know's recently just had one made for him.

[Paddy]

Not an owner - a waiter

Sei's are absolutely gorgeous

Placed an order about 3 weeks ago check out my build thread - SEI Waiter.

I plan to post almost blog-like so subscribe if you want updates.

Later

[DougP]

Originally Posted by middlebit

Yeah, he is great - tone, feel, choice of notes - you name it!

i couldnt have said it better. Zender is the man!

[BenHack]

Hey SethLow

If Stuart Zender didn't play the title track on Return of th space Cowboy who did? I've always thought that was Stu and it's one of my all time favourite basss lines.

I'll have tog o home and check the liner noes I guess. Cheers

Ben

[Woodchuck]

Even though I'm a huge Zender nut, I liked Nick's playing. I got to hang with him during the Atlanta stop on his first tour with the band, and he's a VERY nice guy. I hope he gets something going soon.

[Funkzfly]

Originally Posted by BenHack

Hey SethLow

If Stuart Zender didn't play the title track on Return of th space Cowboy who did? I've always thought that was Stu and it's one of my all time favourite basss lines.

I'll have tog o home and check the liner noes I guess. Cheers

Ben

The only thing you'll find in the liner notes is a mysterious 'Mr. X' who Stuart admits played one the album version of Space Cowboy. People have speculated as to who it might be...various session Bassists that claim to have played with Jamiroquai over the years.

My money, however, is squarely on Randy Hope Taylor. Sounds like him as well...to be honest I prefer the album version of Space Cowboy, it's a bit more fun.

[Vorago]

It had something to do with Zender not being able to make the sessions (something with his wife) and JK hiring another bassplayer. Maybe Mike Flynn knows a bit more.

[Funkzfly]

Zender's own words :-

"I did not play the album version of Space Cowboy. It’s a kind of sore spot for me because at the time we had finished the album and I had planned a holiday with my then girlfriend. We were coming to the end of our relationship and I wanted to try and get some closure. Jay then told me that we were to go into the studio to record an album version of the single on the date I was supposed to leave. We went to a cafe and had a heart to heart and I was sure he understood why I had to go and see her. My heart was breaking. The holiday was actually planned a month before the new session was booked. Anyway, he informed me that it was cool and that we would work something out. Well needless to say when I arrived back in town he had got another bass player in to play with the band on that version...Mr. X. It was a double whammy for me because I learned on my holiday that my girlfriend had an affair wih someone else.....bogus huh! This was the beginning of the end for me, for I had always looked up to Jay and then, to have him do that really hurt. I do however understand that he had to do what he had to do. It was after all his band."

Like I mentioned, if you check inside the Return of The Space Cowboy cover, you'll find Mr. X in the credits.

[Billy Low]

Wow, where did you get that quote from?