Kenny Gradney - underappreciated

etoncrow · #1 06-16-2008, 08:33 AM

My all time favorite band is Little Feat. I have been a fan from the time they broke away from Frank Zappa in 1971 until today. And being a drummer and bassist I feel, IMHO, in the 1973 when they added Gradney and Clayton that they put together the best rhythm section in music. So, when I visit TB and read about all the great bass players why don't I ever see references to Kenny Gradney? Maybe because he is not in the forefront of the band but his playing, as is everyone in the band, is right on every time. As a section, Kenny, Richie Hayward and Sam Clayton are simply amazing. If you have never listened to Little Feat please do yourself a favor and do so.

jerry · #2 06-16-2008, 08:51 AM

I think there are a few threads around here about Kenny. I'm a longtime fan! I started seeing them in the mid 70's, everybody in that band is special. Richie Hayward has long been one of my favorite drummers, great second-line groove! Besides playing great grooves, Gradney just looks so cool doing it.

RHFusillo · #3 06-16-2008, 09:51 AM

I've spent so much time listening to "Waiting for Columbus" and admiring that rhythm section. Kenny Gradney's playing is perfect on that album.

etoncrow · #4 06-16-2008, 11:37 AM

I guess the response rate to this thread just reinforces my original premise....Kenny Gradney is underappreciated

acleex38 · #5 06-16-2008, 11:58 AM

Not by me he isn't. VERY appreciated.

JTE · #6 06-16-2008, 12:30 PM

I would beleive he's highly appreciated by people who know him, but face it- Little Feat just aren't as well known even among musicians as other bands with equally tasty and wonderful bass/drums. Didn't Lowell George wondefully credit Kenny with "Do not take lighlty this bit of musicanship one dismisses simply as "bass"." What a great way to describe the unobtrusive hidden power of being the bassist!

jte

etoncrow · #7 06-16-2008, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTE

Didn't Lowell George wonderfully credit Kenny with "Do not take lightly this bit of musicianship one dismisses simply as "bass"." What a great way to describe the unobtrusive hidden power of being the bassist!

+1 - Without a shadow of a doubt.

timmarks · #8 06-16-2008, 09:31 PM

i'm a big fan of kenny's--love his playing

MLysh · #9 06-17-2008, 05:20 AM

"Do not take lighlty this bit of musicanship one dismisses simply as "bass"." What a great way to describe the unobtrusive hidden power of being the bassist!

I went home last night with the express purpose of finding this quote, as I couldn't remember the exact wording! Coming from Lowell, I can't imagine a greater compliment stated in a sly-er, more succinct way. He was the master of that.

Feat were kind of the house band at the Warner Theater here in D.C. from the mid 70's to Lowell's departure. They would play two shows a night for four or five nights and sell out every one of them. I think I saw them for the first time in '74 and was absolutely blown away. Kenny and Ritchie can, in my opinion, be spoken about in the same breath as George and Zig. Problem is: I guess it's just us old folks that are still listening. Where are the young players who are emulating these guys?

jerry · #10 06-17-2008, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MLysh

"Do not take lighlty this bit of musicanship one dismisses simply as "bass"." What a great way to describe the unobtrusive hidden power of being the bassist!

I went home last night with the express purpose of finding this quote, as I couldn't remember the exact wording! Coming from Lowell, I can't imagine a greater compliment stated in a sly-er, more succinct way. He was the master of that.

It's from the liner notes on 'Feats Don't Fail Me Now' album.
The first time I saw Kenny Gradney was with Delaney & Bonnie, I was a kid and I don't think he was much older.

RED5 · #11 06-17-2008, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by etoncrow

I guess the response rate to this thread just reinforces my original premise....Kenny Gradney is underappreciated

Feat! At one time and possibly still the greatest rock n roll band in the country,definately one of the best rthym sections, right in there with the Funk bros and te Mussel Shoals boys.I think the appreciation is not there because of the ensemble nature of the band. All the world loves a "STAR" but all the team concept gets is lip service. Feat work as a group. I recall the gap when Lowell George left this plane. They stepped up admirably, but it still feels to me that big piece was missing. Gradney's a great player, and Feat is always gonna be huge on my horizon. "Like pullin' into NYC in the sun and the mornin' light" Oh and props to Bill Payne just for being Bill Payne.

JTE · #12 06-17-2008, 09:17 AM

Yeah, the qoute is from "Feats, Don't Fail Me Now", and I'm not positive I've got it correctly. I was only a guitar playing child when I got that album. It took me a while to grow up and not only discover the real instrument, but to understand that qoute.

I think RED5 is right about the whole ensemble thing. There's a ton of great bands that impacted other musicians, but not the general public (and by extension, a lot of musicians aren't affected because THEY'RE only aware of what the public knows). Poco, The Steve Morse Band, The Meters, even Booker T. & The MG's fall into that category. Most people (even bass players below a certain age) only know Duck Dunn from the Blues Brothers.

jte

LowBSix · #13 06-17-2008, 09:18 AM

Kenny should have a PH.D. in groove and is a mighty fine and stylish dresser...

JTE · #14 06-17-2008, 11:23 AM

Plus (trivia time!) he's Rocco's cousin!! Something in that gene pool I'd like to know about!

jte

mike sancho · #15 06-19-2008, 03:09 AM

One of my favorite bands. Kenny and Richie are killer.
tight as it gets!!!!

etoncrow · #16 06-19-2008, 05:42 AM

Just as a note, I have seen Little Feat twice. Once in the 70's in Huntington, WV, before Lowell moved on and then again two years ago. The performance two years ago was at the West Virginia Harley Owners Group (HOG) rally. They played in a field on a portable hydraulic stage and I got to stand like 30 feet from the front of center stage. I guess that's what they sall "Hog Heaven". It was a total blast. The whole night I just kept saying to myself, "I can't believe this...I can't believe this...I can't believe this..."

Mojo-Man · #17 06-19-2008, 06:48 PM

I've been a "Feat' fan since the early 70's.

Kenny Gradney, and Richie Haywood flat out kill.

His bass lines a rock solid, with that "Narlins" feel.

I seen Feat last year, and Kenny was still laying it down.

oldrocker · #18 06-19-2008, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LowBSix

Kenny should have a PH.D. in groove and is a mighty fine and stylish dresser...

Two degrees in be-bop, a PHD in swing
He's the master of rhythm he's a rock and roll king

Polk Salad · #19 10-23-2008, 10:15 AM

I bought "Join the Band" last week and love it.

Kenny's playing on the disc is fantastic - I can't wait to expand into the bands other work.

A+

OxJohnson · #20 11-27-2008, 09:16 PM

I'll resurrect this thread... just because I was about to make one of my own!

Kenny Gradney on Waiting for Columbus is nothing less than AMAZING. It is BY FAR the best groovalistic music that I have heard in a LONG time.

I have been trying to get my band to do Spanish Moon for about 4 months now...

.

I will say that without Lowell, Little Feat just isn't the same. They are still good... but nowhere near what they were. Listen to the difference in Spanish Moon on the Live album from 2002 (St. Louis) and Waiting for Columbus. Night and Day. Same with Dixie Chicken, Time Loves a Hero, Fat Man in a Bathtub... the whole shebang!

Ox.