Leland Sklar Interview

Phil Smith · #1 09-01-2009, 12:04 AM

This is a great interview with Leland Sklar:

http://www.james-taylor.com/board/ik...4;t=6069;&#top

jerry · #2 09-01-2009, 07:28 AM

I would really dig it if that Section DVD he talked about would come out.

electracoyote · #3 09-01-2009, 08:24 AM

This kills me:

"BONZAI: What do you consider your biggest mistake?

LELAND: The biggest mistake of my musical career is that I didn't have a camera with me at every session. Just for personal documentation for myself of all the people I've worked with."

MixBass · #4 09-01-2009, 02:39 PM

Cool and thanks. I remember an interview with him where he said he loved the fundamental role of bass in all styles of music and that's where he put his focus. It made me rethink my instrument and it's role and embrace it even more.

jaywa · #5 09-01-2009, 02:48 PM

Great interview. I love Leland's playing and I love his ways of thinking even more. I am 100% on board with what he says on every point. He is a total pro.

The other thing about him is, no matter what the record or the artist or the producer, his tone is always just great. Like that James Taylor record with "Your Smiling Face"... that came out at a time when there was just a lot of godawful "thuddy" bass production happening and then here's this song with high-end and zing on the bass and you can actually hear the notes and it's just like, "YES! YES!". Nathan East is that way, too. His parts are always great and you can always hear them.

Lisa Loeb's "I Do" is another must-listen track of Mr. Sklar's.

pasta4lnch · #6 09-02-2009, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by electracoyote

This kills me:

"BONZAI: What do you consider your biggest mistake?

LELAND: The biggest mistake of my musical career is that I didn't have a camera with me at every session. Just for personal documentation for myself of all the people I've worked with."

He really seems to be a "fan" in a lot of respects. his frankensein bass has all those signatures on it. I also remember reading a very flattering comment he left on Vanesa Carlton's myspace page about thanking her for including him in the experience . . .

Ezbass · #7 09-02-2009, 07:37 AM

A true gent of the music scene, great chops but he doesn't seem affected by his immense talent, Tony Levin is another. Lee mentions an accident to his hand resulting in his playing style, does anyone know what happened, or did I miss something in the interview?

There was once a thread about which bass player you would vote for as President................

groovenut57 · #8 09-02-2009, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MixBass

I remember an interview with him where he said he loved the fundamental role of bass in all styles of music and that's where he put his focus. It made me rethink my instrument and it's role and embrace it even more.

+1 I share the same view regarding "the fundamental role of bass" - the reason why Lee has always been such a great inspiration to me.

He's a prime example of how you can make significant contributions as a bass player in any style of music without being a slap 'n popping, double-thumbing, pyrotechnical wizard with flashy, attention-grabbing, show-stopping chops.

groovenut57 · #9 09-02-2009, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ezbass