RIP Joel DiBartolo

okcrum · #1 09-28-2011, 03:47 AM

I heard today that Joel had passed away. He'd been teaching at Northern Arizona University since 1995. I knew things were really bad when I heard he was in hospice care, and saw his MusicMan amp from the Tonight Show in one of the local music stores on consignment. Fortunately, the store manager is a monster bass player himself (and protege of Joel's) and will make sure it gets a good home.

RIP Joel. You touched uncountable lives, and you will be sorely missed.

JimK · #2 09-28-2011, 03:20 PM

Wow...I just recently re-read an article on him in one of my old Guitar Player mags.

A great bassist & musician...he drove that Tonight Show Band.

RIP, man.

JTE · #3 09-28-2011, 03:56 PM

Aw, man... I loved Joel's playing with Doc and Ed, and his SOUND. The TV was on in another room when I NOTICED the beautiful sound of the electric bass on the Carson show one night. I went in and saw the StingRay and the MM amp. It was great.

Didn't he also teach at the Dick Grove School of Music at one time?

John

jerry · #4 09-28-2011, 04:25 PM

That was my favorite incarnation of all the late night show bands, they swung their butts off.
Fly on Joel......................

okcrum · #5 09-28-2011, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTE

Didn't he also teach at the Dick Grove School of Music at one time?

Yes, he did.

SeaBassTheFish · #6 09-28-2011, 10:37 PM

I heard about this through Facebook yesterday. I had the good fortune to take a class from him years ago. I can't say enough good things about him. Everyone knows what an amazing bassist he was, but he may have been an even better teacher than he was bassist, if you can imagine such a thing being possible.

Quote:

Originally Posted by okcrum

RIP Joel. You touched uncountable lives, and you will be sorely missed.

So true.

JTE · #7 09-29-2011, 08:30 AM

A friend of mine went to Dick Grove. He said Joel once taught a whole class on count-offs. They never played a note, just went through being ready for the first note at exactly the right time. Joel just put up the chart, started counting, then stopped and said "Trefan, you're going to be late because....", do it again, and show someone else where they were making a different mistake.

I used GHS Brite-Flats in a medium/light gauge because that's what Joel used on his StingRay (well, Abe Laboriel used the same strings on his fretless Sabre for all those chase scenes on CHIPS I found out later too).

John

Sonicfrog · #8 09-29-2011, 08:37 AM

casperbass · #9 09-29-2011, 09:59 AM

I attended Dick Grove in 88/89. Joel's passion for musical excellence and enjoyment was amazing. It just so happened he played bass, and played beautifully.

EvWy · #10 09-30-2011, 08:29 AM

I had the fortune of getting to know Joel when I was in my teens in the mid-90s. He was the reason I decided to go to Northern Arizona University and study jazz. He had a profound impact on me during a very formative period in my life and I'll always hold fond memories of him. He was talented beyond explanation, passionate about his craft and he had a knack for using everyday occurrences as a prism for larger life lessons. He will be missed.

jonster · #11 09-30-2011, 02:52 PM

I've been hearing these reports all week, but I can't find anything "official" about Joel's death. I, too, got to know him back in the 80s. Good guy!

Greekbass · #12 10-02-2011, 03:27 AM

Is this my classmate, mr. Casper? Steve (Farr) Pandis here. Man, his passing has just gutted me. I've had (and still have) a wonderful career because of him starting me right. We were so blessed to have had a year with this amazing man, amazing teacher, and amazing bassist. His memory will live on in all of us, his beloved students.

JimmyM · #13 10-02-2011, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTE

A friend of mine went to Dick Grove. He said Joel once taught a whole class on count-offs. They never played a note, just went through being ready for the first note at exactly the right time. Joel just put up the chart, started counting, then stopped and said "Trefan...

TREFAN??? Tell me that's a last name and not a first

Was a big fan of his playing and he made that Tonight Show band pop. RIP.

JTE · #14 10-02-2011, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

TREFAN??? Tell me that's a last name and not a first

Was a big fan of his playing and he made that Tonight Show band pop. RIP.

Trefan is his first name. Like me, he's of Welsh descent and that's where his name came from.

JimmyM · #15 10-02-2011, 06:08 PM

OK, well I guess I shouldn't poke fun, then. But holy cow, that's a new one on me!

tijuana_bass · #16 10-04-2011, 12:24 PM

I'm so sad to hear of Joel's passing, and so proud that he graced our community with his presence for such a long time. I can remember so many great young players who lived here for three or four years while they studied under Joel. Here's a link to the Flagstaff paper's obituary.
Jazz leader dies at 65

di Bartolo · #17 10-04-2011, 09:19 PM

For any of you who are interested and in the area, there will be a memorial to Joel at the ASU Kerr Cultural Center on Sunday, October 9, 2011, at 4:00 P.M. There will be music and speakers in celebration of his phenomenal life. All are invited.

Russell di Bartolo, Brother
verdiltd@gmail.com