Saw SMV in Durham, NC tonight

Sounbwoy · #1 06-08-2009, 10:42 PM

I can't think of anything to describe what I saw tonight. Three of the most notable bassists on the planet on the same stage, playing bass. The SMV tour came to Durham, NC tonight, and my boy hooked me up with tickets to the meet and greet and the show. Very awesome. All three were very cool at the meet and greet. The show? Words fail me...well, no they don't but, there really is not much to say if one loves bass and see three bass heroes on stage. I had seen Vic before but never Marcus or Stanley. The only things I wished could be different would that I won the Fender Jazz Standard that was raffled off and that the FOH mix was better. Derico Watson was on drums and I forget who was on keys. They are ALL tight.
The differences between the basses were in evidence. Marcus on a Fender Jazz, Vic on the Fodera (not the Yin-Yang bass) and Stanley on the Alembic.
At one part of the show, Stanley brought out the cello and put on a clinic. Classical musicians would have a heart attack if they saw how he played that thing....He slapped it, plucked it, stroked it and bowed it and it was ALL good!
Amazing show

Dr_Funkdamental · #2 06-08-2009, 10:49 PM

My boy just came from that same show. Said Vic straight RIPPED it! And I think you mean upright bass instead of cello.

Sounbwoy · #3 06-08-2009, 11:46 PM

Yeah. I can never remember the difference....

kesslari · #4 06-08-2009, 11:48 PM

Those cats are the real thing.

JAUQO III-X · #5 06-08-2009, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sounbwoy

Yeah. I can never remember the difference....

The cello is the big one and the upright is the small one. But
from what you described ,it may have been a bass ukulele.

Joe Gress · #6 06-08-2009, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

,it may have been a bass ukulele.

He pretty much plays it like one. Very cool!

JAUQO III-X · #7 06-08-2009, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeinsprings

He pretty much plays it like one. Very cool!

T-MOST · #8 06-09-2009, 10:41 AM

It was definately one of the best jazz shows I've ever seen!!

J. Crawford · #9 06-09-2009, 10:44 AM

I saw the first SMV show ever in Cleveland, and it still tops my list of best shows. I have seen Rush, Victor Wooten, and John Mayer 3x, and it still tops my list.

Great show, highly recommended.

Buogon · #10 06-09-2009, 01:13 PM

I saw the first tour , and will see them again this Friday at the Nokia Theater in New York. Bass heaven from the legends.

Sounbwoy · #11 06-09-2009, 07:39 PM

As I think about the show (all day), I think I put my finger on one thing that was missing. They didn't really get funky (FUNKY, FONKY). Don't get me wrong, they're ALL funky and they went down the street a ways, but...they didn't really GO there, you know?? Might be just me...anyway, I'm STILL thinking about the show, even now.

Sounbwoy · #12 06-09-2009, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

The cello is the big one and the upright is the small one. But
from what you described ,it may have been a bass ukulele.

Dunno. Stanley is a pretty tall dude. When he sat down on a bar stool to play it, the top was probably right at his head. That doesn't give much info, I know.
Seeing Marcus play his bass clarinet was an eye-opener for me as well.

Dr.Thumpinstein · #13 06-10-2009, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sounbwoy

As I think about the show (all day), I think I put my finger on one thing that was missing. They didn't really get funky (FUNKY, FONKY). Don't get me wrong, they're ALL funky and they went down the street a ways, but...they didn't really GO there, you know?? Might be just me...anyway, I'm STILL thinking about the show, even now.

I was there also...

During "Grits" Vic laid it down!
He just did it in a 'back-burner' complimentary way. If you remember during the song when Vic kinda went stage left, he quieted down, but was over there putting his toe-jam-belly-lent on that line. The song had a second-line type feel to it, so I knew somebody was gonna let it fly...but I guess among the humble group nobody wanted to outshine the other.

Also,
Someone give Vic a hug the next time you see him because he's got major anger management issues.
Rolling around with 16 10s!....what in the world?!

Oh and the Don too...Stanley had 2 15s and 8 10s!
Marcus was the only tame one with 8 10s, but he had both 4x10 cabs side by side. Does anyone know why he did that? It peaked my interest to see why he chose that setup.

Chebass88 · #14 06-11-2009, 09:18 AM

I just saw them in Philly last night. I also saw them last year in August, also at the Keswick in Glenside. Great show.

Everytime Stanley Clarke does that solo on upright (the 4th time I've seen this so far), it still floors me.

It made me get out my bass & play when I got home!

ian

D.A.R.K. · #15 06-11-2009, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sounbwoy

I The only things I wished could be different would that I won the Fender Jazz Standard that was raffled off and that the FOH mix was better.

you know, this seems to have been an issue with many reports on this tour...
the foh mix in va. where i caught the tour was terrible at best.
really sad they can't get a decent engineer for this... it is inexcusable.
luckily i was 8th row, and caught a lot of sound right off the stage...
when they first came out, stanley hit a chord and looked out at foh like:
***? and proceeded to crank his rig into clipping for the rest of the show.
it was very uneven, vic finally appeared in the pa a few tunes later.
mix was ok by the end of the show...albeit a bit late in the game.
i wonder if they are travelling with someone, of if they are just using in house engineers?
killer show regardless, not to be missed....
sorry you didn't win the jazz...

Jim Campbell · #16 06-11-2009, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

The cello is the big one and the upright is the small one. But
from what you described ,it may have been a bass ukulele.

the average double bass,or upright,should be a good six feet without the pin extended,and a cello is usually bowed while sitting with it lying against the leg.............unless were talking about something else......

JAUQO III-X · #17 06-11-2009, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Campbell

the average double bass,or upright,should be a good six feet without the pin extended,and a cello is usually bowed while sitting with it lying against the leg.............unless were talking about something else......

Jim I was being sarcastic.

ronin614 · #18 06-11-2009, 10:16 AM

Seeing them tomorrow night @ Nokia Theater in NYC. Was totally floored when I saw BX3 and expect to be even more stunned by this one! Have to give credit where it's due...I wasn't going to get tickets until my WIFE talked me into going. Now that's a good woman!!!

Sounbwoy · #19 06-11-2009, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr.Thumpinstein

I was there also...

During "Grits" Vic laid it down!
He just did it in a 'back-burner' complimentary way. If you remember during the song when Vic kinda went stage left, he quieted down, but was over there putting his toe-jam-belly-lent on that line. The song had a second-line type feel to it, so I knew somebody was gonna let it fly...but I guess among the humble group nobody wanted to outshine the other.

Also,
Someone give Vic a hug the next time you see him because he's got major anger management issues.
Rolling around with 16 10s!....what in the world?!

Oh and the Don too...Stanley had 2 15s and 8 10s!
Marcus was the only tame one with 8 10s, but he had both 4x10 cabs side by side. Does anyone know why he did that? It peaked my interest to see why he chose that setup.

Yeah. They did Grits. I just was hungry for more FUNK!! I got greedy.
As far as Stanley, don't forget the two amps that look like Ampeg Blues on the TOP of the stacks.
I'm still trying to figure out what cabs he and Marcus were using. Looked like Marcus had SWR stuff, and Stanley had both Hartkes and SWR?? Not sure. For sure tho, you couldn't miss what Vic was using!!