A small rant about Wayman Tisdale

Hambone · #1 07-19-2004, 06:31 PM

OK, this might stir things up a bit - I'm sure some snobs will stick their noses in here somehow but...

I'm coming around to the opinion that Wayman Tisdale does NOT play bass. Oh, he plays a large, long scale, extended range, multi string instrument, but in his band, he's not playing bass. Nope, there's some guy in the back playing bass - nice groove, good tone, just what you'd expect. But out front there's Wayman. Big ol' Wayman. And he's choppin' and lickin' all over the place. Uh-uh, Wayman isn't playing bass...

...he's playing the only guit*r that fits him!

Kavorka · #2 07-19-2004, 08:41 PM

I didn't think he had time to play bass, given how busy he always is talking about how great he is (at basketball and bass).

Christopher · #3 07-20-2004, 01:57 AM

I second your complaint. But hey, piccolo lead bass is a semi-legit genre now, at least if you're listening to... the Quiet Storm(R) (wave crashing sounds).

I accuse Stanley Clarke and Brian Bromberg of similar misdeeds.

JimK · #4 07-20-2004, 05:19 AM

Ron Carter even put out an album(or two) + some live dates with Buster Williams on bass(Carter on piccolo bass).

Me'shell, too(either Fima Ephron or David Dyson on bass).

Hammy-
...OK, you've heard Tisdale. Now move on.

Little G · #5 07-20-2004, 09:22 AM

I'll jump in here guys

Given the context of his music and what he is doing it makes sense to have a bass player holding down the groove while he licks over the top. Doesn't make him any less of a bass player.

Years ago people used to rant that slapping or tapping was not bass playing. Some bass players have made big names for themselves doing it.

Woodchuck · #6 07-20-2004, 11:24 AM

After seeing him live a couple of times, I thought he was posing. Not that good at all. In recent years, he's gotten pointers from Marcus and his playing has gotten much better. I was also unimpressed by his solo on the Stanley Clark special.

Brad Johnson · #7 07-20-2004, 11:33 AM

No comment

Craig Garfinkel · #8 07-20-2004, 11:46 AM

Coincidentally, I was listening to his new record "Hang Time" yesterday at Borders. Piccolo bass solos were nicely melodic, somewhat formulaic but pleasing. I thought a lot of the goovin' "real" bass parts were excellent, and I thought "if that's Wayman playing the groove...he's the real deal. If it's somebody else...why?" If he is using another bass player...IMO that is pretty lame. Not to be compared with what Ron Carter did on a few recordings out of a gazillion.

Can anyone confirm he uses another bass player on "HT"? Does he do this on all his albums?

Mo'Phat · #9 07-20-2004, 04:53 PM

He is playing bass..."Lead Bass"

re: lead vis a vis rhythm guitar.

I gawrahntee that you put Wayman on the same stage with another lead player (be it guitar, saxophone, or another bass) you will hear some solid, ass-spankin rhythm comin from 'da Way-T.

Since people are paying money to come see him play, they're paying to see him tear it up, which he does because he's a showman.

Hambone, you just took the Bassist's Movement back about 50 years.

DWBass · #10 07-20-2004, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mo'Phat

He is playing bass..."Lead Bass"

re: lead vis a vis rhythm guitar.

I gawrahntee that you put Wayman on the same stage with another lead player (be it guitar, saxophone, or another bass) you will hear some solid, ass-spankin rhythm comin from 'da Way-T.

You are kidding, right?? I've seen him 'live'. Nah, he can't hang! He's good at what he does but he should not be onstage with true proven vets doing it fo' real! I give him props for being out there doing his thing!

Hambone · #11 07-21-2004, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mo'Phat

Hambone, you just took the Bassist's Movement back about 50 years.

And you've got mo'phat between the ears if you can't see the satire in what I wrote.

Mo'Phat · #12 07-21-2004, 08:36 AM

OHH, you were being satirical...I thought you were serious and didn't really know that he is, in fact, playing the bass. I thought you might have mistaken his instrument for a guitar and wondered why all the fuss about him being considered a bass player. I know he's like 6'-10" and a standard bass looks small on him (proportionally similar to a guitar in the average man's arms), so I was simply trying to enlighten those who may not be in-the-know that he does play bass.

ps. The fat between my ears helps filter my thoughts and words so I'm not entirely sarcastic.

pps. The little crying dude was another misstep in a failed attempt to express irony and sarcasm on the internet. I hate the internet.

ppps. My thoughts on Waymon don't hide the fact that he should just stick to basketball and leave the bass playing to us: the absolutely un-gifted-for-sports 5'-9" dudes with stubby fingers and desk jobs.

Now, do me a favor and buy something from my swap meet.

ebozzz · #13 08-31-2004, 09:52 AM

I Just Saw Wayman Tisdale.....

hands5 · #14 09-01-2004, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hambone

OK, this might stir things up a bit - I'm sure some snobs will stick their noses in here somehow but...

I'm coming around to the opinion that Wayman Tisdale does NOT play bass. Oh, he plays a large, long scale, extended range, multi string instrument, but in his band, he's not playing bass. Nope, there's some guy in the back playing bass - nice groove, good tone, just what you'd expect. But out front there's Wayman. Big ol' Wayman. And he's choppin' and lickin' all over the place. Uh-uh, Wayman isn't playing bass...

...he's playing the only guit*r that fits him!

maybe not on this tour but when I saw him a few years back he was the only bass player in the band.Oh and BTW,Wayman does all of the bass tracks on his CD.