Tom Kennedy

[KJung]

Originally Posted by ElMon

Anyways, I have to go and listen to Willie Week's solo on Donnie Hathaway's Live album. He actually manages to sound like a bass.

Have you checked out Bill Withers Live at Carnagie Hall? Same sort of feel and groove... wonderful

[Ekim]

You want wankery? Check out his playing on the first Planet X CD. He even gets a solo on a CD full of amazing wankery!

I love his stuff with PX and the DWB (pre-Buzz Feiten's departure, thank you). I'll take lively wankering over boring root notes anyday.

[ElMon]

Originally Posted by KJung

Have you checked out Bill Withers Live at Carnagie Hall? Same sort of feel and groove... wonderful

Wow, I'm humbled and will be ordering this album tonight. Does it have that song "Can we pretend"?

This kind of bass playin is what makes me get all goose pimply about, the kind that wraps around the vocal and would leave a void in the song if it wasn't there, not the kind that is trying to prove something by just how virtuosic an instrument it can be despite being meant to serve the foundation of the song. Thats the same as watchin a fat kid throw down while break dancin...."holy cornhole, look at him move" amazed at such a large mass moving fast.

Now, I'm not a hater of solos and in fact I love the solos of Anthony Jackson the best, because he always blends the groove function of the bass with his bizarre counterpoint lines.
I especially love how he encorportates the full range of the contra bass, instead of instantly jumpin up three octaves. I could never get into that about Mr. Kennedy. He's obviously a giant in the facility of playing the bass, but I just happen to not dig his musical ideas, which by the way don't come from having chops.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by ElMon

Wow, I'm humbled and will be ordering this album tonight. Does it have that song "Can we pretend"?

This kind of bass playin is what makes me get all goose pimply about, the kind that wraps around the vocal and would leave a void in the song if it wasn't there, not the kind that is trying to prove something by just how virtuosic an instrument it can be despite being meant to serve the foundation of the song. Thats the same as watchin a fat kid throw down while break dancin...."holy cornhole, look at him move" amazed at such a large mass moving fast.

Now, I'm not a hater of solos and in fact I love the solos of Anthony Jackson the best, because he always blends the groove function of the bass with his bizarre counterpoint lines.
I especially love how he encorportates the full range of the contra bass, instead of instantly jumpin up three octaves. I could never get into that about Mr. Kennedy. He's obviously a giant in the facility of playing the bass, but I just happen to not dig his musical ideas, which by the way don't come from having chops.

Here are the cuts on the CD. This CD, along with the Hathaway CD you sited and the Aretha Franklin live at the Filmore CD are, to me, the three difinitive groove/rhythm section performances of the late 60's/early 70's.... just stunning ensemble playing. I listen often to these three on random play on my MP3 player and the tone, time, groove and feel just get better and better the more you listen to them.

If you do get the Withers CD, you will laugh at the opening cut. Bill counts the tune off, and the band comes in so behind the beat that it feels like it's going to stop for a second... just grooves like a you-know-what. Enjoy! I also laugh every time I hear 'Respect' on the Aretha Live at the Filmore CD... they must have it at around 300 (!) but it still grooves like crazy.

Gosh, I love music!


1. Use Me
2. Friend Of Mine
3. Ain't No Sunshine
4. Grandma's Hands
5. World Keeps Going Around
6. Let Me In Your Life
7. Better Off Dead
8. For My Friend
9. I Can't Write Left-Handed
10. Lean On Me
11. Lonely Town, Lonely Street
12. Hope She'll Be Happier
13. Let Us Love
14. Harlem/Cold Baloney

[ElMon]

Cool beans. Thanks for the info.

[jerry]

PBS ran a show on Aretha last week and they had footage of that awesome King Curtis band at the Fillmore. Jerry Jemmott sitting right in front of a 360. The King Curtis companion LP from the Fillmore shows also has primo old school funk!






Tom Kennedy would approve, I'm sure.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by jerry

PBS ran a show on Aretha last week and they had footage of that awesome King Curtis band at the Fillmore. Jerry Jemmott sitting right in front of a 360. The King Curtis companion LP from the Fillmore shows also has primo old school funk!






Tom Kennedy would approve, I'm sure.

+1.... the King Curtis CD from that concert is also awesome, and +1 on Tommy digging it!