Red/Lees 5ths tuning interview.

[Paul Warburton]

Here's the Gene Lees interview of Red Mitchell on Joel Quarrington's site that so many players have been whining to me about.

http://www.joelquarrington.com/index...d=45&Itemid=27

[Marcus Johnson]

You see the clarity in Red's responses? Here's a guy that knows what he wants to say, and then says it, with his voice or with the bass. Thank God he was a bassist, but if he hadn't been, I think he would have been a great writer. Probably a satirist or humorist.

IMHO.

[Paul Warburton]

Marcus, as you know, he was ALL that. His tune lyrics ranged from cute, outrageously silly, touching and in-yer-face political statements.
His brother Whitey (Gordon), was a famous and prolific TV comedy writer. Google his name and be impressed.
Whitey was mentored by some guy named Lenny Bruce. He went on to write for: Get Smart, All in the Family, Mork and Mindy, The Jefferson's, Mash, Mary Tyler Moore and Dick VanDyke....among others.
Good bass player (for a Mitchell), too.

[Marcus Johnson]

That's cool, PW.... it's fun to keep peeling layers off of that onion that is the Mitchell family. I'd known about Whitey's tenure as a writer, but forgotten it somehow. Boy, a family biography would be great reading. I hope Diane is aware of the continuing interest in Red.

[anonymous12251111]

interesting opinions...

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Having just read Lees' "Cats of any Color", I can see that this interview is a large chunk of where the section on Red cam from. What an interesting guy. Intuitive and intelligent at the same time, the best of both worlds.

[ZonGuy]

Thank you for the link to the Red article. One of the most informative things I have read in a while!!!

[Paul Warburton]

"Simple Isn't Easy". Words and music by Red Mitchell. (Click on middle PICTURE.) Not bad for a couple wacky high schoolers who I adore. Kate plays bass on this track, as well as singing. Kate's voice comes from my right
speaker, Rebecca's from my left.
Red lives. I hear him every time I pick up my bass.
SIMPLE.
"Don't just do something.....stand there.".....as Jim said.

http://www.katedavismusic.com/page4.html

[Marcus Johnson]

Ahem... Nobody asked little old me, but the main thing that might keep me from trying fifths tuning, aside from the fact that I would probably suck at it, is that I would probably just cop every lick possible from one of my heroes, Red, and lose sight of what I've developed over a lifetime of playing in fourths, where I'm connected already... head+heart>hands. Hopefully, it comes out pure. Like Red's music did, in fourths or in fifths. Maybe he should have tried minor 6ths and ****ed us all up even further. I'm sure he would have found a way to make great music.

I'm also sure nobody cares what tuning I play in.

OK... happy Memorial Day, girls. Carry on with the slap fight. I'm going to go tend the BBQ.

PS ... hey, I'm listening to Red and Jim at the moment.... yet again. Umpteen millionth time. Somehow, I'm not aware of the tuning at all. Sounds like really ****ing great music, oddly enough.

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by Marcus Johnson

Ahem... Nobody asked little old me
I'm also sure nobody cares what tuning I play in.

Oh, my dearest. Are we hurt? Are we feeling left out?
You know how deeply we care about you.

I do like what you said about "head+heart>hands." Pretty damn nice fer a cast-away.

[Nathan Parker]

I was pretty sure when he said Bottesini was a wise-ass, he was joking. I never met him, but it seems like old Red had quite a sense of humor.

All that aside, I did enjoy reading it. It's really neat to see that someone who was already playing at such a high level was still searching for ways to better his sound. Pretty inspirational for someone at my level. I guess that's why he was as good as he was.

[Jeremy Allen]

Not our finest moments here on TalkBass.
Anyway, I tuned in fifths once. It did all of the things people say about opening up the bass etc. But it would have taken a year to wrap my head around the new thing, and I immediately realized I would be giving up a bunch of the signature jazz bass sounds that rely on EADG tuning (not such a big deal, but I do like to pay the rent). I actually thought it would be easier to switch to the tuning were one always playing composed music rather than improvising; but the ears would catch up quickly enough I suppose.

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Troll posts and responses removed. Let's talk about Red.

[Paul Warburton]

Peachy.
Moderating at it's finest. Thanks.

I basically did this thread in a response to requests for the Lees interview.
Red Mitchell's playing and life has been a "something to shoot for" for me from the beginning, both as a player and a person.
As I've said SO many times before, on these pages, he ended up being more of a voice than a bass player towards the end. It had almost nothing to do with bass playing. The sound got extremely long.......too long, IMO, to be functional in the jazz rhythm section as we know it. Currently, I'm on a voyage backwards in time to his earlier years. Five steel strings, fourths and no amp. I can better relate to that, because it gives me more of a chance to stay in his ballpark, and keep getting ideas and inspirations.
I find myself thinking about Red even more, of late, because of his strong beliefs in racial equality. I only wish he could be around now to see the real pay-back that people like he worked so hard for. He sacrificed a whole bunch to wake up the human aspect in us.
You done good, Red.

[Ed Fuqua]

Wait a minnit, let me get this straight - you can TUNE these things?

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

Wait a minnit, let me get this straight - you can TUNE these things?

In some cases, you can. This involves a bit of sanity which, of course, leaves you out.

[Nagrom]

Thanks for the read. Gotta try that tuning thing....