Robert Hurst

musicman5string · #1 02-28-2006, 08:39 PM

Anyone a fan of him? His first solo album "Robert Hurst Presents Robert Hurst" is really solid, even if he stole that title from Mingus.
His 2nd CD is a trio with Elvin Jones and Kenny Kirkland, which is pretty good, except alot of his original tunes sound like Monk tunes.
Don't know what he's up to lately.

Chip Boaz · #2 02-28-2006, 09:54 PM

Yea, he's a great player. I remember seeing him live in a trio format with Jeff Watts on drums and Branford Marsalis on Tenor/Soprano Sax. That was a pretty incredible show. He did an amazing job holding down the harmony and doing some really interesting rhythmic things. I have that first album too, which I really liked. Thanks for reminding me of that, I'm going to have to dig it up and take another listen. I haven't heard any of the other albums, I believe he has four or five. If anyone has any feedback, I'd love to hear about it. He also played bass on the Good Luck, Good Night soundtrack, which I thought was really pretty good. Diana Reeves sounds great in that setting. I can't remember the song, but she and Robert do kind of a bass and voice thing at one point that's great. That music really made the movie. Anyway, if you want to see what he's doing now, check out his website:

http://www.roberthurst.com

TomSauter · #3 02-28-2006, 11:29 PM

I'm a huge Bob Hurst fan! I don't think there's anything about his playing that I don't like. I had a great lesson with him a few years ago--he walked a blues at a couple of different tempos for a bunch of choruses, and he talked for a while about all that rhythmic stuff that him and Tain do. Even though he was just playing for me and another guy, he really went all out--after he walked a few choruses he was sweating and breathing hard. He was super cool and really humble, and he didn't even charge me for the lesson!

Marcus Johnson · #4 03-01-2006, 04:05 AM

Yeah, he's great. Check out that figure on the opening track from that CD, before the head...yikes! Plus, he plays a solo version of Monk's "Evidence" as well. Fearless...

That's gotta be one of the all time great bass albums.

bassdogEmer · #5 03-01-2006, 09:16 AM

Hey Tom- yea - I totally agree with you- really sweet fellow Bob Hurst is. When I was in Los Angeles a few years back - he gave me a few lessons and had me up to his house - didnt charge me either and just seemed happy to teach a fellow bassist. I especially enjoy is playing on the live Branford Album -Bloomington.

massimo · #6 06-11-2009, 01:16 PM

I see Mr. Hurst 'll direct a workshop at the Ray Brown Jazz course Golden Gate Bass Camp in Oakland, California July 9.

Unfortunately i can't go (i live in Europe) so i'm wondering if someone is planning to go .
I would be very interested if you can report something about the clinic ( stuff he teaches, maybe some recordings or videos).

Thank you in advance
Massimo

Tampabass · #7 06-11-2009, 01:21 PM

yes, great player - have heard him play with Branford

anonymous02282011 · #8 06-11-2009, 01:27 PM

Yes. Killin. I second 'Bloomington' under Branfords name.
Its a trio with Branford, Tain and Hurst. Killin.

Alan Vorse · #9 06-11-2009, 02:49 PM

It was a beautiful thing to hear him every night on the Tonight Show for the first couple of seasons (of Jay Leno's run) with Branford as the band leader. That's where I became aware of him. I bought that first solo disc around that time.

Two things I remember about his time on the Tonight Show:
Steve Vai came on and had arranged one of his songs from "Sex and Religion" so that all the members of the Tonight Show Band joined his band onstage. T.M. Stevens was playing distorted electric while Hurst played arco (this was a LOUD rock song with guitars, 2 drumsets, I have no idea how he was heard).

The second one was when "Alternative Rock Darling" Liz Phair came on. Hurst (on electric) along with Tain, Kenny Kirkland and Kevin Eubanks backed her up on one of her 4 chord songs with Phair singing out of tune through the whole song. Hurst just kept looking at his feet through the whole song, probably thinking of how much money he was making.

hdiddy · #10 06-11-2009, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by massimo

I see Mr. Hurst 'll direct a workshop at the Ray Brown Jazz course Golden Gate Bass Camp in Oakland, California July 9.

Unfortunately i can't go (i live in Europe) so i'm wondering if someone is planning to go .
I would be very interested if you can report something about the clinic ( stuff he teaches, maybe some recordings or videos).

Thank you in advance
Massimo

I probably will go and report back. Having John Clayton there last year was pretty friggin awesome.

massimo · #11 06-12-2009, 05:31 PM

thanks hdiddy, this is what i was looking for. If you 'll take a recording of Hurst's clinic i"ll be very grateful to you if you make me a copy. Hope to hear from you soon

bejoyous · #12 06-19-2009, 01:55 PM

So I was, ahem... on tour, ahem... with Diana Krall backed up by Robert Hurst on bass, Jeff Hamilton on drums and Steve ?? on guitar.

OK, OK, she hired the Hamilton Philharmonic to back her up on her tour of southern Ontario. We played mostly whole notes and half notes. The orchestra only played in 8 of the 16 tunes and the basses only played in 5 of those 8. So, most of the concert we could just sit back and enjoy the performances.

Watching Jeff play the brushes with a view from behind the set was a real education in subtlety and rhythmic variation. The guitarist was awesome as well.

Robert Hurst plays most standing. He was totally solid in his time. He uses Evah strings by the way. We was using a Marvin tailpiece for a while and he really liked it but he said the ball end of the string eventually wore through the brass loop. He used a really nice German bow that had an ivory frog and screw.

His playing was completely solid and a super nice guy as well.

Interestingly, most of Diana's solos were the same night to night but the other fellas played differently each night. Robert sometimes used the bow but mostly played the solos pizz.

Eli_Upright12 · #13 06-19-2009, 02:13 PM

Bob is the man, his playing is hard hitting and always on point. I know he's a big fan of PC's and likes to use the bow as a result. I did a lesson with him about two years back and he gave me some great insight into my playing. Like people have said a really great guy and amazing bassist. I'm really excited to spend some time with him at the Golden Gate bass camp in a couple weeks.

Paul Warburton · #14 06-19-2009, 05:12 PM

From the Youtube clips with Diana, looks like he's still playing the Joseph Bohmann bass.....one of my bass' little sisters. Mine has the extra shoulder humps, the 5th low B string, the original varnish and the fancy machines. (Seen above).
Bob and the bass sound great.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=CA&hl=en&v=1yUcux6B5_A

bejoyous · #15 06-20-2009, 05:31 PM

Yes Paul, that's the bass he was using on the gig. He had a big David Gage hard case to carry it around in as well.

The guitarist on the video, Anthony Wilson, was the one on the tour. One tune they played was about 320 bpm and during his solo, he was playing triplets up and down the neck. It was amazing.

ole Jason · #16 06-20-2009, 07:05 PM

Check this one out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJQhS...F89458&index=0

abaguer · #17 06-24-2009, 12:39 AM

Love his playing. Check out Branford Marsalis' Crazy People Music.

oldfretless · #18 06-25-2009, 10:05 AM

I just saw him with DK, and the best thing, IMHO, was that in the middle of a long tour, he was obviously pushing himself to be great, and not just "phoning it in". It shows he not only is a great player, but a great attitude to match.

massimo · #19 07-14-2009, 05:10 PM

Maybe someone could report about the workshop of Bob Hurst at the Ray Brown Jazz course Golden Gate Bass Camp in Oakland, California July 9. Thanks

Eli_Upright12 · #20 07-14-2009, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by massimo

Maybe someone could report about the workshop of Bob Hurst at the Ray Brown Jazz course Golden Gate Bass Camp in Oakland, California July 9. Thanks

Unfortunately Bob was quite ill and wasn't able to make the camp. Barry Green was able to contact John Clayton who was able to fly out for a day. He gave a good talk about jazz and an amazing performance later that night.