The Live Band Backing the American Idol Contestants

gfab333 · #1 02-21-2005, 11:02 PM

Any of you fellow TBers know the guys in the back up back tht performs for the American Idol contestants? They're pretty decent, especially the bass and drums. The arrangements seem to have improved too. I thought it was pretty cool how last season they had the remaining Funk Brothers do the backing on the Motown night. Ofcourse that was with Bob Babbit in the bass chair.

DigMe · #2 02-22-2005, 07:00 AM

Don't be silly...they don't use live music in karaoke.

brad cook

**cheezewiz** · #3 02-22-2005, 07:12 AM

I noticed the BP was using a Lakland. Ok, Im a dumba$$. On further review, it was a Sadowsky.

BadSharky · #4 02-22-2005, 11:13 AM

Yeah, I thought the BP was pretty good too... My wife came in the living room just as one of the singer was finishing his song:

Wife: "He was pretty good, don't you think?"
Me: "Huh? What? I don't know, I was listening to the bass..."

Well, I suppose this is one for the "You know you're a bass player when..." thread.

BadSharky

SharkB8 · #5 02-22-2005, 02:06 PM

I haven't tried to research anything yet. But the band looked a lot like Ricky Minor's backing band that he had for the "Fame" show. That show was on during American Idol last year, and that band flat out rips. Looks like Ricky was playing his Sadowsky. I remember commenting to my wife on how the American Idol band (with it's dueling keyboards, no bass and cheesy guitar) was smoked by the Fame band, it must have irked Randy Jackson that the copy-cat show band blew the doors of Idol.

I'm 99% sure it was Ricky. Even my wife said the same thing...

gfab333 · #6 02-22-2005, 11:12 PM

Ricky Minor did some great studio work on Queen Latifah's latest CD. Excellent R & B and jazz grooves.

SharkB8 · #7 02-23-2005, 09:36 AM

Confirmed....it was Ricky....Ryan Seacrest said "thanks to Ricky Minor and the band"....

Kelly Coyle · #8 02-23-2005, 09:39 AM

You're watching American Idol?

gfab333 · #9 02-23-2005, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yellow

You're watching American Idol?

Nah, not me.

I was just passing through the living room and the girlfriend was watching it. I noticed that there was a live band backing the singers, so you know, I sort of watched the program for a few minutes, but I wasn't really watching the singers.

weldon · #10 03-12-2005, 10:09 PM

I've been watching American Idol this season with my kids. I'm pretty impressed with the singing talent, but I thought the band was hot. A lot of the tunes from last week featured the bass prominently. Really pretty busy and up front in the mix with the keys and guitar toned down. I thought it was great.

I'd like to see a "behind the scenes" show where they show how they do practices and tell us some about the band.

Ken FenderJazz · #11 04-05-2005, 07:29 PM

Seriously, I was just walking through the room and happened to look up when they were doing a pan of the band. Yow, that bass looks like a sitar! You're sure it's a Sadowsky? The tuners are pointing towards him like a Warwick.

But I'm still pretty new at the hi-end bass thing - a couple of months ago, if it wasn't a J or P bass, I wouldn't have known what it was. TB is giving me major GAS.

Munjibunga · #12 04-05-2005, 07:42 PM

Did you notice how Ricky ends almost every song with a big glissando? I believe that's a $25 fine on the list of bass offences.

**cheezewiz** · #13 04-05-2005, 07:52 PM

With what he's getting paid to do that show, I'd guess it should be a $50 fine.

Chad Michael · #14 04-05-2005, 08:02 PM

I'm just glad to hear that the masses are getting a chance to enjoy some of Ricky's talented playing.

Munjibunga · #15 04-05-2005, 08:03 PM

A little refresher for those not in the know:

Bass Player Offenses

Playing loudly during warm up - $10
Sound-checking amp with funk slapping - $25
Loud cursing after mistake - $10
Playing high and fast after mistake - $20
Practicing 2-handed tapping between tunes - $20
Asking for "E" tuning note - $25
Playing E anyway when horns tune to Bb - $50
Playing written-out walking line - $50
Failure to play written walking line - $75
Writing note names over ledger-line notes - $50
Writing beat numbers under dotted figures - $50
Playing eighth notes - $5 each
Playing sixteenth notes - $10 each
Playing above 1st octave-immediate dismissal
Dragging fast tempo - $75
Dragging ballad tempo - $100
Blacking out during ballad - $200
Ignoring drummer's tempo - $100
Following drummer's tempo - $250
Asking to borrow Real Book for All Of Me - $1000

Electric player offenses

Checking hair between tunes - $15
Experimenting with odd meters - $25
Missing root at end of blistering fill - $25
Playing with a pick - $50
Tuning during ballad - $30
Playing Jaco groove on samba - $75
Playing Jaco samba groove on ballad - $150
Attempting last word on final chord - $50
Achieving last word on final chord - $100
Long gliss down to final note - $200

Equipment violations-electric

Forgetting strap - $10
Changing strings after every set - $15
Using electric tuner - $15
Setting up mic "just in case" - $75
Forgetting to turn amp on - $40
Bringing amp larger than 1 person can carry in 1 trip - $50
Asking horn player for help moving amp - $25
Bringing custom-made bass - $100 per string above 4
Bringing more than 1 bass - $100 per extra bass
Skull decals on bass - $150
Bringing fretless bass - $500

Criminal bad taste

Telling bone player about all the gigs you get - $10
Asking bone player about their day gig - $10
Sitting behind drums on break - $10
Quoting "Birdland" - $25
Practicing scales during break - $25
Practicing scales during drum solo - $50
Practicing - $150
Beginning a sentence with "When I was a guitar player" - $50
Casually mentioning to Musical Director of cheap theater that you are "into sequencing" - $100

Basic stupidity

Wearing old Buddy Rich tour shirt - $10
Wearing new Whitesnake tour shirt - $20
Asking when the rock set starts - $20
Continually asking "where are we?" - $25
Continually shouting "Yeah!" - $25
Asking bone player where "1" is - $50
Taking cellphone call during 4's - $100

Munjibunga · #16 04-05-2005, 08:04 PM

I was mistaken. It's $200 for a gliss.

Slater · #17 04-05-2005, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gfab333

Nah, not me.

I was just passing through the living room and the girlfriend was watching it. I noticed that there was a live band backing the singers, so you know, I sort of watched the program for a few minutes, but I wasn't really watching the singers.

Oh, yeah, right...

...That's right up there with, "I just read the articles".

weldon · #18 04-05-2005, 10:11 PM

I just watched the show tonight with my kids. The arrangement of "Funny Valentine" was great. Some of the things they do with songs kinda bug me, but I thought this was a really nice update of the song. Not too showy or pretentious like they do sometimes.

Munjibunga · #19 04-05-2005, 10:41 PM

What was he playing tonight? It looked like a Smith.