First Jazz Set On Upright

Scott McC · #1 08-02-2006, 07:45 AM

I started playing upright this May, more or less. After having played a lot of electric, and realizing that no one really wants to play jazz with an electric (for valid reasons), I jumped in. After 3 solid months of day in, day out practice, I can say I am...less out of tune and I can now bare the pain. Well, last week I was offered a straight-ahead jazz gig as a sub. Last night was the gig, and I was nervous. I am sure a lot you guys who switched from electric to upright can relate, it is very frustrating to hear something, know what it is and not be able to do it due to physical limitations. Anyways, I made it through, not perfectly, or remotely close to perfect, but well enough to not be noticed screwing up. I was asked back for next week, and the drummer hooked me up with a thursday restaurant gig, so I think I made the right decision about the upright. Thanks to all you TB folks who have so much valuable info and questions that have garnered valuable info. Double bass is the only bass!!

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #2 08-02-2006, 02:29 PM

I remember my first DB gig well. After years on fretless slab, I knew a lot about what to play, but precious little about how to get those sounds to come out of the doghouse. They best way is to do just what you did - dive in the water and learn to dog paddle. Congats on your survival!

Aaron Saunders · #3 08-02-2006, 03:00 PM

Hey Scott, that's awesome! Are you studying with one of the DB players next year?

Ike Harris · #4 08-02-2006, 03:55 PM

Boy if we could all play what we hear, it would be a perfect world! A lot of it's just in the sound. Looks like you're on the right track. Go for it, man.

Ike

dvmweb · #5 08-02-2006, 04:36 PM

Scott;

Cool beans baby! Keep gettin' the groove on.

Walt MI/USA

Scott McC · #6 08-02-2006, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron Saunders

Hey Scott, that's awesome! Are you studying with one of the DB players next year?

Yeah, I am pretty sure I will. It is going to be nerve wracking to do my ensemble audition on the DB, but it has to be done. I will ask Mike for Kieran or Neil I think. I had a lesson with Kieran this summer and it was amazing, he really gave me a lot of courage to just go for it, not to mention some cool practice excercises. By the way, are you living downtown yet? If you are PM me and we will grab a pint and go see some jazz.

Scott McC · #7 08-02-2006, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Fitzgerald

I remember my first DB gig well. After years on fretless slab, I knew a lot about what to play, but precious little about how to get those sounds to come out of the doghouse. They best way is to do just what you did - dive in the water and learn to dog paddle. Congats on your survival!

This may be up somewhere on the site, and if it is, I'm sorry. But....what was your first DB gig? I bet its a good story

TroyK · #8 08-02-2006, 07:37 PM

Right on, man! Welcome to the club.

Yeah, I remember the pain associated with going from being a good bassist to being a not good bassist overnight. Keep working at it. There is a big demand, as you've seen.

Troy

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #9 08-02-2006, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott McC

This may be up somewhere on the site, and if it is, I'm sorry. But....what was your first DB gig? I bet its a good story

It was just a casual with a guy I'd gigged with on piano before (I was a jazz piano player in another life). It was a stupid gig at some corporate function at a hospital, totally background. It went fine, but I noticed that knowing how to play gigs on a slab or a piano and being able to get ideas out on a real bass was a completely different proposition. There was no drummer, so I WAS the time. I remember feeling very sore afterwards, and grateful that it was over and I'd survived. In a goofy kind of way, it was also pretty exciting in spite of the corporate "wallpaper" aspect of the gig. It wasn't a big deal really, but I'll always remember it.

Good luck on your journey.

Aaron Saunders · #10 08-02-2006, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott McC

Yeah, I am pretty sure I will. It is going to be nerve wracking to do my ensemble audition on the DB, but it has to be done. I will ask Mike for Kieran or Neil I think. I had a lesson with Kieran this summer and it was amazing, he really gave me a lot of courage to just go for it, not to mention some cool practice excercises. By the way, are you living downtown yet? If you are PM me and we will grab a pint and go see some jazz.

I'd love to, but I don't move until the 23rd. I'll be living in res...and won't be 19 until November

. No pints in jazz clubs for me for a while. I'll be in the city tomorrow, though -- getting bumpers put on my bass at Heinl's, doing a placement english test for Humber, and meeting with Kieran to arrange private lessons during the school year (outside of the school.)

Mike Goodbar · #11 08-04-2006, 06:57 AM

I've been playing jazz gigs for years, but I had a *first* the other night.

I was playing with a well-respected pianist from the area. He was introducting the band, and when he got to me, he introduced me as "The Relentless" Mike Goodbar.

Kinda liked that.

Ed Fuqua · #12 08-04-2006, 08:45 AM

DURRL says I'm relentlessly bouyant....

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #13 08-04-2006, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

DURRL says I'm relentlessly bouyant....

I thought I said "bouyantly relentless".

**Freddels** · #14 08-04-2006, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Goodbar

I've been playing jazz gigs for years, but I had a *first* the other night.

I was playing with a well-respected pianist from the area. He was introducting the band, and when he got to me, he introduced me as "The Relentless" Mike Goodbar.

Kinda liked that.

I was told by the guitarist in the group I play in that "Your playing is always at the very least adequate, by which I guess I must mean good time and no noticeable clinkers, and normally way better than that."

I've always strived to be "adequate".

Marcus Johnson · #15 08-04-2006, 10:31 AM

Or, as my friend Mike Buono says:

"I love what you're trying to do".

Scott McC · #16 08-05-2006, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddels

I was told by the guitarist in the group I play in that "Your playing is always at the very least adequate, by which I guess I must mean good time and no noticeable clinkers, and normally way better than that."

I've always strived to be "adequate".

good time and no bad screw ups? that is my dream brother.

Aaron Saunders · #17 08-06-2006, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott McC

good time and no bad screw ups? that is my dream brother.

Freddels, that means you're a good bass player. PC didn't take a single solo on Kind of Blue, and people bitch about his intonation on So What all the time. How about Wilbur Ware playing with the Monk quartet? SOLID bass player, but not a solo to be heard on that Carnegie Hall '58 record.

Besides, you're normally way better than adequate

. It's more honest feedback like that that I would appreciate than oohs and ahhs -- you know this guy's really listening, and he doesn't have a bad thing to say about you.

**Freddels** · #18 08-06-2006, 11:14 AM

"Adequate" is ALWAYS better than inadequate.

Intonation? I won't comment on that. Now, I just have to work on getting rid of that Realbook.

Aaron Saunders · #19 08-06-2006, 11:20 AM

Don't we all...

EDIT: Noticed you're gigging around Boston. Are you at/graduated from Berklee at all?

**Freddels** · #20 08-06-2006, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron Saunders

Don't we all...

EDIT: Noticed you're gigging around Boston. Are you at/graduated from Berklee at all?

I went to Berklee for about a year and a half and then transferred to North Texas. That was many years ago.