A call for bass stories for an NPR radio program!

MarloniousThunk · #1 12-02-2009, 11:04 AM

Hi bass people -

I'm a producer for an NPR-station distributed radio program called "Afropop Worldwide". I'm working on developing an a show about the history of African bass playing, including not only Africa but Latin America and African-American traditions in the US as well - specifically bass-centric things like funk and motown and soul and slapping, but could be jazz, blues, hiphop as well.

I'm posting here because I'm looking for good bass stories, because radio is all about stories. It could be about anything in American (or elsewhere) bass history - a story about a famous bass innovator, or the story behind the creation of a great bass line, or just something that is suprising/funny/interesting and tells us something about the bass.

Thanks in advance for any good leads!

Thanks,
Marlon Bishop

Bocete · #2 12-02-2009, 11:14 AM

Well, the story about how Larry Graham started slapping is an interesting story. Also, all the hardships Louis Johnson went through to develop his technique and become a great. James Jamerson, of course, is an interesting and important character.

JT Bass · #3 12-02-2009, 11:23 AM

Marlonious, not sure how familiar you are with African bass players, so pardon if you already know this, but I'd say THE guy to get in touch with is Bakithi Kumalo (boneinthenose.com). He's probably the best known African player (Paul Simon's Graceland, etc.) and by all accounts very accessible. If you're conveniently around New York City, he plays a lot of smaller venues, and would probably welcome an interview (just a guess from what I've heard from others who've had more contact with him). Or you could do some research and write about him in the third person. For instance, somewhere on one of the recording websites there's an article about his playing on Graceland, how they recorded the bass for "Call Me Al" etc. I'm sure there's been more than a few interviews with him in Bass Player. Great player with a distinctive sound.

**Thor** · #4 12-02-2009, 11:33 AM

The defintive work on Motown is in the book, and now DVD
'Standing in the Shadows of Motown' which deals with the
life and times of the Funk Brothers and has a specific focus
on the part James Jamerson played in the sound. It is a story
of profound success interlaced with human failure and
vulnerability. While words are inadequate to describe the scope o
f the story, it is worth every minute of your time as
it has proved to be the definive documentary work on the hit
machine known as the Funk Brothers.

Amazon Link to Standing in the Shadows of Motown

**Thor** · #5 12-02-2009, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JT Bass

Marlonious, not sure how familiar you are with African bass players, so pardon if you already know this, but I'd say THE guy to get in touch with is Bakithi Kumalo (boneinthenose.com). He's probably the best known African player (Paul Simon's Graceland, etc.) and by all accounts very accessible. If you're conveniently around New York City, he plays a lot of smaller venues, and would probably welcome an interview (just a guess from what I've heard from others who've had more contact with him). Or you could do some research and write about him in the third person. For instance, somewhere on one of the recording websites there's an article about his playing on Graceland, how they recorded the bass for "Call Me Al" etc. I'm sure there's been more than a few interviews with him in Bass Player. Great player with a distinctive sound.

I would second this heartily. He is a fantastic player with a
very unique sound and feel.

scottbass · #6 12-02-2009, 11:56 AM

Along with James Jamerson, the other man I consider to be the pioneer in bass playing is Willie Dixon. He also happened to be African-American. Willie is generally regarded as one of the most important contributors to blues, r&b and early rock n' roll, and he was one of the "bridges" between those genres. Some of Willie's story was told most recently in the movie "Cadillac Records". His record label, Chess/Checker, was equally influential, along with Motown and Stax, at bringing r&b into the American musical mainstream.

JT Bass · #7 12-02-2009, 11:57 AM

I just did some web searching myself and was very surprised to learn BK did not play bass on all the tracks of that album. Trying to think from the top of my head, I'd say the songs he didn't play on still sound like him, but I'll have to go back and listen. Also, not to hijack too much, but for others interested, get the re-release of Graceland, it has some cool extra tracks including a very pared-down mix of "Diamond on the Soles..." that sounds more like just a bass and drum jam on the tune, killer playing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graceland_(album)

**Thor** · #8 12-02-2009, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JT Bass

I just did some web searching myself and was very surprised to learn BK did not play bass on all the tracks of that album. Trying to think from the top of my head, I'd say the songs he didn't play on still sound like him, but I'll have to go back and listen. Also, not to hijack too much, but for others interested, get the re-release of Graceland, it has some cool extra tracks including a very pared-down mix of "Diamond on the Soles..." that sounds more like just a bass and drum jam on the tune, killer playing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graceland_(album)

No he did not play on all the selections. The album is a compliation
of projects. BK played tracks 1,2,5,6 and 7.

Los Lobos was the collaborator on the final track and claim
uncredited song credits it seems.

On a different note, no program on African or African-American
bassists would be complete without researching the eclectic career
of Charles Mingus, 'The Angry Man of Jazz'.

MarloniousThunk · #9 12-07-2009, 10:07 AM

Thanks for the ideas, guys! I am indeed interviewing Bakithi Kumalo for the program, as well as Richard Bona, and a bunch of other African-born players. Now I really need to find some good American stories to report on. Good starts.

JT Bass · #10 12-07-2009, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarloniousThunk

Thanks for the ideas, guys! I am indeed interviewing Bakithi Kumalo for the program, as well as Richard Bona, and a bunch of other African-born players. Now I really need to find some good American stories to report on. Good starts.

Excellent. Let us know where to hear it when you're finished.

bigtexashonk · #11 12-07-2009, 10:39 AM

Stephen Stills rubbing BBQ sauce into new strings to give them that broken in sound?

Phalex · #12 12-07-2009, 11:27 AM

I would love to hear an interview with Johnny B Gayden. The best bass player that you never heard of. The guy is every where, but no one seems to recognize him by name. He lives somewhere in Northern Indiana.......

Speaking of African bass players..... I'd love to hear from the bassist from Harari. They were HUGE back in the 80's.