Interviewing Bassists Stories part 2

[Arthritic_Tom]

For everyone I've promised a copy of the book, for proofreading or for cleaning up the MP3 of "Ode to Bill Laswell and Pino Palladino" or whatever else:

Do you want to wait for the official release date, or would you rather order an advance copy and get it next month?

Drop me an e-mail (you all have my address) and tell me your preference. If you want an advance copy, I'll e-mail you an Amazon gift certificate and snail-mail you a signed a bookplate to put in the book.

Thanks again for all your help.

[nutso42]

Have you got an e-mail or PM list for when your book gets a release date? If so, I want on it.

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by nutso42

Have you got an e-mail or PM list for when your book gets a release date? If so, I want on it.

Not yet, but the Web site will go up soon, and it'll have a mailing list, a formal release date for the book, and everything else. And I'm afraid I'll have to go on Twitter after all, dammit.

I'll keep everyone appraised of all developments, so watch this space.

[lucyfur]

Originally Posted by Arthritic_Tom

Okay. I've been given information on background as to why there's a July release date for the book.

We don't need to get into that, but if you pre-order the book, you'll get your copy in February.

http://tinyurl.com/crlad7p

And click the link on the right asking for a Kindle version. Please!

Have at it.

Shouldn't you have them change the release date to August?

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by lucyfur

Shouldn't you have them change the release date to August?

Brilliant!

Came darn close, didn't it?

I just discovered this guy last night. In terms of tone, groove, and ability to rein in such a beast of an instrument and make it sing, especially using this technique--this is about as good as it gets.

A master.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lPerBh4HYA

[Arthritic_Tom]

quote removed by mod

But that's the genius! He's got total control over that thing. Ever played a 12-string? They're horrendous. To make this beast sound like a four-string with an effect shows the sheer technical control the bassist has mastered. It was the technical control that interested me most of all.

Some people--like Jeff Berlin--argue that ALL slap bass is just tricksterism. I remember some angry session player in Tennessee saying it just sounded like a Clavinova and anyone who did it wasn't a "real" bassist.

It all comes down to individual taste. I love spinach in my burgers instead of lettuce, and I season the meat with dill, curry powder, paprika, and Italian herbs. It's just what I like.

He's another video from the same guy. It's the technique I admire.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BF8BokPgJSc

The music itself might not be your cup of tea, but the technical control is something everyone can study. Saying something differently musically is the hardest thing of all for an artist to accomplish. I watch Youtube videos for different reasons. Here's a video that has musical ideas I admire more than technique:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gvNrYO6Mfw

[Arthritic_Tom]

quote removed by mod

Not insulted. You just missed my point. Techniques can be learned and then applied to to create music. I'm highlighting the techniques. As I said, different videos serve different functions.

Admiring someone's control over a machine such as a car or a 12-string bass is perfectly legitimate. If someone said, "But what about the artistry?" you'd tell him that he's talking about something else.

[Arthritic_Tom]

{quote removed by mod}


Ah, so that's what's goes on.

Mentally append this disclaimer to every post of mine that you read:

I post videos or recordings of music here simply because I find them inspiring, positive, beautiful, or uplifting. It is only my opinion that the video or recording in question is inspiring, positive, beautiful, or uplifting. By stating that I personally find the video or recording in question inspiring, positive, beautiful, or uplifting, in no way am I implying that any music that is not the music in question is uninspiring, negative, ugly, or depressing. When I post a video or recording here, in no way am I denigrating any artist, technique, instrument, or music that does not appear in the video or recording. When I state that I find a particular video or recording inspiring, positive, beautiful, or uplifting, those adjectives are not limited to only the music in question. Similarly, when I state that I find a video or recording inspiring, positive, beautiful, or uplifting, I am not attempting to force readers to agree with me, nor am I attempting to prohibit readers from applying those adjectives to other music. Readers of Talkbass.com peruse posts at their own risk. Readers of Talkbass.com will be exposed to statements recognized by the state of Californa as known opinions. Neither Talkbass.com nor the authors of posts can be held responsible for readers' interpretations of posts. Interpretations of posts may vary greatly due to the individual temperament of the reader and the complexity of the brain residing in all readers. For optimum performance of posts, only the words written should be considered. Not intended for children under three years of age. Seek medical attention immediately for erections lasting longer than four hours.

[bigsnaketex]

Keep 'em coming Tom!! You post the most eclectic musical stuff I've ever seen - you're my go to guy on interesting musical video's!!

And I for one, will simply watch and see what you've found. I promise I won't find the need to comment on it one way or another!!

[secretsound5]

Originally Posted by Arthritic_Tom

Ah, so that's what's goes on.

Mentally append this disclaimer to every post of mine that you read:

I post videos or recordings of music here simply because I find them inspiring, positive, beautiful, or uplifting. It is only my opinion that the video or recording in question is inspiring, positive, beautiful, or uplifting. By stating that I personally find the video or recording in question inspiring, positive, beautiful, or uplifting, in no way am I implying that any music that is not the music in question is uninspiring, negative, ugly, or depressing. When I post a video or recording here, in no way am I denigrating any artist, technique, instrument, or music that does not appear in the video or recording. When I state that I find a particular video or recording inspiring, positive, beautiful, or uplifting, those adjectives are not limited to only the music in question. Similarly, when I state that I find a video or recording inspiring, positive, beautiful, or uplifting, I am not attempting to force readers to agree with me, nor am I attempting to prohibit readers from applying those adjectives to other music. Readers of Talkbass.com peruse posts at their own risk. Readers of Talkbass.com will be exposed to statements recognized by the state of Californa as known opinions. Neither Talkbass.com nor the authors of posts can be held responsible for readers' interpretations of posts. Interpretations of posts may vary greatly due to the individual temperament of the reader and the complexity of the brain residing in all readers. For optimum performance of posts, only the words written should be considered. Not intended for children under three years of age. Seek medical attention immediately for erections lasting longer than four hours.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT HE SAID !!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ayce]

Not to pick nits, but I think what the guy in the video was doing (if he had been playing a guitar) would be reffered to as "wanking".






O.K. maybe not.

The only thing I don't like when I watch these types of vids is, the music they are playing, though nice and/or technically proficient, may not work in a multi-instrument setting. Great for practice, not so much for entertainment.

Put another way, they make a vid of themselves playing well, and saying "Look at me! See what I can do? Ain't I great?" Then put them in a band setting, and they crash and burn because they have no clue how to work in a team.

EOR

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by bigsnaketex

Keep 'em coming Tom!! You post the most eclectic musical stuff I've ever seen - you're my go to guy on interesting musical video's!!

And I for one, will simply watch and see what you've found. I promise I won't find the need to comment on it one way or another!!

Comments are fine. Problems arise when we can't praise one thing without someone assuming that we're therefore criticizing another. If that's the standard, then we can't praise anything without getting into an argument. Not interested in arguing, especially over something as subjective as opinion.

When I listen to one piece of music, I'm not comparing it to any other. Whatever I like, I like for specific reasons that apply to that piece of music as it exists on its own, completely apart from all other music and all other musicians. That's why I like both Scott Thunes and Stephen Jay. I like them for completely different reasons. If you asked me, "Who do you like better?" I could answer you, but I won't. All that matters to me is that I like them both, and for different reasons. I don't think in terms of who I like better or who's the "better" bassist. Some days I'm in the mood for Thunes, and others I'm in the mood for Jay.

I'm not religious, but sometimes I'm in the mood for religious music:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcpUnZ_ghdA

I'm not trying to push anything on anybody; I just love that piece of music, especially since it's pure vocals. No instruments. I'm saying nothing except "I love this music."

Orthodox Chrisitians have a call to prayer call the "toaca" that's unique and amazing. I like watching videos of it. Here's a priest in Romania playing a toaca to call the worshipers to church.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrSKSwnTZRc

I don't go to church, but I admire both the artistry and the devotion to something greater than oneself. But I'm not insisting that you share my admiration, and I'm not saying this is somehow superior to any other call to prayer or drumming or secularism or atheism or agnosticism or whatever. I post this because I enjoy it and I know others will, too. I'm communing with my kindred spirits, from whom I draw my strength.

Normally I hate the ukulele. But I find this performance incredibly moving in its artistry.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLgJ7pk0X-s

The musicianship, arrangement, and choice of song are sheer genius. That doesn't mean I think they're the best uke players in the world and all others suck in comparison. It only means I like this song. That's all. Nothing more.

I just had an insight, which I owe to *****: My musical tastes are what got me into trouble at Bass Player. My editor felt the same way as *****, I just now realized as I write this. When I'd submit an idea to him, he'd take it as an implied criticism of someone he liked, and he'd immediately become hostile to both the person I wanted to cover and me. The editor thought I was making some kind of statement about his tastes and therefore about him. What I intended as a celebration caused a conflict, the equivalent of a compliment being taken as an insult.

Well, my editor's interpretations of my intentions resulted in him sabotaging my carer and dumping me into a hell of unending despair, rage, and hopelessness that finally ended in 2011.

So, to be absolutely clear to everyone: All I'm doing is saying, "I like this song."

Thank you, *****, for helping me find another piece of the puzzle. I always wondered why my editor was so hostile to people who played bass with their feet or worked as bass-playing extras in movies or played bass in a comedy troupe. It was because he thought that by praising these bassists, I was criticizing other bassists. He completely misunderstood my intentions.

If you read my book, you'll discover that being misunderstood is something negatively impacts me far more than it does a normal person. It's important for me to discover why each case of misunderstanding happens. My pathological aversion to being misunderstood compels me to understand, so its another blessing in disguise. By understanding, I become a better person.

[bigsnaketex]

I understand all of this Tom - because it's the life I choose to lead as well.

I "like" many things. All different kinds of music. But I also like to listen to just a certain piece of some of the music - and I may not even like the type of music at all. I do that a lot with bass lines.

I'll listen to a bass line in a piece of music that I don't like at all just for the bass line.

So my wife, when she gets in my car, never ever knows what is going to be on the stereo system!!

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by Ayce

Not to pick nits, but I think what the guy in the video was doing (if he had been playing a guitar) would be reffered to as "wanking".






O.K. maybe not.

The only thing I don't like when I watch these types of vids is, the music they are playing, though nice and/or technically proficient, may not work in a multi-instrument setting. Great for practice, not so much for entertainment.

Put another way, they make a vid of themselves playing well, and saying "Look at me! See what I can do? Ain't I great?" Then put them in a band setting, and they crash and burn because they have no clue how to work in a team.

EOR

Possibly true. It could be that the guy sucks as a team player. We don't know because we haven't seen him play in an ensemble situation. And the function of the video isn't to showcase his ensemble playing. It's to show how masterfully he slaps a 12-string. I recommend everyone try doing that. You may be surprised at how hard it is.

I don't like the Marx brothers, but they created one of the most brilliant scenes in cinematic history in the film Duck Soup. It's an object lesson in the bad things that can happen when you misunderstand, read into things, and make assumptions.

Groucho is the dictator of Freedonia, which is about to go to war with Sylvania. In a last-ditch effort to avoid war, Groucho agrees to swallow his pride and meet with the ambassador of Sylvania.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uM01v_vVnbg&t=0m30s

It's been my experience that things are always better taken at face value. As Freud allegedly said, "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar."

[Arthritic_Tom]

I'll show you a couple edgier examples of music I like. I haven't posted them before because I don't like generating conflict. It's not in my nature. But since a guy slapping a 12-string has turned out to be controversial, I'll pull back the curtain a little and reveal a little more of my tastes.

I'm fascinated by folk music incorporated into modern pop. The undisputed master is Azis of Bulgaria. He sings in the traditional sobbing folk style. Bulgarian folk music is amazing, because it's a kind of history lesson. Every culture that conquered Bulgaria or traded with it left a musical influence. Thus we have Middle Eastern, Greek, Macedonian elements--you name it--all appearing in Bulgarian folk music.

Azis is an artistic genius, and he's also the gayest man on the face of the earth. He's Homerically, mythically, surreally gay, so if you're offended by homoerotic (but non-pornographic) imagery, DON'T WATCH THIS VIDEO. I love it for it's artistry, weirdness, humor, and glorious improbability. Posting this video doesn't mean I'm gay and want all of you to be gay, too. It just means I love this song, and the imagery makes me laugh. But you've been warned:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0XFR2qzW7g

Now, on the Über-hetero side, there's the Romanian band Kamarad, with their ode to the beauty of the female butt. Again, it's the music I like. However, if you're offended by highly erotic heterosexual (but non-pornographic) imagery, DON'T CLICK THIS LINK.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcdZjOGBes4

Am I trying to make everyone love female butts, the way I do? No. I just love the song. It's catchy, clever, and incorporates traditional folk instruments in a highly artistic way. The imagery is incidental. When I was a bassist, I listened to as much music as I could, from every genre, country, culture, and era. It made me a better player. Learning so many different rhythms and scales helped me develop a style.

Maybe listening to everything I could is why I've never understood arguing over taste, and why I've never understood how any performance of music can make people hostile. My approach has always been to listen, and if I don't like it, I move on to the next song. It's never occurred to me to explain to someone why I don't like something that he or she likes. And it certainly never occurred to me that people would resent someone's else performance of a song or piece, or that someone would resent being shown a performance of a song or piece.

But I realize now that's what happened at Bass Player. I learned something today that helps me better understand the debacle I experienced. That's good.

[MouseRat]

I like the butts.

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by MouseRat

I like the butts.

As butts go, they don't get much better.

[Arthritic_Tom]

What helped me become a much better bassist in terms of rhythm, breaking me out of ruts, giving me a completely different perspective, and helping me develop a personal style was listening to Appalachian music. The rhythms are just nasty.

The Appalachian Jew's harp:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yx0nnZZVnd8

Appalachian flatfooting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyqcHMPa1O8

And most of all, the hambone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYOTGHCbkWY

I'd put on recordings of this stuff and jam along with it, trying out all sorts of slapping, tapping, and other percussive techniques. It works wonders. You can get really slow, filthy grooves going.

[SoVeryTired]

The thing I notice about the Appalachian clips is the strong pounding 4, common with modern electronic dance music. I can see those rhythms being good to improvise over as there's a strong anchor to the fancy stuff.

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by SoVeryTired

The thing I notice about the Appalachian clips is the strong pounding 4, common with modern electronic dance music. I can see those rhythms being good to improvise over as there's a strong anchor to the fancy stuff.

Bingo!

I came up with my best slapping riffs listening to Appalachian music. They also teach you how to add funky ornamentation and variations to the basic groove.

Mastering the hambone techniques and using them on your bass is really fun.