A Pretty Perfect Day

tZer · #1 10-19-2008, 01:56 AM

Today was a pretty perfect day.

Started off with me taking my daughter to her Powder Puff derby. This year she decided she wasn't interested in winning the race, she wanted to win 'most creative' - or something along those lines.

She decided the design, drew it up, I helped her build it - and she won 'most unique' - was the first one called - she beamed! Couldn't have been happier!

Then we had her birthday party at home. Friends - nothing extravagant, aside from the bounce-house. Nice, as you'd expect. Everyone was perfectly happy. Everyone really enjoyed being together having a great time. Pretty nice.

Then I caught a quick power nap before I subbed with a band in South City and had an absolutely killer gig! The music really gelled. The band connected like old friends. The band really dug what I brought to the table and told me so. Nice to hear such things, ya know? And it's nice to know I can blow the dust off the giggin' chops and not make a fool of myself. They offered me the spot if I wanted it - can't do it at this time... but if I could, I'd be on it in a heartbeat.

Found my Fender Jazz with the flats was the perfect bass to play the first half of the night, my Stingray with rounds was ideal for the last half when the energy amped up. The difference between the two was really cool. The Fender was more of a "dig in, get finger-funky" thing which was a great way to warm up the fingers. But it was nice later to have the boost of the Stingray. It felt turbo-charged - literally effortless to play compared to the flats on the J. Two very different, and very cool basses.

I got to play some Dr. John, Neville brothers, Bonnie Raitt, Paul Simon, Santana, Billy Preston, some really groovy, bass player friendly tunes. We tore a hole in the fabric of space-time with a version of Aretha's "Respect" that I won't soon forget.

All in all, today was a pretty perfect day. I hope to have many more just like this one.

the end.

**BullHorn** · #2 10-19-2008, 02:31 AM

You make me want to shoot myself in the head.

Alcyon · #3 10-19-2008, 03:45 AM

Watch out, if you take him seriously he'll kill you himself and save you the trouble.

JimB52 · #4 10-19-2008, 06:57 AM

Those rare days when everything works are what it's all about. Hats off to you, sir.

tZer · #5 10-19-2008, 03:04 PM

JimB52 - you said it. I was exhausted at the time I was posting, but I know that the day I had yesterday is part of what "it" is all about. If some are inspired to self destruction by something so innocuous, I don't know what to say about that.

Bullhorn - please don't off yourself on my account.

There's one in every crowd, isn't there?

With things in the world seeming so bleak, it was nice to be reminded about some of the simpler pleasures to maintain a little perspective and to be able to think about things that really matter.

Here's more ammo for ya, if that's how you take these sort of things. Later today I'll be heading out to a benefit show. Last month I lost a very close friend (one of my oldest and closest friends) who was also a big player and very loved in our local music scene. Lots of musicians are getting together to put on a show to raise money and help his folks with the expenses of his funeral and to give to his son, since my friend didn't really have anything to leave to him.

The band I subbed with last night needed me because they too lost their bass player - he died the same week my friend did - a very bad week, by contrast. The fact that the gig went so well and the vibe was so good seemed to bolster the feeling of doing the right thing for the right reasons - helping out friends and fellow musicians - and when you do, you get rewarded with a sense of clarity of purpose.

I was a bit overcome by that last night. I felt clear and centered after considering how truly good that day was and why.

Here's a question; Why do you suppose people feel the need to show derision when someone posts about having a good day? Do you think they feel things like what I was talking about just don't have any value and it's their duty to point it out?

Alcyon · #6 10-19-2008, 03:07 PM

Maybe he's seriously depressed and in contrast to his life your week was so good he feels utterly inadequate?

iamlowsound · #7 10-19-2008, 03:24 PM

I had one of those days today. Got to sleep in, nailed the perfect tone at church, ate a bunch of great food, went skateboarding and landed a few new tricks, came home took a little nap, ate some popcorn and now I am here. Not to mention that I jammed with a killer keyboardist yesterday and we are planning working together in the near future.

lowsound

hbarcat · #8 10-19-2008, 03:30 PM

I don't think that post was "derision". Seemed more like an attempt at humor that fell flat.

BTW, I love playing Paul Simon tunes because they usually have groovin' bass lines. Which song(s) did you play?

tZer · #9 10-20-2008, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hbarcat

BTW, I love playing Paul Simon tunes because they usually have groovin' bass lines. Which song(s) did you play?

The Paul Simon tune was "Late in the Evening". But the rest of the list was filled with tons of what I would call very "bass player friendly" stuff that had GROOVE - with a capital GROOVE at the center.

There was a tune on the list by Edie Brickell called "No Dinero" that had a really great Cuban vibe that was a lot of fun.

Some of the more fun and seriously cool bass tunes included:

"Congo Square", "Yellow Moon", "Voodoo" - the Neville Bros.
"Hear Me Lord" - Bonnie Raitt
"Chuck E's in Love" - Rickey Lee Jones
"Nothing from Nothing" - Billy Preston
"Right Place, Wrong Time" - Dr. John
"Rock Steady" - Aretha Franklin
"Use Me" - Bill Withers
"The Impression that I Get" - Mighty, Mighty Bosstones
"Shining Star" - E,W & F

Even the more 'standard' bar-covers like "Oya Como Va", "Black Magic Woman" and "Samba Pa Ti" had their groove component upped. That's the kind of thing I really enjoy - taking songs that are based on grooving and going to the next level - not just playing them, but really getting into them and exposing their spirit so that the crowd gets the buzz too. Anyone can regurgitate a cover - it's something else to deliver it as if it were you very own song.

There were a couple of drummer/percussionists there who came up to me in between sets and complimented my groove and how well I was in the pocket. THOSE are the kind of compliments that really hit home! I can hear people say, "you guys are great" all night long, but to have that sort of thing offered is a real treat.

Cool band - I really enjoyed that gig.