Bass Beginnings

[nickbass]

Hello TalkBass friends,
thought you 'd like to see my video Bass Beginnings- how I learned to love the double bass- it's here on Youtube

Bass Beginnings

[Paul Warburton]

Ha, very cool....plus, I liked the fact that you played the Duke figure on the head of "Squeeze Me". I still do that.....I copped it off of an old Hampton Hawes side with Red Mitchell doing that.

[bejoyous]

Loved the "barking at the basses" bit!

[nickbass]

Thanks, guys! Don't know quite where I learned that intro - probably on the bandstand - (and at the piano, where I started, and continue)..
Going briefly OT, Paul, did you know Spike Robinson at all? I worked with him a lot during his time in the UK, but I know he had roots in Colorado.

[Paul Warburton]

I worked with Spike on and off for at least 40 years. Mostly with guitarist Dale Bruning who I did a Duo record with...."Our Delight".

I was about 17 when we ffirst started playing together and continued right up until his death.
I was just reading "Waiting For Dizzy" by Gene Lees the other day. There's a chapter on Spike in there and up comes my name on page 211.
Spike and I did many duo gigs together. On one, during my solo he said....."Excuse me.....I'm gonna go out and check the balance".
He lived mostly on Coors Beer and cigs. I saw him eat some French fries once, though.

[nickbass]

That sounds like Spike! He drank draught lager over here. Never quite the same after his old horn was stolen from his car. I wrote a tune about it (called 'Spike') which is on Pat Crumly's album Weaver of Dreams. Would probably have mystified Spike the man, as it ends up in a Reggae groove, but it's my tribute to someone I loved to play with. Such beautiful sound and time, and what a way with a melody!
I remember him searching through a stack of music for the next tune he was going to play - audience and band all waiting - and he said "Dang, I put all these in alphabetical order, and now I can't remember the alphabet..."

[Paul Warburton]

Did he do something like this to you?

QUOTE: "I've played with a lot of bass players in my time and........Paul Warburton is one of 'em".

[nickbass]

..all the time! Got him back once, though.. "Spike, that was wonderful tonight". I told him. "You played like a man twice your age!"

[Paul Warburton]

Did you get to say that over the house mic like he did when he introduced us to the audience?

The comedian, Pete Barbutti used to introduce me like this: "AND on BASS!........dirty brown varnish. Then he turn around and hold the mic by the F hole and say...."Go, Dirty Brown!!!".

Hey it's your thread, so I guess we cool going Off Topic some more?
When Spike started getting older, he would call tunes back to back at the same tempo, with similar form and in the same key. We finally had to remind him not to do that, because we could tell he was wandering back into the tune that we had just played. I'd say...."Oh, Spike....", really quietly from behind to remind him so nobody else could hear. He's pull the horn outta his mouth and yell..."AWW F***!! NOT AGAIN!!!"
Funny stuff. Great memories.

[nickbass]

PM sent

[Paul Warburton]

PM responded to.....
Thanks, Nick.