Fred Thomas

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

Hi everybody.

Well, just wanted to start talking about this groove master since couldn't find a thread dedicated to him. And I think he deserves it!

Basically, there's something in particular that amazes me about him: Everybody talks about Jamerson's one-finger technique and how he could execute such basslines that way. Of course, that's a truly remarkable achievement, but I'd say that in spite of that apparently "limited" approach, his plucking hand looked like a real bassist's one. I mean, like someone who really knew what was doing.

On the other hand, Mr. Thomas' right hand technique is one of the most "unprofessional" looking ones I've seen:

Plucking the strings with his thumb while the other fingers were supported by extending them over the bass body. That's exactly the way in which most likely someone who doesn't know anything about playing bass would try to make some noises with it.

But don't misunderstand me. I'm not criticizing him. On the other hand, that's precisely what awes me about him. He's the perfect example of the fact that you don't need an ultra-refined technique to GROOVE. Not that I'd like to adopt his approach, but I really love and admire his style. Check him out grooving here:

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

I don't agree with the "unprofessionnal" comment, whatever works for him is fine by me.I guess it looked "pro" enought the James Brown himself.He grooves like a killer & has an awesome tone. What more do you want.
The man is a funk legend.

 

[dylanjohnson]

Thats how Leo thought it would be played. Monk Montgomery played like that too. Original Fender bass style.

 

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

I don't agree with the "unprofessionnal" comment, whatever works for him is fine by me.

That's why I put the word between quotation marks.

 

[pyrohr]

Fred is a friend of mine and still plays this way today! http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v152/pyrohr/?action=view&current=DSC07770.jpg

 

[jeruzz]

I am an old friend of Fred's. We used to record together but we have since lost touch. It's been a while and I was a teen but he will remember me. If anyone still has contact can you tell him that Angel wants to talk to him? Just tell him the artist that Bob used to manage from New Jersey. We last recorded in Brooklyn. Please email me at jeruzz1 (at) gmail.com

 

[One Drop]

Love his time with JB, he's a huge fat and funky presence on everything he played on.

 

[Wwolof]

Fred is a friend of mine and still plays this way today! http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v152/pyrohr/?action=view&current=DSC07770.jpg

This is why I am on TalkBass.

 

[Rip Topaz]

What you guys gotta understand is that even though certain techniques look "unprofessional" to us, in 2012, when these guys were writing this stuff, the "book" hadn't been written yet.

The stuff we know today as being "good technique" wasn't even invented. They were still figuring out what works.

 

[bassist15]

He still tours and plays live with Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens out of NY

 

[Alexi David]

I asked Fred about this. He said that James showed him this - to play down, into the earth. Like a drum.

 

[Runlikegregg]

Zombie thread alert.
Fred plays at Freddy's Bar on 5th Ave in Brooklyn on Friday Nights twice a month (or so).
and I love that gold aerodyne.

 

[nolaguy]

Hi everybody.

Well, just wanted to start talking about this groove master since couldn't find a thread dedicated to him. And I think he deserves it!

Basically, there's something in particular that amazes me about him: Everybody talks about Jamerson's one-finger technique and how he could execute such basslines that way. Of course, that's a truly remarkable achievement, but I'd say that in spite of that apparently "limited" approach, his plucking hand looked like a real bassist's one. I mean, like someone who really knew what was doing.

On the other hand, Mr. Thomas' right hand technique is one of the most "unprofessional" looking ones I've seen:

Plucking the strings with his thumb while the other fingers were supported by extending them over the bass body. That's exactly the way in which most likely someone who doesn't know anything about playing bass would try to make some noises with it.

But don't misunderstand me. I'm not criticizing him. On the other hand, that's precisely what awes me about him. He's the perfect example of the fact that you don't need an ultra-refined technique to GROOVE. Not that I'd like to adopt his approach, but I really love and admire his style. Check him out grooving here:

One thing to keep in mind is that the version of the JBs that of which Thomas was a member arrived after the original lineup featuring Bootsy Collins quit. THAT lineup recorded legendary tracks such as "sex machine" and "Talkin Loud and Sayin Nothin". We're talking R&B innovators/virtuosos. They provided a carrer boost in James Brown's career. When that group quit, Brown wanted to prove that HE was the impetus behind his music, not some young hotshot players. So in JBs Mk11 Fred Thomas was brought in- unorthodox technique, but was he FUNKY! Also in that lineup was guitarist Robert Coleman, who had just started playing guitar about a year prior. Not much technique, but he is on best R&B/Funk recordings of all time. According to Fred Wesley, trombonist/music director, he had basically give him music "lessons", even composing simple guitar parts Coleman could play. For example-

 

[BaileyMan]

I love Fred's playing. Just solid with great feel. He's not the flashiest of JBs bass players, but some of my favorite grooves are his, Papa Don't Take No Mess, Ants in My Pants, Doing it To Death, among others. Always right there in the pocket. He's up there as one of my favorite JB bass players, along with Bernard Odum and Charles Sherrell.

Bootsy's great and all, a great study, I love some of his lines, but the flashy stuff isn't my fave.

 

[markjazzbassist]

i love fred