• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Entire Gary Willis Clinic Videos

Mike Flynn

Mike Flynn

Feb 1, 2004
1,981
7
54
Brixton, South London
www.munkio.com
#1
I'm sure some of you have already checked this out - I've seen him play live three times but it's great to finally be able to watch him in action again - Very Early is particularly beautiful - this dude on You Tube just filmed this last week - it's wicked stuff - I think Willis is sounding better than ever:

Norwegian Wood
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGajWSThscM&search=gary%20willis
The Chicken
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjId2a9RGWM&search=gary%20willis
Fast Jazz thing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlB3KBFsZEc&search=gary%20willis
Very Early
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysd0fC4hI3Y&search=gary%20willis
Bend
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ioi3hVAwFF0&search=gary%20willis

Really makes me want to practice soooooo much!

Enjoy

Mike
 
#6
fretless Bob said:
damn those are good!

hey Mike who wrote "very early"? i know that you recorded a version of it, i wanna find the original.


Dave
Click to expand...
The late great Bill Evans - best thing I can suggest to find a recording is check out his back catalogue on www.allmusic.com - I'm sure you'll find a version of it among his earlier albums - Willis' version is so amazing - it's a great tune to get to know as the changes are all minor or major thirds apart and are made up of mainly major chords - I just don't seem to be able to memorize the B section! Willis finds some amazing depth in his solo - makes mine sound sh!te...you can find the chart in a Real Book.

M
 
#7
I saw those over in the YouTube thread- I'm pretty convinced Willis' intonatino is better than anyone out there. I loved his version of Norwegian Wood- definitely one of my top three favorite players.
 
#8
The fast jazz thing is Armageddon Blues and Bend is actually Bowlegged, both from the Bent CD.

I think Willis' right hand technique should be taught to any young player. I'm a big fan of his sound and music so I'm biased but I don't mean this to sound like him. It's simply that he has the most efficient fingerstyle technique. Some say it's odd or complex but it's not! You just have to be disciplined and once to get it right, any other fingerstyle is a piece of cake.
 
#9
Yeah, that's what I'm talkin about.

Gary Willis just became a new favorite of mine, because while what he was doing was technically impressive, it was also extremely CLEAR and melodic...even the fast runs. It wasn't just a bunch of bull**** 32nd notes.
Best bass video in ages.
 
#11
Mike Flynn said:
The late great Bill Evans - best thing I can suggest to find a recording is check out his back catalogue on www.allmusic.com - I'm sure you'll find a version of it among his earlier albums - Willis' version is so amazing - it's a great tune to get to know as the changes are all minor or major thirds apart and are made up of mainly major chords - I just don't seem to be able to memorize the B section! Willis finds some amazing depth in his solo - makes mine sound sh!te...you can find the chart in a Real Book.

M
Click to expand...


i feel pretty stupid now actually, i should of just checked my reels:D

ive been thinking of giving that tune a shot for a while, but ive finally got time now that i have got the next two months off.

any advice Mike?


Dave
 
#12
fretless Bob said:
i feel pretty stupid now actually, i should of just checked my reels:D

ive been thinking of giving that tune a shot for a while, but ive finally got time now that i have got the next two months off.

any advice Mike?


Dave
Click to expand...

Firstly, learn the head - I definitely recommend also checking out the way Willis adds in the lower octave notes on some of it - it's really effective. Having just watched this version of it I'm actually going to write out all of the scales and substitutions that you need for this tune (there's a a lot) but then also look at the common notes within them - then look at the various ways of playing off these to create the smoothest and most musical shifts in key. Yeah, that's a lot of work but the advice I was given when learning standards was to really get to know a tune inside out. This approach can be applied to sets of changes that you come up with as well - see if you can get them on a loop (with a loop pedal or keyboard) and look at the relationships between supposedly 'unrelated' scales and keys - it's a great way to get away from all those II, V, I cliches - change chords slowly so you can really listen to the intervals that sound best. The aim is to - like Willis - create long flowing lines that relate to each other over any set of changes - it's tough.

Hope that helps

Mike
 
#15
Mike Flynn said:
Firstly, learn the head - I definitely recommend also checking out the way Willis adds in the lower octave notes on some of it - it's really effective. Having just watched this version of it I'm actually going to write out all of the scales and substitutions that you need for this tune (there's a a lot) but then also look at the common notes within them - then look at the various ways of playing off these to create the smoothest and most musical shifts if key. Yeah, that's a lot of work but the advice I was given when learning standards was to really get to know a tune inside out. This approach can be applied to sets of changes that you come up with as well - see if you can get them on a loop (with a loop pedal or keyboard) and look at the relationships between supposedly 'unrelated' scales and keys - it's a great way to get away from all those II, V, I cliches - change chords slowly so you can really listen to the intervals that sound best. The aim is to - like Willis - create long flowing lines that relate to each other over any set of changes - it's tough.

Hope that helps

Mike
Click to expand...


damn, i got a lot of work ahead of me this summer,

cheers Mike


Dave
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back