Double Bass 20/20 Vision

[Steve Killingsworth]

I don't post here much anymore but I thought this was worth sharing. I think this shows how a bass can do much more than keep time.

 

[Jake deVilliers]

Great version of the tune! I've been waiting for this to happen since I saw Eric Thorin kick off a Stanley Brothers gospel tune with Open Road. His live work with Brother Mule is amazing, too.

 

[BobKay]

Wow. Thanks for posting. I'll check out the other items noted by Jake.

 

[petesenkowski]

The bassist and singer on "20/20 Vision" is Scott Mulvahill.
… and here's another much-more-than-keeping-time example with Paul Kowert and Gabe Witcher of the Punch Brothers:

 

[BobKay]

Once again - wow. He makes it look so simple and elegant.

 

[martinc]

It's great that Ricky Skaggs lets Scott Mulvihill demonstrate his terrific bass and vocal talents.

 

[anightintunisia]

The story is Bruce Molsky had the idea and asked Charlie Haden to play 20/20 vision this way but Charlie was nervous and wanted to play it traditional. His mind was changed obviously. It ended up being my favorite cut off of that Charlie Haden record! Get it if you haven't heard that record.

 

[Reiska]

Very cool. Any idea what strings are on his bass? Marvellous sound!

 

[BobKay]

Am I correct in assuming that the player has tuned down the E to D, as in a dropped D tuning? Sounds like it and looks like it based on the video.

 

[Jake deVilliers]

Am I correct in assuming that the player has tuned down the E to D, as in a dropped D tuning? Sounds like it and looks like it based on the video.

Yup, the bottom string's down to 'D'. Gene Libbea did that with the Nashville Bluegrass Band on 'Boll Weevil' to great effect.

 

[BobKay]

Yup, the bottom string's down to 'D'. Gene Libbea did that with the Nashville Bluegrass Band on 'Boll Weevil' to great effect.

Thanks Jake.
I'm a long time fan of NBB. Had a chance to meet Gene Libbea once and spend a little time listening. He is a really solid player, very elegant and creative without getting in the way.

 

[Jeffon]

Great playing and singing from Scott!

Yes Gene is a great player and a fun guy to be around! He used to live in CO and hosted a jam a friend and I went to. After one song he said " you boys ain't from around here, are you?!" We were pretty wild back then... Heard him play a very tasteful solo with Doc Watson at Rockygrass as well as his rock solid playing throughout the set. And got some classic stories about Earl and John Hartford while talking to him at a friend's wedding. Haven't seen him in a while.

Eric Thorin is also an amazing player and human being. He has a very broad palette across many styles and a great feel for straight ahead bluegrass playing. Sometimes you wouldn't even know all the amazing things he can do on the bass... a hidden superpower. He had been playing with Peter Rowan for quite a few years now. ( not playing with the Sam Grisman iteration, of course.)

 

[brianrost]

Hmm, on my screen, his strings look like snakes He sounds like Charlie Haden.

 

[marcox]

No bass content, but this is a killer version of 20/20 Vision, from Messrs. Thile and Daves.

 

[Jeffon]

The story is Bruce Molsky had the idea and asked Charlie Haden to play 20/20 vision this way but Charlie was nervous and wanted to play it traditional. His mind was changed obviously. It ended up being my favorite cut off of that Charlie Haden record! Get it if you haven't heard that record.

I think u mean Bruce Hornsby who sang it while Charlie Haden played this same arrangement on his country record "Rambling Boy" in 2008

 

[anightintunisia]

I think u mean Bruce Hornsby who sang it while Charlie Haden played this same arrangement on his country record "Rambling Boy" in 2008

Thanks for catching that error, I meant to type Hornsby!