African bass book interest?

[RedVee]

Possibly answered but I can’t remember

Is this on the African mainland only? Or does it touch on music from the nearby islands?
F’instance Sega music from Mauritius? Or it’s derivative Segae ?

 

[fishdreams]

I'm just gonna post a favourite track from the continent sofar. This moves me close to tears almost every time.

 

[bass12]

I'm just gonna post a favourite track from the continent sofar. This moves me close to tears almost every time.

Mokoomba is a fellow Zimbabwean band that I got to hear live a few years ago. They were fantastic and their album was produced by bassist/vocalist Manou Gallo.

 

[warrenpeace]

very interested in your book/ materials...fwiw, Udemy has some course material on the subject (not sure how "legit" or authentic it is....I'm totally new to the genre)...but it may help shape your course w.r.t. content covered, layout, price pt. etc

 

[MixBass]

Thanks warrenpeace, I will check it out!

 

[bass12]

Any further developments with this?

 

[Dynacord]

very interested in your book/ materials...fwiw, Udemy has some course material on the subject (not sure how "legit" or authentic it is....I'm totally new to the genre)...but it may help shape your course w.r.t. content covered, layout, price pt. etc

I just bought these (there are 2 volumes). Good overall intro. Does not go super deep (same can be said for most intro to various style books, videos, etc). Each volume is about an hour and a half. It assumes all levels of players so a fairly large portion or that time is devoted to rudiments like the major scale, etc. Harmonically African music tends to be fairly straight ahead (and get a lot of mileage out of not that many notes). It's much more about approach, rhythm and technique and this does communicate the basics well (though I've seen plenty of African bass players with different technique as well). The backing tracks are good and have the flavor. I appreciated that the examples have notation as I think it really helps to be able to see the written rhythms. It's a very solid start. I'd like to see more examples both of sub-genres and within the sub-genres demonstrated - or real song examples. Curious if there will be further volumes.

 

[Annette]

I just bought these (there are 2 volumes). Good overall intro. Does not go super deep (same can be said for most intro to various style books, videos, etc). Each volume is about an hour and a half. It assumes all levels of players so a fairly large portion or that time is devoted to rudiments like the major scale, etc. Harmonically African music tends to be fairly straight ahead (and get a lot of mileage out of not that many notes). It's much more about approach, rhythm and technique and this does communicate the basics well (though I've seen plenty of African bass players with different technique as well). The backing tracks are good and have the flavor. I appreciated that the examples have notation as I think it really helps to be able to see the written rhythms. It's a very solid start. I'd like to see more examples both of sub-genres and within the sub-genres demonstrated - or real song examples. Curious if there will be further volumes.

Would you mind sharing the link to this course? Thank you!

 

[Dynacord]

Would you mind sharing the link to this course? Thank you!

Sure: Invalid Link Removed
I bought the package of vol 1 and 2.

 

[Dynacord]

Just a PS, as many have said, it's a huge subject. I don't think it's "been done" with the Udemy/Edd Bateman course. I really hope it does not dissuade MixBass from his project as there's so much more that can be done.

 

[HotelX]

I’d be interested in this.

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

Still interested! Any movement on publication?

 

[MixBass]

Still interested! Any movement on publication?

Hey Ukiah , thanks for checking! I haven’t spent much time on it lately. I’ve got a window opening up so hoping to jump back in.
Btw there’s a pretty slamming new-ish Bikutsi disc by Mani Bella, worth getting if you dig the style!

 

[bass12]

Hey Ukiah , thanks for checking! I haven’t spent much time on it lately. I’ve got a window opening up so hoping to jump back in.
Btw there’s a pretty slamming new-ish Bikutsi disc by Mani Bella, worth getting if you dig the style!

Bikutsi is one of my favourite African styles (I just saw a Cameroonian show a couple of weeks ago featuring some bikutsi, amongst other styles), but I'm not familiar with a wide range of bikutsi artists. I'll check out Mani Bella for sure!

 

[MixBass]

Slammin track!!

 

[Greywoulf]

"think it would be a welcome addition. As you and others have mentioned, African music is so varied, it would be a challenge. I also think it is quite distinct from the Afro-Cuban stuff so there would be room for a dedicated book(s)
BTW I spent 13 years in the band of Babatunde Olatunji which also included alumni of Fela's and King Sunny Ade's bands."

Wow! Babatunde Olatunji was one of my early drum teachers (along with Sanga) and a strong influence, as was Papa Ladji Camara in the old Djnobia drum and dance school in NYC. I attended Baba's funeral at Riverside Church in NYC, where a crowd of us drummed following behind his coffin, honoring him, and escorted it out into the hearse waiting in front of the church, and then drummed across the street by Grant's Tomb Park afterward where Mrs. Olatunji came and joined us in dance for a little while...
Thanks to all these great teachers (and many more!) I eventually became a decent enough djembe player that I could establish my own band and teach a UU church drum choir in NJ, which I lead now.
Never played bass for West African music tho; bass has always been just a much loved hobby of mine. But that could change... ;>})
Greywoulf

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

Still interested! Any movement on publication?

 

[Dynacord]

"think it would be a welcome addition. As you and others have mentioned, African music is so varied, it would be a challenge. I also think it is quite distinct from the Afro-Cuban stuff so there would be room for a dedicated book(s)
BTW I spent 13 years in the band of Babatunde Olatunji which also included alumni of Fela's and King Sunny Ade's bands."

Wow! Babatunde Olatunji was one of my early drum teachers (along with Sanga) and a strong influence, as was Papa Ladji Camara in the old Djnobia drum and dance school in NYC. I attended Baba's funeral at Riverside Church in NYC, where a crowd of us drummed following behind his coffin, honoring him, and escorted it out into the hearse waiting in front of the church, and then drummed across the street by Grant's Tomb Park afterward where Mrs. Olatunji came and joined us in dance for a little while...
Thanks to all these great teachers (and many more!) I eventually became a decent enough djembe player that I could establish my own band and teach a UU church drum choir in NJ, which I lead now.
Never played bass for West African music tho; bass has always been just a much loved hobby of mine. But that could change... ;>})
Greywoulf

Only just saw this! Yes, many Sanga of the Valley stories Was also at the Riverside Church funeral. A really moving and powerful event. Attended the Marin Civic Center wake as well.

Olatunji had some pretty great bass players over the years. Bill Lee (Spike's father), Bobby Vega, Jeff Andrews, Gordon Edwards, etc. Danjuma Ademu mostly played guitar but killed playing bass when he did.

A couple photos from Riverside:

 

[Feral Feline]

I'm still interested. Might make jamming with my Moroccan guitar-friend less painful for him.

 

[mambo4]

For those still waiting, Paul Westwood's Bass Bible has multiple chapters dedicated to various African styles / players.
All too brief (~40 pages), considering the breadth of the subject, but it's the only published analysis of African bass styles I know of.