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Andrew Gouche w/ Chaka Khan

#41
Well. . . the man can play! No question about that - I'm with the "overplay" crowd a bit though. A lot of cats have mentioned energy and, while I agree that he's got it, energy for the gig/music/etc... doesn't always need to be expressed through notes. Someone mentioned Pino; man, he grooves HARD with D and the energy is there (albeit a different kind). There are others also who you can feel the groove pulsing out of, loads of energy on uptempo tunes, and they're just holding it down. Will Lee comes to mind. He's got tons of energy for the gig, and you can feel it, even through a simple line.

I also understand what Vision and others have said though, about this being Andrew's style, that he plays this way in his other work as well. I think I'm just more of the mind that if you can do this, if you've got the ability to throw in that kind of tasteful stuff, leave people wanting more! If he'd just grooved hard and nasty on this stuff and only thrown in the occasional double stop or nasty riff, man, it would have so much more impact in my opinion.

That said, I cannot play the way Andrew can, so if I could maybe I'd be playing my butt off all the time :eek: :D. I play at church almost every Sunday and I know that there are times the Spirit moves me and I play A LOT. But on the subject of whether or not this particular style of music is served by notey play, I'd say not so much. There's a thread devoted to Rickey Minor and his work as bassist/MD on American Idol. I enjoy his playing and his tone quite a bit, but more often than not, at the end of the performance I'm thinking, "he could've toned it down a bit and served the song (and the vocalist) better."

So, that really wasn't very informative. Oh well. . . ;)

**Oh, and thanks to Vision for the heads up. . . I was really sad that I missed the show on TV but it's nice to catch it here!**
 
#42
I love the Gooch man and his style. If he was playing in church and running lines like that on amazing grace it would be too much and he knows that.
However it was not church and so what if he overshadowed a g####r player. It's about time they sit in the back for a while ( ooops did I say that! :eek:) Those were beat driven, groove songs to begin with, he just up'd the anty a lil more.
It all is a matter of playing tastefully while holding down the groove. Tying the percussion together with the melody.
Over playing...eeehhh maybe but it is nice to see and hear the bass shine.:D


I am just feeling fiesty today. Bass rules.
 
#44
j-raj said:
I have to post this pic in this thread, 'cause I sat for 20 minutes straight watching Andrew funk away (completely solo) while I began to breakdown our booth on the last day of NAMM in Anaheim last January:
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Something about Andrew playing in the shadow of Geezer Butler is slightly disturbing but somewhat sublime :cool:
 
#46
Sorry to bump this thread all the way from 2006, but I just saw this video and was trying to find out who played bass on it. Is this the same gig? Youtube vids are long gone.

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What a great performance, Yolanda Adams was outstanding. I have to agree with folks here, as a bass player, Andrew's playing is phenomenal, but maybe a little distracting. But there's definitely stuff there I would take and try to incorporate into my own playing.

I mostly play covers live, and usually try to stick to the parts on the original recordings. But I've been thinking lately about the pros and cons of playing out a bit more
- both to use my own chops more and also to increase the energy level on a gig. What do you guys think?
 
#48
vision said:
i know i'm biased because i'm a big fan of gouche's...he's one of my biggest influences! i can definitely see how one would call his performance overplaying if you aren't familiar with his work or background.

the thing is - everything he did is exactly what he does! the licks inbetween the spaces of the vocals, switching up the original bassline, starting a bar on a note other than the root, thats all classic gouche. he's an innovator with all of that...its his style of playing. if someone hires gouche for a gig, its because thats what they want. you wouldn't hire victor wooten for a gig and then get upset because he plays a wooten lick - its what he does. andrew gouche came up in the black church, where showmanship is really a strong part of the repetoire, esp. for bassplayers and drummers. if you aren't too familiar with this, you may think that the playing is stepping on the vocals, but alot of singers in that genre love that call and response interaction with the band, where different instruments may fill in some gaps in the song.

also, i'd have to side with him over prince because its his gig. essentially, prince and stevie were just sitting in with chaka's band, and gouche is the musical director. he most likely put together that entire medley, and then the other artists that were in the tribute just came to the last rehearsal to fit in where needed. (okay prince, you play a solo here...stevie you're gonna sing this verse, etc.) so i don't think its prince's place to expect gouche to change up his style of playing on his own gig. if prince had hired him it would be a different story altogether.

once again, i know i'm biased, i know andrew and he's a not just a great player, but a great person. i just wanted to give a bit of context to his playing...
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+1 I can't add anymore to that. You said it all. :)
 
#49
Gouche is the man..But in reference to DW Bass' comments. Ordinarily when you hire the musician, you do have to take in consideration WHO you are hiring and WHAT their position is.
I suspect that as MD-Gouche has some add'l "artistic license". Also, we don't know what the artist suggested he should play. If the artist-be it Yolanda Adams, Chaka Khan, Prince, Stevie, HOotie, or whomever gave him the freedom to play what he felt...that may be the case.

Can we agree to disagree on this one?
 
#50
Haven't heard it yet. But if it doesn't upset the groove I don't mind hearing what some people would label "overplaying" after hearing so many "underplayers", a lot of whom frankly wouldn't make me think the bass is that happening of an instrument compared to guitar, keys, sax, voice if I hadn't heard enough bassists who got it going on on several levels INCLUDING groove.
 
#52
Hey Andrew, thanks for posting, I was late to the party :D

I have to say I can't stop watching this video - the atmosphere is electric, partly because of the performance of the 'celebs', but mainly because of your playing and the other great musos in the band.

It's really made me think about my live playing (after 20 years - slow learner :p). It's about putting on a great show for the audience, not reproducing a studio recording, right?
 
#53
When everyone was on this after that show, I read ALL the comments that were posted, but I didn't respond because I didn't feel like I had to explain myself to people had NO idea what that situation was like. 1st of all, the arrangements were MINE. Secondly, I work for Chaka Khan, not Prince, I have nothing but respect for his work, be was on MY gig, i was not on his. He tried to tell me how to play, but I don't work for him, period! The bottom line is, some like my playing, some don't. That's cool, everyone has a right to their opinion! Those who dig my playing, Thanks, I appreciate it, those who don't, I love ya'll too!!
 
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#54
yogooch said:
When everyone was on this after that show, I read ALL the comments that were posted, but I didn't respond because I didn't feel like I had to explain myself to people had NO idea what that situation was like. 1st of all, the arrangements were MINE. Secondly, I work for Chaka Khan, not Prince, I have nothing but respect for his work, be was on MY gig, i was not on his. He tried to tell me how to play, but I don't work for him, period! The bottom line is, some like my playing, some don't. That's cool, everyone has a right to their opinion! Those who dig my playing, Thanks, I appreciate it, those who don't, I love ya'll too!!
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Great answer Gouche...that's what I thought you'd say.

You DA MAN!!!!

God bless you man!

R...
 
#56
Me and Gooch have chatted about this (on another forum) and I have since (3 years later) changed my stance. I just don't want my old comments being brought back up as current comments. Just listened to it again and that whole segment was bangin'! Hoping there's a HQ vid of this out there somewhere. All upcoming R&B/Funk/Jazz players should study this! This a clinic on how to groove!
 
#57
yogooch said:
When everyone was on this after that show, I read ALL the comments that were posted, but I didn't respond because I didn't feel like I had to explain myself to people had NO idea what that situation was like. 1st of all, the arrangements were MINE. Secondly, I work for Chaka Khan, not Prince, I have nothing but respect for his work, be was on MY gig, i was not on his. He tried to tell me how to play, but I don't work for him, period! The bottom line is, some like my playing, some don't. That's cool, everyone has a right to their opinion! Those who dig my playing, Thanks, I appreciate it, those who don't, I love ya'll too!!
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Thanks for your insight, Andrew. Keep doin' what you're doin!!!


A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste! :cool:
 
#58
yogooch said:
When everyone was on this after that show, I read ALL the comments that were posted, but I didn't respond because I didn't feel like I had to explain myself to people had NO idea what that situation was like. 1st of all, the arrangements were MINE. Secondly, I work for Chaka Khan, not Prince, I have nothing but respect for his work, be was on MY gig, i was not on his. He tried to tell me how to play, but I don't work for him, period! The bottom line is, some like my playing, some don't. That's cool, everyone has a right to their opinion! Those who dig my playing, Thanks, I appreciate it, those who don't, I love ya'll too!!
Click to expand...

When I first read this thread, I was immediately on your side, and I applaud your integrity for standin your ground. You're absolutely right. YOU were in charge, not Prince. If you were playing for the Purple One, then of course you would've done what HE wanted for the gig.

As to your playing, while I don't approach the function of bass in the same way as you do, I can't help but be amazed at your unique and always compelling musical voice. I look forward to stealing a few of your licks in the future!!!

:hiding:
 
#59
DWBass said:
Me and Gooch have chatted about this (on another forum) and I have since (3 years later) changed my stance. I just don't want my old comments being brought back up as current comments. Just listened to it again and that whole segment was bangin'! Hoping there's a HQ vid of this out there somewhere. All upcoming R&B/Funk/Jazz players should study this! This a clinic on how to groove!
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+1. His over-the-top bass wizardry IMO goes perfect with Chaka's equally over-the-top vocal prowess. Good meld.
 
#60
yogooch said:
I work for Chaka Khan, not Prince, I have nothing but respect for his work, be was on MY gig, i was not on his. He tried to tell me how to play, but I don't work for him, period! The bottom line is, some like my playing, some don't. That's cool, everyone has a right to their opinion! Those who dig my playing, Thanks, I appreciate it, those who don't, I love ya'll too!!
Click to expand...

;)
 

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