• 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.

Anthony Jackson

#101
cnltb said:
Do you have an idea what gauges of strings he actually uses?
When you say "very heavy" how heavy is that?

Also; What are splints?

Interesting to hear he was sacked off a tour for not standing up... how would one suggest he play that bass,as it has no strap buttons?
I heard he once lost a gig for not wanting to learn the music and rather read.--But don't quote me on this as it was a mere rumor I heard a number of years ago.
Click to expand...

Splints.....wrist supports.

I think he may be using lighter gauge strings nowadays due to problems, I just checked in the Fodera site and they're a normal medium gauge.
 
#103
I had the pleasure to experience AJ some month ago on a Mike Stern gig (the Line-Up with Dennis Chambers on Drums) in Deutschland and I was sitting "next" to him on the floor next to the stage - I'm still inspired from this day - he is soooooo amazing - I can't put it into words .... and what he does with his Volume Pedal is incredible : his foot moves down and up all the time - sometimes just 2 mm :o ....

And I've never seen a Bass Player using the range of 6 Strings ,28 frets, and a D-Tuner on his B-String (which he used a lot for a phat low A) so musical ....

But his health seems to be not the best - he had big, big problems to get on the stage and needed help - only one stair :hmm: - to see that makes sad
 
#105
Dr. Cheese said:
Whoever fired him was an idiot. Anyone who hires him should realize that he is beyond a mere sideman. He is an artist who should be allowed to pursue his vision as he sees fit.
Click to expand...

And perhaps more to the point( or maybe not...) ... has anyone EVER seen him stand whilst playing??
If they wanted a standing bassist, why hire him in the first place?

Thanx for the clarification as to splints!!!
When I saw him at what used to be ronnie scotts( well it still carries the name...) last year, I can't remember if he or if he wasnt wearing such wrist supports...)
 
#106
Anthony's been a seated-only player for decades - probably since the mid-seventies. From this Bass Player magazine interview:

"By the way, the great guitarist Jack Wilkins [in Rich's band], who always played sitting down without a strap, explaining that this was the logical way to play the guitar, convinced me to do the same. I've been playing that way ever since."

http://www.bassplayer.com/article/anthony-jackson/jan-00/5938
 
  • Like
Reactions: Watchootognbout
#107
20db pad said:
Anthony's been a seated-only player for decades - probably since the mid-seventies. From this Bass Player magazine interview:

"By the way, the great guitarist Jack Wilkins [in Rich's band], who always played sitting down without a strap, explaining that this was the logical way to play the guitar, convinced me to do the same. I've been playing that way ever since."

http://www.bassplayer.com/article/anthony-jackson/jan-00/5938
Click to expand...

Exactly the point I was trying to make!!;)
 
#108
cnltb said:
And perhaps more to the point( or maybe not...) ... has anyone EVER seen him stand whilst playing??
If they wanted a standing bassist, why hire him in the first place?

Thanx for the clarification as to splints!!!
When I saw him at what used to be ronnie scotts( well it still carries the name...) last year, I can't remember if he or if he wasnt wearing such wrist supports...)
Click to expand...

His bass has no provision for a strap. Guess he could've showed them that.
 
#109
Dr. Cheese said:
Whoever fired him was an idiot. Anyone who hires him should realize that he is beyond a mere sideman. He is an artist who should be allowed to pursue his vision as he sees fit.
Click to expand...

It was a big name artist, that I do remember.

He was with Mike Stern when I saw him at ICMP.



He was fantastic, I was very lucky to get there, it's not often that he comes to England, and the places were limited.
 
#115
cnltb said:
And perhaps more to the point( or maybe not...) ... has anyone EVER seen him stand whilst playing??
If they wanted a standing bassist, why hire him in the first place?

Thanx for the clarification as to splints!!!
When I saw him at what used to be ronnie scotts( well it still carries the name...) last year, I can't remember if he or if he wasnt wearing such wrist supports...)
Click to expand...


+1.... I mean, did they not do their homework before they hired him? You should at least know the idiosyncrasies of the musos you hire, especially one who's been around as long as he has...
 
#117
In all seriousness, I've found AJ to be a true original and an uncompromising artist even while playing more commercially oriented music at times. I still remember reading a Bass Player interview with him in the early 90's that really gave you a glimpse of Anthony as a developing artist and how he viewed things around him.

The whole thing that got him motivated to go with an extended range instrument was in his formative years, while trying to play along with organ trio records, the organ's bass pedals went way below the range of a standard tuned bass which drove him nuts.

I like his stance on soloing, or rather "gratuitous bass solos", I've come to feel that same way over time too. One wrong bass solo can really derail the momentum of a song. I really respect him for making it priority #1 to do what the music calls for. AJ can solo with the best of them, and when he does decide to do one, the results are nothing short of blowaway!

He also commented on slapping for instance. He loved it when Louis Johnson and Larry Graham did it, but what got AJ tweaked was when EVERYBODY jumped on the bandwagon and put no thought into why or if the music called fo it (he especially got a bit miffed at guys who would be slapping their asses off on ballads).

And besides, how many bassists cite influences as far flung as Jack Cassidy, James Jamerson and composer Oliver Messaien?
 
#119
The Owl said:
In all seriousness, I've found AJ to be a true original and an uncompromising artist even while playing more commercially oriented music at times. I still remember reading a Bass Player interview with him in the early 90's that really gave you a glimpse of Anthony as a developing artist and how he viewed things around him.

The whole thing that got him motivated to go with an extended range instrument was in his formative years, while trying to play along with organ trio records, the organ's bass pedals went way below the range of a standard tuned bass which drove him nuts.

I like his stance on soloing, or rather "gratuitous bass solos", I've come to feel that same way over time too. One wrong bass solo can really derail the momentum of a song. I really respect him for making it priority #1 to do what the music calls for. AJ can solo with the best of them, and when he does decide to do one, the results are nothing short of blowaway!

He also commented on slapping for instance. He loved it when Louis Johnson and Larry Graham did it, but what got AJ tweaked was when EVERYBODY jumped on the bandwagon and put no thought into why or if the music called fo it (he especially got a bit miffed at guys who would be slapping their asses off on ballads).

And besides, how many bassists cite influences as far flung as Jack Cassidy, James Jamerson and composer Oliver Messaien?
Click to expand...

I've found those comments on slapping quite interesting.
Who decides what the music calls for - usually the client, and if they had not wanted slapping on their records, I guess they could have told the bassist not to.
The bandwagon thing of course is always "one of those".
Maybe AJ is simply not very good at it...??
As to soloing...I like certain bass solos, but have met many bassists who simply thought soloing not to be "their strong point", I would not be surprised if AJ was one of them at heart-I personally have found his solos at least inappropriate for the music at times.To me they often sound more like "another part of a composition" than a solo on a given form ( not sure if I myselve understand what I am trying to say...:confused::confused::confused::D:D). They are always interesting though.
And a solo for the solos sake can be an annoyance on any instrument I think.
I guess it's down to taste.
Most musicians I know, including fellow bassists are influenced by many genres of music, and names like Messiaen and Jamerson, Casady, or any other musician ,group etc from any genre, would not be uncommonly found in the same sentence.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back