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Double Bass Any Bassist from Any Era for Ten Minutes... (DB forum thread)

#61
I've been lucky enough to "sit at the feet" of many great players from Slam Stewart to Mingus. And while I consider myself to have been blessed by the experiences, I'd like to console some of you younger players. Don't feel so bad.You probably aren't really aware of how lucky you are to have youtube and videos available at your leisure. It was great for me to be right there, but blink and I missed it! You guys have the luxury of replay :)
 
#63
gerry grable said:
I've been lucky enough to "sit at the feet" of many great players from Slam Stewart to Mingus. And while I consider myself to have been blessed by the experiences, I'd like to console some of you younger players. Don't feel so bad.You probably aren't really aware of how lucky you are to have youtube and videos available at your leisure. It was great for me to be right there, but blink and I missed it! You guys have the luxury of replay :)
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Excellent point about YouTube. I would certainly trade 50 YouTube Videos for 1 set in a small room with Mingus (I would wear a mouth guard and not make direct eye contact). But, I remember how the world opened up to me when I started realizing what was out there. An interview with Clifford Brown, Butch playing with Monk on Japanese TV in the early 60s... I lost a lot of sleep that year, staying up and exploring. Definitely gave me a better connection to the music I love.

I certainly can't match "Heard them live" resumes with many of you, but I did get to hear Ray Brown live twice. The last time was the month he died and our table butted up to the stage. He played amazing, inspiring, profoundly hip. Huge mitts making strings dance around like puppet strings. When he set his bass down between sets the scroll actually hung over our table. A few weeks later we got the news.

I've also been in a few master classes with John Clayton and yep, it's quite the experience. Master Classes and shows with Ron Carter, Reggie Workman, Dave Holland. And I've had some limited, but precious-to-me time with Butch Warren. Hope to spend the day with him later this month, in fact if things work out just so. Whoever you dig who is still around, don’t miss opportunities to spend time with them if you can help it.

One of the most inspirational experiences I've had, though was actually a Michigan bassist named Paul Keller. Great player, but in addition - the joy in which he approaches what he does is inspiring and infectious. Spent a tiny bit of time with him and if I can ever manage to visit him in Michigan I know it would be worth a year's worth of lessons and exercises elsewhere.

There are some great contemporary players too, let's not forget that. I would hold some of them up against some of these greats, as much of a sacrilege as it may be to say that.
 
#64
Troyk, I think you might get a kick out of this:
The very first time I saw Mingus was in the Five Spot in NYC. It was during the week (Tuesday? Thursday?) and early in the evening. My bother-in-law (a drummer who liked Danny Richmond) and I were the only people in the house. We sat at a little table about six feet from the bandstand. And get this. . .Mingus asked us, "You gentlemen wouldn't mind if we rehearsed a few tunes?"
Heaven! And so much for his rep for being nasty!
 
#65
Great story and what a treat. I love Mingus, for his playing, for his sound and equally for his composing, arranging and bandleading. The best bassist-bandleader of all times? Maybe, Ray Brown and John Clayton have a horse in that race too, but certainly should be admired for what he accomplished.

Anyone interested in Mingus should also read his "autobiography" Beneath the Underdog. Questionably factual, but engaging, non-the-less.
 
#67
Belatedly realizing that this thread was in the DB forum, I'll stick with my earlier mention of Lee Rocker.

Other shouts go to Ron Carter, Dave Holland, Percy Heath and Stanley Clarke on DB.

I would include Charles Mingus, but I would be afraid that he would blow his stack at some minor thing and beat me up. :p
 
#69
gerry grable said:
Troyk, I think you might get a kick out of this:
The very first time I saw Mingus was in the Five Spot in NYC. It was during the week (Tuesday? Thursday?) and early in the evening. My bother-in-law (a drummer who liked Danny Richmond) and I were the only people in the house. We sat at a little table about six feet from the bandstand. And get this. . .Mingus asked us, "You gentlemen wouldn't mind if we rehearsed a few tunes?"
Heaven! And so much for his rep for being nasty!
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That was one of my regular stops. Mingus was anything but tempermental. The tables in front of the stand were so close that while they were playing, Mingus leaned over and swiped a guy's bagel from the table and munched it as he played.
 
#71
Damon Rondeau said:
Great story! But what if your response was "rehearse on your own time, Chuckie, we're paying the freight here!" Nasty or not? I'm going with nasty.
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Well Damon, that would be a ****ty thing to say and you'd deserve a ****ty response. On the other hand, Gerry and his friend said the nice thing and were treated to an inside look at a living legend working out material with his band. ;)
 
#80

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