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Double Bass Appreciating the Upright Bass

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#124
Interesting that he is probably also the only bassist in that scene that is a legit free player, too. He is amazing. I don't think ANYONE else makes gigs with Brötzmann & Branford on bass!!

fingers said:
Nice Damon.

Here's the reason I posted the Revis clip. The other clips people posted were of people being virtuosos of the bass. Great clips.

*Disclaimer: This is not at all a commentary of those players to be clear. All amazing and important players.*

Revis is just an example of someone who revels and excels being supportive of a soloist. He swings like a m*****f*****, punches you in the gut with his sound, and loves the **** out of the quarter note.

There are cats that can solo circles around me in this city that don't work half as much. Bass players get hired by and large by how well they play bass.

Not to be too much of a Revis nerd but...

Eric Revis PREVIEW- behindthenotes.com - YouTube

So the bottom line is FIRST you need to love to role of the bass. Evaluate whether you are even there on electric bass. Some guys like the electric because they feel more confident flying around and soloing. Guess what. That stuff is great but if you ain't layin it down you could play the fastest runs in the world and you phone ain't gonna ring.
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#125
Jason Sypher said:
I got in a little tiff elsewhere talking about NOP and chops and the uselessness of chops if your sound isn't hitting. This was in reference to what happened to NOP over the years of amping and then amping some more. I got a surprise response from an European player who got defensive and started talking about how the trend these days in the US is to worship players you are technically not up to snuff with someone like NOP. Not to derail but I thought that was kind of interesting. Revis can play his ass off but he is no NOP...nor is just about anyone else for that matter. I think we do like muscular playing here in the US. We do like big old phat ass bass playing with a heavy beat. I know I'd rather sit in front of Jimmy Blanton and hear him play than NOP any day of the week....if just to bask in the glory of that sound. NOP blows circles around Ray on that OP disc where they are both trading comping but Ray, stumbling as he does has that big fat sound and swing. Perhaps this is another thread....US vs European bass styles and tastes..
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IMO, and kindly, Ray sounds a bit more black than Niels, what? Just a wee smidge, mind you. Right-o! :hiding:
 
#127
Paul Warburton said:
DURRL, please! Kindly quit censoring my bloody posts! That was ****ing (bleeding) brilliant before you added all that **** (bugger all nonsense). :D
Ima' go to the Bluegrass Forum if you keep this **** (rubbish) up.
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Sorry, Paul. Please don't go to the bluegrass forum. I'll try to be good from now on. It's just that Dono cracked me up with the whole "Paul is dead, man, miss him, miss him, miss him" bit, and then when the kindly drunken butler thing snapped into place, it just took on a life of its own. So to speak. :ninja:

Jason and Eric, et al: I like the idea of the new thread. Sounds like fun.
 
#131
Tunnel Pig walked into the Lion's Den with his questions and positions. Ed, Paul, and others are stern keepers of the flame, so you have balls to even go there. That said, here are some quick answers to the most salient (IMHO) points:

1. "I attend a University which requires at least two years of upright bass study to be a Jazz Bass major":
This is typical; very few departments offer a degree in electric bass as a primary focus. Get online and do a little survey to prove this which is what you should have done prior to choosing your present institution.


2. " I don't understand why I'm being forced to play this instrument in this modern age"
Can you imagine how dumb it would sound if a piano major said, Why can't I major on synthesizer? Why must I play this antiquated museum piece?


3. "If my double bass professor makes one more condescending remark to me about my preference of the bass guitar, I feel like I'm going to flip out on him and trash the instrument"
Easy....they will call campus security and we'll see you on the evening news....remember "Don't Taze Me Bro!"


All kidding aside, you are at the wrong institution, they will not change for one student, nor should they. If you don't like it, vote with your feet and go somewhere that offers a curriculum that you are seeking. Please don't trash the bass.

JS
 
#133
buddyro57 said:
All kidding aside, you are at the wrong institution, they will not change for one student, nor should they. If you don't like it, vote with your feet and go somewhere that offers a curriculum that you are seeking. Please don't trash the bass.
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If TunnelPig is still listening, Jon knows what he is talking about. He has been a college professor for...umm...a while. He was my first bass teacher, but he never had to tell me "Please don't trash the bass."

Meanwhile, can we get back to the thread hijacking? That was some good stuff.
 
#136
Eric Hochberg said:
Time for you to go back to the other side... your problem is YOUR attitude. You have been given the opportunity to learn something new, and you bitch and moan about it. And to those of us who love the instrument. You have a hell of a lot of nerve.
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I believe that the op's attitude has been hardened by his instructor's prejudice against electric bass. The only thing more pretentious than classical music snobs are jazz snobs. These types of people ruin the music experience of so many. I make these statements from the pint of view of a teacher of classical music over many years. Your comments here reek of the same intolerance that has upset the op in the first place. Remember that upright bass replaced the tuba as the bass instrument. Many thought that that was the end of true jazz. A musical genre must adapt or die. The jazz music that I love is an inclusionist rather than an exclusionist medium. Many jazz musicians have developed their snobbery in mimicry of the classical music snobbery that was exhibited towards jazz. I believe that music as a whole should be above such arbitrary categorisations as stylistic authenticity and exclusionism.
To the op. tell your instructor that his negative attitude to electric bass is personally offensive. Then ace the double bass course.
 
#139
Buxtehude said:
I believe that the op's attitude has been hardened by his instructor's prejudice against electric bass. The only thing more pretentious than classical music snobs are jazz snobs. These types of people ruin the music experience of so many. I make these statements from the pint of view of a teacher of classical music over many years. Your comments here reek of the same intolerance that has upset the op in the first place. Remember that upright bass replaced the tuba as the bass instrument. Many thought that that was the end of true jazz. A musical genre must adapt or die. The jazz music that I love is an inclusionist rather than an exclusionist medium. Many jazz musicians have developed their snobbery in mimicry of the classical music snobbery that was exhibited towards jazz. I believe that music as a whole should be above such arbitrary categorisations as stylistic authenticity and exclusionism.
To the op. tell your instructor that his negative attitude to electric bass is personally offensive. Then ace the double bass course.
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Whatever dude. On re-reading the thread I can't find any posts against EB in jazz. Just people trying to help. Lets remember, his posts have been full of distain for the DB in a forum for DB players. Very few flames for the attitude he's exhibited.

I'm about as prejudiced as it comes but I checked my attitude at the door. I'll be glad to share it though. Walking on EB gives me hives. There I said it.

Swami out.
 
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