Bassist Expectations

[PennyroyalWe]

There’s a duo in town that’s been posting around looking for a bassist for their Joni Mitchell tribute band. I haven’t heard much of Joni Mitchell’s stuff, and have never played any of it. What I have heard, I’m not particularly a fan of.
I’ve been feeling pretty plateaued lately and this got me thinking maybe this is a good opportunity to gain some appreciation, and grow my chops a bit? But, I know Jaco played with Joni for a bit, and I KNOW I’m not Jaco.

I contacted the group asking for some basic details (expectations/aspirations, rehearsal schedule, set length, etc.). They sent me links to their webpage, as well as some other details, and said to call if it seems interesting.

I navigated to their music on the website; sure as heck it’s a bunch of the Jaco stuff. No wonder they can’t find a bassist! To get someone who can nail those parts at tribute band quality (not just a cover) is going to take some serious $$$. They might need to alter their expectations.

I think it’s best if I just bow out now and neither of us waste our time.

 

[Zooberwerx]

There’s a duo in town that’s been posting around looking for a bassist for their Joni Mitchell tribute band. I haven’t heard much of Joni Mitchell’s stuff, and have never played any of it. What I have heard, I’m not particularly a fan of.
I’ve been feeling pretty plateaued lately and this got me thinking maybe this is a good opportunity to gain some appreciation, and grow my chops a bit? But, I know Jaco played with Joni for a bit, and I KNOW I’m not Jaco.

I contacted the group asking for some basic details (expectations/aspirations, rehearsal schedule, set length, etc.). They sent me links to their webpage, as well as some other details, and said to call if it seems interesting.

I navigated to their music on the website; sure as heck it’s a bunch of the Jaco stuff. No wonder they can’t find a bassist! To get someone who can nail those parts at tribute band quality (not just a cover) is going to take some serious $$$. They might need to alter their expectations.

I think it’s best if I just bow out now and neither of us waste our time.

Ask them "...are you expecting your bassist to parrot Jaco's work as per the recording?". As you pointed out, their expectations may be unrealistic and / or unsustainable.

Riis

 

[ArtechnikA]

...I navigated to their music on the website; sure as heck it’s a bunch of the Jaco stuff. No wonder they can’t find a bassist! ...
They might need to alter their expectations.

As Zooberwerx observes, what are their expectations? Maybe you're not as far apart as you think.
If their samples are from their website, who was playing on those tracks? What happened to that guy?
Do you have a lot of fretless experience? Are they even expecting that?
It would probably be a lot of work -- but it'd get you off your plateau. If the money were really good, I'd probably at least follow up, especially if their expectations on rate of progress are reasonable.

 

[PennyroyalWe]

Ask them "...are you expecting your bassist to parrot Jaco's work as per the recording?". As you pointed out, their expectations may be unrealistic and / or unsustainable.

Riis

As Zooberwerx observes, what are their expectations? Maybe you're not as far apart as you think.
If their samples are from their website, who was playing on those tracks? What happened to that guy?
Do you have a lot of fretless experience? Are they even expecting that?
It would probably be a lot of work -- but it'd get you off your plateau. If the money were really good, I'd probably at least follow up, especially if their expectations on rate of progress are reasonable.

I reached out and said, in short, “looks like you’re playing a lot of her Jaco stuff, I know I can’t play that note for note. Not sure I’m what you’re looking for.”
Trying to put it all out there, but leave the door open if they weren’t after perfection.
The reply was to the tune of “ok, thanks anyway. Jaco’s stuff is tough!”

So, guess that’s that.

From what I gleaned, they already have 2 hours of material and are shooting to start gigging in the spring. It would have been an uphill struggle even if they were in to what I play.

 

[Swerve]

Yeah good luck finding someone who can play like Jaco that isn’t already touring the world. I see you’re in Oregon. Damian Erskine is in Portland, he could certainly do it.

 

[ArtechnikA]

“ok, thanks anyway. Jaco’s stuff is tough!”
So, guess that’s that.

I think I would have asked 'have you got your Joni?'

I see this a lot. Guys who want to build a tribute band around a unique, signature-sound vocalist - that they haven't got.
Most recently -- 'Forming Sade tribute - just need Sade,,,' I promise, every singer that looks and sounds like Sade is already working the big rooms...

 

[Michedelic]

There’s a duo in town that’s been posting around looking for a bassist for their Joni Mitchell tribute band. I haven’t heard much of Joni Mitchell’s stuff, and have never played any of it. What I have heard, I’m not particularly a fan of.
I’ve been feeling pretty plateaued lately and this got me thinking maybe this is a good opportunity to gain some appreciation, and grow my chops a bit? But, I know Jaco played with Joni for a bit, and I KNOW I’m not Jaco.

I contacted the group asking for some basic details (expectations/aspirations, rehearsal schedule, set length, etc.). They sent me links to their webpage, as well as some other details, and said to call if it seems interesting.

I navigated to their music on the website; sure as heck it’s a bunch of the Jaco stuff. No wonder they can’t find a bassist! To get someone who can nail those parts at tribute band quality (not just a cover) is going to take some serious $$$. They might need to alter their expectations.

I think it’s best if I just bow out now and neither of us waste our time.

What kind of venues/events are they planning on playing? This isn’t exactly rockin’ bar music.
The other part of the equation is: the period of Jaco’s tenure with her was relatively short, compared to the rest of her career. That material is what I would consider to be “deep cuts”, long after her radio hits(even if this is to be a career retrospective).
A major guideline for a regular tribute act is to focus on those hits, and downplay the lesser known stuff, but I have a feeling that these people really have no idea about how to go about something like this.

 

[Zooberwerx]

What kind of venues/events are they planning on playing? This isn’t exactly rockin’ bar music.
The other part of the equation is: the period of Jaco’s tenure with her was relatively short, compared to the rest of her career. That material is what I would consider to be “deep cuts”, long after her radio hits(even if this is to be a career retrospective).
A major guideline for a regular tribute act is to focus on those hits, and downplay the lesser known stuff, but I have a feeling that these people really have no idea about how to go about something like this.

I'm scratching my head on that one. Don't think I could endure 2+ hours of Joni Mitchell material whether it be hits or obscure deep cuts.

Riis

 

[Michael Milner]

I would have just gone for the audition and then see what happens. It could be they don't appreciate how difficult the parts would be. I mean, is the guitarist Pat Methany? Everybody in Joni's group at the time had chops galore. I like challenges, and as Wayne Gretzky said, you miss 100% of the shots you don't take.

 

[basseux]

What Jaco plays on this is albums uses technic more sparsely than on his solo, or weather report albums.

The way you ask them doesn't really look engaging, and it seems logical they are not enthusiastic if you are not enthusiastic about playing interesting bass parts.

I mean I could imagine them prefer an amateur that would happily butcher some Jaco, than a pro that wouldn't dare putting himself at risk doing mistakes playing Jaco stuff.

I mean that should be the dream of an enthusiastic bass player to have a band that wants you to play Jaco stuff. Usually bands mostly think of bass as something that fills the low frequencies to help them take all the attention.

 

[HardNHeavy]

they want you to play like jaco, or close to it......i'd pass if your not into joni or jaco....tho you might be able to fake it and go for the experience.

 

[DrBnz]

Oh no... I don't think ya need to go note for note with Jaco. But you will need to get close to that sound. Very do-able if you wanna play that type of music.

 

[thunesBARROW]

This could be a good opportunity to study these recordings in-depth. But I can’t see the average bassist having much interest in a project this demanding. I am a fan of Joni and Jaco enough to do something like this, but if the other musicians aren’t up to the challenge I wouldn’t. Transcribing and learning those parts would be a scholarly undertaking/labor of love.

 

[thunesBARROW]

Oh no... I don't think ya need to go note for note with Jaco. But you will need to get close to that sound. Very do-able if you wanna play that type of music.

This approach is a lot more realistic and certainly easier.

 

[MCF]

What kind of venues/events are they planning on playing? This isn’t exactly rockin’ bar music.
The other part of the equation is: the period of Jaco’s tenure with her was relatively short, compared to the rest of her career. That material is what I would consider to be “deep cuts”, long after her radio hits(even if this is to be a career retrospective).
A major guideline for a regular tribute act is to focus on those hits, and downplay the lesser known stuff, but I have a feeling that these people really have no idea about how to go about something like this.

I can’t imagine a Joni tribute wanting to play much at all from the Jaco period. Maybe Coyote. Danko pulled it off for The Last Waltz concert. It was probably the most difficult thing he ever had to do. And Danko was a great player. I think you’re right, those guys don’t have a clue if that is what they want to sell tickets for.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

what exact songs are we talking about here? Jaco only played on a hanful of tunes really. his playing with Joni isn't as impossible as you might think.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

There’s a duo in town that’s been posting around looking for a bassist for their Joni Mitchell tribute band. I haven’t heard much of Joni Mitchell’s stuff, and have never played any of it. What I have heard, I’m not particularly a fan of.
I’ve been feeling pretty plateaued lately and this got me thinking maybe this is a good opportunity to gain some appreciation, and grow my chops a bit? But, I know Jaco played with Joni for a bit, and I KNOW I’m not Jaco.

I contacted the group asking for some basic details (expectations/aspirations, rehearsal schedule, set length, etc.). They sent me links to their webpage, as well as some other details, and said to call if it seems interesting.

I navigated to their music on the website; sure as heck it’s a bunch of the Jaco stuff. No wonder they can’t find a bassist! To get someone who can nail those parts at tribute band quality (not just a cover) is going to take some serious $$$. They might need to alter their expectations.

I think it’s best if I just bow out now and neither of us waste our time.

I’m thinking being a square peg in a round hole is not a good place to be. But just to kick tires a bit, contact the BL, and ask him for his preferred audition song list. Tell him/her you are going to have to work on them a bit as it’s outside of your wheel house, and if you feel confident with the pieces you will call him/her back.

Spend a day working on one or two of the songs and see where you are. You may surprise yourself.

 

[jthisdell]

Much of Joni’s material would lend itself to simpler, sparser bass lines, her best work IMO is all about her words and her voice

 

[micguy]

The first audition I ever went to (6 days after I bought a bass), I didn't get the gig. But...a year later, that band called me, and asked if I was still playing. Yes! - they asked me back for another audition, and...I got the gig.

A few years ago, I got called to do a gig (at a church I'd never played before). I almost said no, because I didn't have much time to prepare. I'm fairly well known in my particular scene (maybe because i'm always prepared), so by word of mouth contacts they called me. I was afraid of being the least prepared person on stage. Turns out..I was the most prepared person on stage.

Talking yourself out of possible opportunities is silly. There is a lot of music that I personally wouldn't go out of my way to to listen to that is fun to play. Maybe Joni Mitchell music would be fun to play for you, maybe it wouldn't - there's one way to find out. Also, auditioning for a Joni Mitchel cover band isn't just an audition for that band - you will make contacts with a few musicians that might just lead to cool future possibilities - if the JM cover thing collapses (most bands do at some point), there will likely be two fragments of bands looking for musicians. What will those bands play? I have no idea, but one of them might be very far from Joni Mitchell, and you could end up on both audition lists.

I now (as stated above) play church gigs. In the last decade, I've played at a dozen churches - most of those many times. I've auditioned twice - the rest were word of mouth contacts where I bypassed auditioning. Got to a few auditions, be as prepared as you can be; you might be surprised at how many contacts that gets you.

 

[Gearhead17]

I reached out and said, in short, “looks like you’re playing a lot of her Jaco stuff, I know I can’t play that note for note. Not sure I’m what you’re looking for.”
Trying to put it all out there, but leave the door open if they weren’t after perfection.
The reply was to the tune of “ok, thanks anyway. Jaco’s stuff is tough!”

So, guess that’s that.

From what I gleaned, they already have 2 hours of material and are shooting to start gigging in the spring. It would have been an uphill struggle even if they were in to what I play.

From your response to them, I feel you convinced yourself you were not a good fit for them. You had the defeatist attitude in your mind and gave them a non-committal response. Of course they will pass on you!

You mentioned that you have "plateaued". One way to get out of a plateau is to commit to something completely different and simply do your best at it. Don't look at the results, just do it! I bet anything that you will reach a point where your new music adventure stinks, but now you will be able to say, "I know what I want to do now!" That level of focus and motivation is the ticket!