Pretty sure they are likely to never get out of the "garage". While these groups might have high expectations that are completely unrealistic, you have to admire their tenacity in sticking to what they want, even to their own detriment.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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.
Bassist Expectations
- Thread starter PennyroyalWe
- Start date
Pretty sure they are likely to never get out of the "garage". While these groups might have high expectations that are completely unrealistic, you have to admire their tenacity in sticking to what they want, even to their own detriment.
Joni's music changed a lot during her career. She started out strongly folk music and then kind of went pop and then kind of got into contemporary jazz/pop or something.
Here on TalkBass, most think of her music via Jaco. Which a quick Google search says, 4 albums with Jaco but in total, Joni did around 19 albums according to Google search.
So....................bass for a Joni tribute band? Depends, I guess.
Here on TalkBass, most think of her music via Jaco. Which a quick Google search says, 4 albums with Jaco but in total, Joni did around 19 albums according to Google search.
So....................bass for a Joni tribute band? Depends, I guess.
Jaco's parts with Joni aren't all that difficult. But the bigger question is why anyone doing a Joni tribute act would be playing songs from that era anyway.
They state they’re specifically a tribute to her “jazz era”, so it sounds like that all they want to play.
The fretless wouldn’t be an issue, as I primarily play fretless bass anyway. It’s what they would need me to do on the fretless that would have been the tall order. I took a quick look at the sheet music for Hejira and knew I was out of my league.Not only that, do they expect you to play it on a fretless?
As a BL I will say this. I've played in some great bands. Each member delivered their best which was expected. Over time you rely on each members performance and even their sound. When you lose a member you expect the replacement to be equal to or better than what you lost. If you don't find that in a replacement, the band seems to missing something or lacking.
The audience doesn't know it but members do. To express what is expected of a perspective candidate is the right thing to do. But, with gigs on the books "settling" may be necessary with the hope's that the replacement will grow with time. Encouragement is necessary in these cases. It's a tough spot to be in for a band or perspective player.
The audience doesn't know it but members do. To express what is expected of a perspective candidate is the right thing to do. But, with gigs on the books "settling" may be necessary with the hope's that the replacement will grow with time. Encouragement is necessary in these cases. It's a tough spot to be in for a band or perspective player.
I have been in this situation also. 1st. Jaco did not play the whole time with her. So don’t stress too much. 2nd, I told the group that I am more of a root bass player, but I will play close to the original.
3. If I remember correctly, Joni Mitchell tuned her guitar different, they may do it also. so if you are a “chord watcher,
You may struggle a little.
3. If I remember correctly, Joni Mitchell tuned her guitar different, they may do it also. so if you are a “chord watcher,
You may struggle a little.
I'd have gone for the audition just to hear their Pat Metheny, if they're so stuck on the Jaco aspect of her catalog.
To them(not you), all I have to say is…GLWT.
I brought it up earlier, but I’m still curious as to what venues/situations these people are hoping to play in. And yeah, do they have “Joni”? Or just a random female vocalist that sorta kinda sounds like her. Nothing wrong with that, but as they’re narrowcasting, and are demanding Jacoisms from whoever the bass player will be, that would be a bit unfair or unrealistic.
And you want to bust your ass learning the stuff, not to mention playing a 2 hour set of it?
I agree. For me personally, while I like Joni Mitchell's music, I don't like it well enough to be in a Joni cover band. Also, I would question how many bookings they would have.
How do these people expect to make any money? Only bassists or elevated music enthusiasts appreciate Jaco's work. Most everyone else never even heard of him and wouldn't like it if they did. NOT a criticism of Jaco or his fans but I don't have to spell it out for you, we all know the mentality of the public.
Y’all have to remember OP is in Oregon, likely the Portland area. We get a LOT of Craigslist postings out here with people wanting to start very specific tribute bands for artists many wouldn’t expect to even warrant a tribute act.
I’ve responded to a few of these out of curiosity and its always people way out of their depth. Usually a super fan that isn’t a very good musician or thinks they can sing but can’t. Their overwhelming enthusiasm for said project blinds them to the reality of the situation.
In probably 99% of cases these bands never materialize.
But it being Portland, folks here are pretty supportive of the obscure and different, so getting gigs as a Joni Mitchell band wouldn’t be a problem.
I’ve responded to a few of these out of curiosity and its always people way out of their depth. Usually a super fan that isn’t a very good musician or thinks they can sing but can’t. Their overwhelming enthusiasm for said project blinds them to the reality of the situation.
In probably 99% of cases these bands never materialize.
But it being Portland, folks here are pretty supportive of the obscure and different, so getting gigs as a Joni Mitchell band wouldn’t be a problem.
Personally, if I couldn't bring my part to the table, I wouldn't do it. Joni Mitchell has had some excellent players, the thought that people need to question if the Joni is right would be irrelevant to me. If that isn't something you can cover, don't pursue.
It sounds like you want to be your best possible self as a bass player.
That duo wants to be someone else.
It seems to me what they want is sad and boring, but what do I know?
I'd ask myself: Would I enjoy playing the music if it were in the context of a capable and well managed band? If yes, then audition and check out the band. Good enough players can make practically any kind of music grow on me.
We all have different reasons for playing. The market for playing the most commercially viable music, in proven bands, is about 1% of the music scene. I'm happy to let others compete for a piece of that market, while playing relatively obscure music to smaller but appreciative audiences. But I have high expectations for the quality and professionalism of the bands that I play in.
We all have different reasons for playing. The market for playing the most commercially viable music, in proven bands, is about 1% of the music scene. I'm happy to let others compete for a piece of that market, while playing relatively obscure music to smaller but appreciative audiences. But I have high expectations for the quality and professionalism of the bands that I play in.
A bunch of the stuff that sounds like Jaco on those albums is actually Max Bennett.
Jaco only really played on a few tracks.
I did a mini-tribute of Joni stuff, but it was all her early stuff, so it predated Jaco. Unfortunately, because of the way Joni let the other musicians loose, it really doesn't matter what era you're in with Joni, something weird is inevitably going on in almost every song. It's fun!
Jaco only really played on a few tracks.
I did a mini-tribute of Joni stuff, but it was all her early stuff, so it predated Jaco. Unfortunately, because of the way Joni let the other musicians loose, it really doesn't matter what era you're in with Joni, something weird is inevitably going on in almost every song. It's fun!
Hahah... Her "Jazz era" is arguably her most pointless, arrogant, and disjointed musical era. I guess she never forgave Judy Collins for having such a massive hit with "Both Sides Now."
