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BASSISTS AND ETHNICITY

#141
I think this is a very good question. I'm not sure why people are ragging on it, saying it's stupid and whatnot.

The stereotype is that Africans have a better sense of rhythm. I think the explanation that African culture has a lot of chants and drum beats, while European culture and even Asian culture isn't based off rhythm as much as African is. I like to think I'm special because I'm an Asian bassist. The stereotype of Asian's having "sick skillz" on instruments, is because traditionally Asian families are very strict. Usually a child will be more or less forced to learn and instrument, and practice on it every day for many hours. I know this because I go to a boarding high school with many Koreans who are excellent musicians because they were forced to work at it while they were younger. Now, they've learned to love music now, but their skills have come from hours of practice, not any sort of Asian music gene.
 
#143
TheBassBetween said:
I think this is a very good question. I'm not sure why people are ragging on it,...<snip>

i'm ragging on it because it is becoming increasingly difficult to define individuals by race, and we should have given it up long ago.

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it would not surprise me to find myself with a similar genetic makeup to Mr. Watson's.

the question should be proffered in terms of culture and not 'race', whatever that is. let's not bring back the days of eugenics; in another generation or two i hope it would be moot anyways.

http://www.bioethicsanddisability.org/eugenics.html

later, ron
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#144
i dont know why people are taking this persons opinion to such a great extent to call him a racist. I dont think that he is saying that NO caucasians have rythm and all AA's do. It is GENERALLY true that african americans tend to have better rythm than caucasians. no, i dont believe that this is a sterotype, however the OP's example of south park is a stereotype. This isnt a negetive statement or a positive statement. its just a statement, saying what he thinks, and is GENERALLY true.
 
#145
Here is a little musicly racial fun fact.

While I was in South Korea, I would frequently get calls from a native Korean promoter who would want me to put jazz combos together for her events. She didn't care what tunes we played or what the instrumentation was or even if we sounded good. Her only stipulation was that my group have at least 3 "black people". And if she needed a salsa band, she made sure I had at least 3 Puetro Ricans!

At first I thought it was a really weird and racist thing to request, but to that particular audience and culture it's all about what looked authentic.
 
#146
TheBassBetween said:
I like to think I'm special because I'm an Asian bassist. The stereotype of Asian's having "sick skillz" on instruments, is because traditionally Asian families are very strict. Usually a child will be more or less forced to learn and instrument, and practice on it every day for many hours. I know this because I go to a boarding high school with many Koreans who are excellent musicians because they were forced to work at it while they were younger. Now, they've learned to love music now, but their skills have come from hours of practice, not any sort of Asian music gene.
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There it is folks, nurture.

It's cultural, so somebody can notice cultural differences without it being a racial superiority thingy.
 
#147
Sigh...
Why oh why does everyone have to keep on about the "racist" thing. As musicians we should all be able to celebrate the differences we have.
Im an old kinda funky white guy and I simply love and RESPECT, black rythm sections. Why? because in my mind..... these guys/gals sound better/tighter than most white rythm sections. And yes after thirty years of playing/listening to and studying "The Funk" I make no bones about this. Sorry.
Some of us can accept in a positive way that different "groups" of people are just that... different, and dare I say... better at some things without feeling awkward or having to analyze it to the enth degree.
Oh by the way. Motown, Philly, and Mr Stevie Wonder, rule.. OK
 
#148
Why are people associating everything to africa? the question wasnt where did modern music originate from, it has nothin to do with africa, so lets cut that one. Were talking about americans, not many of todays bassists, or many bassists ever, have been african, and have used music from africa in their groove, so all thats irrelevant. And why are people defending themselves saying that white bassist can groove too? no one ever said they coudlnt, well all know that white bassists can groove theres no denying that. Everytime you bring up jaco or anyone, your being defensive, whether youre trying to be or not. Theres no reason to defend anything, because like ive said before, its strictly an opinion. An opinion is not a fact, just a thought. Theres no way to prove that a black or white bassist can groove better than the other.Theres no reason to prove it either.
 
#152
higgi said:
I love that Dave Chappel bit! I like him because he can celebrate our differences with out being offensive.

American music is a combination of black and white roots music. It's country and soul mixed into an original new sound that couldn't have happened with out the melting pot. We are the country that produced Charlie Pride and Eminem.

Standing in the Shadows of Motown shows black and white musicians working together with out regard to race. You should also check out the history of Stax Records. They had black and white people working together to create the best music in the world. Most importantly it was owned by an Arkansan named Al Bell! http://www.wattstax.com/pressroom/albell.html

The Stax Story.
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Let's not forget Sam Phillips.
 
#153
jmcdan3 said:
First off...This is friendly thread and is not intended to be culturally biased, racist, or promote discrimination. I was wondering why many feel that African-Americans play better bass (Jamerson, Wooten, Miller, Chambers, Graham) on these boards and in the media. Take for instance South Park (a very bad example and prejudiced) when the character "token" was asked to play bass. He replied that he couldnt and the white kids said "he was black and was born for it." Is this fact justified??? I have observed that the most dominant bassists tend to be African-American while the most dominant guitarists tend to be Caucasian. I know obviously that bassists such as Jaco Pastorius, Flea, Jeff Berlin, Jack Bruce etc...are a huge exception. I suppose that it depends on the musical genre. Anyone else feel that African-Americans tend to be more dominant and perform with tremendous feel, soul, and groove than Caucasians? This is merely opinion and I realize that I will be shot down for this thread.
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The fact that you would even ask these questions just cost you 10, 000 cool points and atleast 5 I.Q points. :eyebrow: Whats next? NFL? NBA?
 
#157
bassistloaded21 said:
Why are people associating everything to africa? the question wasnt where did modern music originate from, it has nothin to do with africa, so lets cut that one. Were talking about americans, not many of todays bassists, or many bassists ever, have been african, and have used music from africa in their groove, so all thats irrelevant. And why are people defending themselves saying that white bassist can groove too? no one ever said they coudlnt, well all know that white bassists can groove theres no denying that. Everytime you bring up jaco or anyone, your being defensive, whether youre trying to be or not. Theres no reason to defend anything, because like ive said before, its strictly an opinion. An opinion is not a fact, just a thought. Theres no way to prove that a black or white bassist can groove better than the other.Theres no reason to prove it either.
Click to expand...

Ding, Ding, Ding...We have a winner folks!
 
#158
bassistloaded21 said:
Why are people associating everything to africa? the question wasnt where did modern music originate from, it has nothin to do with africa, so lets cut that one. Were talking about americans, not many of todays bassists, or many bassists ever, have been african, and have used music from africa in their groove, so all thats irrelevant. And why are people defending themselves saying that white bassist can groove too? no one ever said they coudlnt, well all know that white bassists can groove theres no denying that. Everytime you bring up jaco or anyone, your being defensive, whether youre trying to be or not. Theres no reason to defend anything, because like ive said before, its strictly an opinion. An opinion is not a fact, just a thought. Theres no way to prove that a black or white bassist can groove better than the other.Theres no reason to prove it either.
Click to expand...

Ding, Ding, Ding...We have a winner folks!
 
#159
Black, white, red, blue or polka-dot......when you hear a record that is kicking some ass in the groove dept. Do you EVER think about the color of the bass player?!?!????

Really, who give a rats ass what color the bass player is.
Will Lee- that guy is so white he glows, but he can groove as well, if not better than anybody.
Norwood Fisher- About as black as a man can be, but rocks his ASS off.

Theory is kind blown out there.

(Not isolating either one guy here, both can rock and groove real hard, just an example, thats all)
 

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