Billy Sheehan (EB) Playing a Jazz Standard

Sheehan's tone doesn't work for me on this track; playing is okay although it's too tense for this arrangement (IMHO).

 

he does not have a feel for jazz real stiff.

 

Well put. Grind and dirt tone a strange thing here.

 

I think I understand what he’s going for here, but it’s very unconventional. As others have noticed to dynamics sound very “rock” to me.

 

I couldn’t get past the tone of Billy’s bass. I’m not usually ‘that’ guy, but man it’s hard to listen to.

To clarify - it’s a cool tone to a degree and Billy is a monster player, but I believe a more subdued tone would better compliment the tune as a while.

 

Wow. Some astute DB players on TB, for sure.

Putting my jazz hat on, I'm not even going to try to be diplomatic or gentle. Billy should have asked his buddies not to publish this one. That is so awkward and distasteful as to be seriously disorienting. Never thought I'd see Billy hit the wall like that. He's completely out of his element. Grindy rock wankery over a jazz standard. His busy buddies aren't exactly sweetening the pot either. Unlistenable from the halfway point on.

 

Can't be too shocked. All those guys can play, but Billy is a known quantity. They had to have known what they were getting into.
It's still fun to listen to. I wonder if he's using thing helix effects or his usual stuff

 

To each his own, brother. I think you are being kind and accommodating, but not objective. I'm a Sheehan fan too, I've lost count how many times I've defended him, but here is maybe the first time I take a stand and keep it real with Sir William.

"Man's got to know his limitations." --Dirty Harry Callahan

 

It was better than I thought it would be.

I think Billy has a good feel when playing bass on this and has a bigger harmonic vocabulary than I would have expected. I’m giving him a mulligan on time as it’s not his fault the guitar player randomly changes tempos. Dynamics? Well there’s always next time.

His tone and the solos were...him? Billy’s fans will love it, he’s very committed to a certain aesthetic. After a life spent pursuing and developing that sound and play-style we’d be foolish to expect something else. I prefer this result to Billy trying to be Steve Swallow because it’s honest.

 

Most peoples arms would fall off if they tried to play like Billy. Sure it's not for everyone but an amazing effort just the same.

 

It isn't bad as a version of a pop song. As far as jazz goes, I think either Billy or the drummer would need to swing more. Two rock players doing their best isn't enough. One rock player with a good jazz player could make it work. Maybe.

 

That means he should know better and play more appropriately. We all know he's got chops but now his lack 'sensibility' is showing. I respect him for all he's done but he's far from perfect.

 

Drummer had much more sensibility (IMHO) and it's not that he played bad at all.

 

It works better for me than jazz players trying to do jazz versions of rock tunes - of course that doesn't work for me at level, so there is that!