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Black bassists and "their sound"
- Thread starter Kwesi
- Start date
It's a wonderful blend of two noble cultures...
African rhythms and Western harmony.
I reckon people just hark back to their roots on occasion, which accounts for the perceived differences between the black and the white.
Not that it is an entirely "black and white" thing of course.
African rhythms and Western harmony.
I reckon people just hark back to their roots on occasion, which accounts for the perceived differences between the black and the white.
Not that it is an entirely "black and white" thing of course.
All of these clips seem to be funk bass as lead instument. This style currently calls for both the slap style and the scooped trebly tone. I don't see it as racial, just stylistic.
Thanks for the interesting discussion.
I think it is just that music that requires that particular sound of bass happens to have a larger number of black musicians in it (modern gospel in particular). Then again, compare / contrast black bassists from outside of that genre (and who are not soloing) - Jamerson, Verdine White, Leonard 'Hub' Hubbard, Raphael Saadiq, etc. They sound nothing at all like the examples posted (and are why I listed them as examples).
A better question might be - "Without seeing video or a live performance, is it possible to determine the race of the bass player by his (her) playing?" The answer is that their playing will be a summation of all of their influences, some of which will be black, others white. And then, what happens to the white guy who listens to only "black music" and vice versa?
I hope this adds sufficient confusion to the mix.
ian
I think it is just that music that requires that particular sound of bass happens to have a larger number of black musicians in it (modern gospel in particular). Then again, compare / contrast black bassists from outside of that genre (and who are not soloing) - Jamerson, Verdine White, Leonard 'Hub' Hubbard, Raphael Saadiq, etc. They sound nothing at all like the examples posted (and are why I listed them as examples).
A better question might be - "Without seeing video or a live performance, is it possible to determine the race of the bass player by his (her) playing?" The answer is that their playing will be a summation of all of their influences, some of which will be black, others white. And then, what happens to the white guy who listens to only "black music" and vice versa?
I hope this adds sufficient confusion to the mix.
ian
Slightly stereotypical, if I do say so.
I'm black and I don't play a lot of soulful, grooving funk.
Honestly, me, my sister and my dad used to take road trips to Virginia to visit the family. All he listened to was either smooth jazz or whatever pop happened to be on the radio at the time.
I grew sick of it and when I started playing the upright I made myself a promise never to play like that. The Weather Channel music included--I can't stand it. If that's what we're talking about here I'm sorry to say I don't have the black sound.
Perhaps we're not talking about that though. I've noticed when compared with other bassists in an orchestra setting I'm the only one who's moving with the music; though I don't think that's necessarily a "black" thing. I think it's them just going through the motions and playing the notes without feeling.
I'm black and I don't play a lot of soulful, grooving funk.
Honestly, me, my sister and my dad used to take road trips to Virginia to visit the family. All he listened to was either smooth jazz or whatever pop happened to be on the radio at the time.
I grew sick of it and when I started playing the upright I made myself a promise never to play like that. The Weather Channel music included--I can't stand it. If that's what we're talking about here I'm sorry to say I don't have the black sound.
Perhaps we're not talking about that though. I've noticed when compared with other bassists in an orchestra setting I'm the only one who's moving with the music; though I don't think that's necessarily a "black" thing. I think it's them just going through the motions and playing the notes without feeling.
its cultural ..............
take any kid and raise em in italy and teach them classical music guess what you'll get.
an italian speaking classical bassist.
you listen and practice "soul" music---- you play soulfully
you listen and practice "rock" music---- you play rock ish
you listen and practice "jazz" music---- you play jazzy
take any kid and raise em in italy and teach them classical music guess what you'll get.
an italian speaking classical bassist.
you listen and practice "soul" music---- you play soulfully
you listen and practice "rock" music---- you play rock ish
you listen and practice "jazz" music---- you play jazzy
He was also talking specifically about slapping... so not playing that style kind of makes them irrelevant, no? It wasn't simply about music of a Black origin as far as I can tell.
Here's what immediately came to mind:
"Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Well it ain't over now!".
I think it's far more about what you lean towards. Just as some think that if you're raised in a particular environment it will influence you, it may also not influence you to stay within the boundaries of that environment.
I'm lucky in the fact that I grew up when music had far fewer labels and I didn't have people trying to influence what I should like or dislike. So it didn't surprise anyone that I performed in both funk and rock bands very early on. I was a musician, not some guy in a box.
It would be an interesting experience and definitely add toi the confusion. Plus you'd have the possible issue of an X guy playing in a Y mix to further confuse things. IMO a mediocre (skill-wise) player could sound funky as heck in the mix if he learned when to shut up. Space still baffles many folks.
JAUQO III-X
Inactive
None of those folks in the OP actually play smooth jazz though I guess some of Dyson's work could be classified as such, it ain't Weather Channel music
. Meshell is all about funk and feel (and Dyson used to play with her), Walter plays with Gladys Knight and incorporates what he doies seemlessly into her repertoire.I thought of that once during my college degree in music. I played more in the college orchestra and I think classical music is more a white thing. Or traditionnal jazz is more of a black thing and fusion is more of a white thing. Why I say that ? because in the trad jazz, you can feel, your body feels it like all black music and in fusion you don't feel it, you understand it.
I was wondering who plays with her these days, every time I see her on something, the bassist is smokin'.
You are what you eat...That goes for white and black....If you look back at the Muscle Shoals guys for example or Tower of Power! It has to do with what one listens too as well as what you are exposed to. Country artist Jerry Reed displayed as well "Amos Moses" and Dr John...
In a nutshell...its a kind of musical vernacular or "slang"..you can hear the "drawl" in the way the notes are attacked and played...what syllables are emphasized! Just as the mix of African, Eropean and Native American laguages created the souther dialect and "manner of speaking" the same goes for musical styles..you are what you eat..can you dig it ...CC? You don't go to a Mexican resteraunt and ask for Chinese Food! Paula Dean can fry some chicken the hell up!
In a nutshell...its a kind of musical vernacular or "slang"..you can hear the "drawl" in the way the notes are attacked and played...what syllables are emphasized! Just as the mix of African, Eropean and Native American laguages created the souther dialect and "manner of speaking" the same goes for musical styles..you are what you eat..can you dig it ...CC? You don't go to a Mexican resteraunt and ask for Chinese Food! Paula Dean can fry some chicken the hell up!
Great post! Personally, I think that it has more to do with genre than it does culture. I find that when I play the smooth jazz/fusion, gospel and funk genre's, I DO employ that percussive groove oriented style (AKA funk/slap) as you put it. It just seems to naturally fit. Those genre's just don't "smell right" if the funk aint there.
At the other end of the spectrum, I sound a whole lot different when I'm playing something like "I Fall To Pieces" by Patsy Cline or "Back In Black" by ACDC. So as a black guy myself, I have to say that it's definitely a genre thang. There's plenty of guys - and gals from other nationalities that can groove in the "funk" style. Go over to You Tube and check out "Bassida" - you'll see what I mean.
At the other end of the spectrum, I sound a whole lot different when I'm playing something like "I Fall To Pieces" by Patsy Cline or "Back In Black" by ACDC. So as a black guy myself, I have to say that it's definitely a genre thang. There's plenty of guys - and gals from other nationalities that can groove in the "funk" style. Go over to You Tube and check out "Bassida" - you'll see what I mean.
JAUQO III-X
Inactive
Lol, totally forgot I made this thread 
. Anyway, I want to agree with the "it's more of a genre thing" but it seems to be REALLY far reaching. I mean I gave you my backstory about how I never thought I'd turn out to be this kind of player (not complaining at all) considering what I like and listen to but I've seen similar things from other bass playing friends. I'm sure there are loads of non-black bassists that listen music that would call for this kind of style and yet there seem to be so few that play that way naturally. Granted it's tough to tell how everyone plays in private or when they're aren't on the gig and often times those to situations could differ in terms of play style.
And for those who have pointed him out, the closest I've heard Mark King come to this kind of feel/style/groove is the main groove on All Around. That isn't to say he isn't funky, just a different flavor.
. Anyway, I want to agree with the "it's more of a genre thing" but it seems to be REALLY far reaching. I mean I gave you my backstory about how I never thought I'd turn out to be this kind of player (not complaining at all) considering what I like and listen to but I've seen similar things from other bass playing friends. I'm sure there are loads of non-black bassists that listen music that would call for this kind of style and yet there seem to be so few that play that way naturally. Granted it's tough to tell how everyone plays in private or when they're aren't on the gig and often times those to situations could differ in terms of play style.And for those who have pointed him out, the closest I've heard Mark King come to this kind of feel/style/groove is the main groove on All Around. That isn't to say he isn't funky, just a different flavor.
