after all , she married you , didn't she ...?NJL said:i took my wife to an extra special dinner that night for having a good taste in bassplayers!
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Can't stand jam band bassists
- Thread starter lucas vigor
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ok, what I SHOULD of said is that she has a rather FINE taste in bassplayers...
shealsowashedmydishesformethenightbefore....
shealsowashedmydishesformethenightbefore....
Hippies are great to play with. They never have the "next biggest band with major label attention." and they usually give you plenty of room to do you thing. Its usually about showing up and getting caught up with the music.
Some of the stuff can get a little boring listening to recordings, especially if they are studio recordings. Seeing a new live jam form on stage and watching good musicians poor their soul out is what its about for me.
I have always admired jam band bassists, I think that it takes incredible amount of skill to keep coming up with new lines and keep the music from becoming stale.
No groove? What are you listening to?
-Bryan
Some of the stuff can get a little boring listening to recordings, especially if they are studio recordings. Seeing a new live jam form on stage and watching good musicians poor their soul out is what its about for me.
I have always admired jam band bassists, I think that it takes incredible amount of skill to keep coming up with new lines and keep the music from becoming stale.
No groove? What are you listening to?
-Bryan
Planet Boulder
Hey, this is a private residence...man
- Nov 10, 2001
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lucas vigor said:
As someone who is a bassist in a jam band, I could get worked up, but I respect everyone's right to an opinion.
I am a huge fan of Mike Gordon and a number of others, such as Rob Derhak, Dave Schools, Chris Wood, etc. While I respect and appreciate Phil a great deal, I've never been a fan of his style, even though I'm a long time Deadhead (go figure).
If you really think these bassists are "lacking in groove", I STRONGLY urge you to snag a live moe. recording sometime and check out Derhak. The man bleeds groove, as do the rest of the bassists I mentioned.
- Aug 16, 2003
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i saw a interview with oteil (sp)were he said the very thing that i have always thought about most jam band musicians;that most of them were coming from a rock backround as opposed to a jazz backround and that their vocabulary was different because of that fact.i think that the jamband crowd is more open to different styles as long as they can groove to it.
Christopher said:
DISCO BISCUITS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (sorry). Yeah I'm a big jam band fan and play bass in one so I'm going to have to dissagree with the thread starter, however I do see where he's comming from. On the subject of Mike Gordon, I think hes a great bassist who can really groove but I don't think that Phish itself is that great a band (very overrated) and sometimes in a particularly bass prominant jam it can sound pretty sloppy often because the drummer tries to do these little weird timing/off beat things that drummers seem to like and it sort of ruins it. If you were in a band who improvised half their music on stage you'd probably sound pretty ****ty sometimes too. And there are many jam bands, String Cheese Incident for example, who have great bass players who dont stand out as much, but always keep the groove going and as a result the band never sounds sloppy. anyway thats just my 2cents
Mike Gordon and Chris Wood don't groove? Wow- those guys lay down some of the meanest, deepest grooves I've ever heard. Phil Lesh definitely grooves too although he's more of a 'composer'. Somebody mentioned the Disco Biscuits - great guitar playing but I never really liked the bands sound. String Cheese - don't get me started, definitely not my cup of tea. Panic - I can respect School's skills just never got into the band - same for Moe. and Derhak. Mercurio from Galactic isn't the most technically gifted player but he can groove. Stasik from Umphrey's is pretty good, but there's too many guitars in that band for him to do much. Steve Kimock doesn't travel without a grooving bassist. Particle bores me to tears. Murphy from STS9 is highly overlooked. The guy from Perpetual Groove is really good and I like his tone - highly overlooked band with great vocals (a real shocker for most jambands). Brian O'Connell from Uncle Sammy and now the Gordon Stone band is one of the best bassists you've never heard of. Reed Mathis grooves and soars. IMO, there really aren't that many great jam bands out there right now. It's like we're experiencing a dooms day gap, hehe. We need a new band to come out and take over the world.
How did the format of the 2nd page get screwed up? Theres no big pictures in any of the posts or anything.
Sonorous said:
lol , it's a jam-band thread , the format is supposed to get lost momentarily.
+1 on the garaj mahal and oteil bands
It's way more fun to play in a jam band than listen/watch 'em. I mean there are a lot of good ones like Garage Majal (those guys are too fun) but it's way more fun too blast out your own creative (hopefully) ideas.I kinda feel the same way about lil' jazz combos. Sittin' watchin' 'em I just get so itchy to play! But there is a vast wealth to be learned from listenin' to others ..... if ya can sit still long enough!
I would have to strongly disagree that jam band basists lay down the "meanest grooves" ever..
I think I could honestly say there are soul and R and B players who take first prize for that. I could never honestly compare a Mike Gordon type to anyone like Bernard Edwards, or others like him. In fact, when I think of "improv" and "jam", I tend to respect more stuff like Headhunters, 70's Miles Davis...etc...
I put on Bitches Brew, next to any grateful Dead or Phish album, and that's all I need to know about jamming, improv and groove!
In my humble opinion, most jam band musicians are simply trust fund kids who sit around in a circle with thier drums, whacking away with very little sense of rythm (or respect for true percussion history or style) and what bothers me the most, is the self-satisfied smirks on thier faces, as they probably think they are really, really great! They all wear the standard issue Bob marley shirt, and have at least 2-3 hackysacks in thier possesion.
Ok, that was bound to piss some people off...but it's just my opinion, and I conceded I am probably in the minority...no disrespect intended. I feel pretty much the same way about Kentucky Fried chicken....hate it! Greasy, nasty smelling!! stuff! However, most people I know really like it!
I admit, I am prejudiced about hippies in general, having been raised by them...I find a huge difference between the 60's hippies, and todays hippy/jam band scene....
Shoot, I already am feeling the flames!
I think I could honestly say there are soul and R and B players who take first prize for that. I could never honestly compare a Mike Gordon type to anyone like Bernard Edwards, or others like him. In fact, when I think of "improv" and "jam", I tend to respect more stuff like Headhunters, 70's Miles Davis...etc...
I put on Bitches Brew, next to any grateful Dead or Phish album, and that's all I need to know about jamming, improv and groove!
In my humble opinion, most jam band musicians are simply trust fund kids who sit around in a circle with thier drums, whacking away with very little sense of rythm (or respect for true percussion history or style) and what bothers me the most, is the self-satisfied smirks on thier faces, as they probably think they are really, really great! They all wear the standard issue Bob marley shirt, and have at least 2-3 hackysacks in thier possesion.
Ok, that was bound to piss some people off...but it's just my opinion, and I conceded I am probably in the minority...no disrespect intended. I feel pretty much the same way about Kentucky Fried chicken....hate it! Greasy, nasty smelling!! stuff! However, most people I know really like it!
I admit, I am prejudiced about hippies in general, having been raised by them...I find a huge difference between the 60's hippies, and todays hippy/jam band scene....
Shoot, I already am feeling the flames!
Blackbird said:
Kai Eckhardt is AMAZING, though I've only heard him in Curandero.
When I think Jam Band, I think Phish and Grateful Dead. And I've never heard those bass players play anything that interested me.
I wouldn't call the Flecktones a jam band either. They have that vibe, but they're a lot firmer in the structure I think.
snarf, I agree about the Flecktones...
Bela is a true scholar of bluegrass, and other historical forms of folk music, and Victor Wooten? Far too refined a musician to be considered a "jam band"....plus, all these guys read music, obviously.
Whereas your Trey Anasatcios and Jerry Guitarists are ok musicians, they are not near on the same level as The flecktones.
it suprises me that Victor bailey and Alfonso Johnston are even playing this kind of music..but then again, they are session/studio musicians, so it's just another gig for them. I am sure they would back britney Spears if the price was right. Heck, so would I....
But I have some doubts as to if they really enjoy the music.
Some other posters have included King Crimson in the list of Jam-bands, but again, they are too musically profficient to really be considered a jam band.
Lastly, just because you can afford an upright bass, does not mean you can play it well. I think half the time these rich hippy types are just another example of the "otherman stealing from the brotherman"!!
They pick and choose and steal whatever they want from whoever they want, and then just smile that secret smile which basically says " I am hippy-dippy!"
Boy,aren't I opinionated? I can honestly say that out of all the forms of music I can't or won't listen to....jam band is my least favorite...right up there with 80' hair metal, recent pop-punk and most of the rap music I hear....
Everything else, I try to be open minded about!
Bela is a true scholar of bluegrass, and other historical forms of folk music, and Victor Wooten? Far too refined a musician to be considered a "jam band"....plus, all these guys read music, obviously.
Whereas your Trey Anasatcios and Jerry Guitarists are ok musicians, they are not near on the same level as The flecktones.
it suprises me that Victor bailey and Alfonso Johnston are even playing this kind of music..but then again, they are session/studio musicians, so it's just another gig for them. I am sure they would back britney Spears if the price was right. Heck, so would I....
But I have some doubts as to if they really enjoy the music.
Some other posters have included King Crimson in the list of Jam-bands, but again, they are too musically profficient to really be considered a jam band.
Lastly, just because you can afford an upright bass, does not mean you can play it well. I think half the time these rich hippy types are just another example of the "otherman stealing from the brotherman"!!
They pick and choose and steal whatever they want from whoever they want, and then just smile that secret smile which basically says " I am hippy-dippy!"
Boy,aren't I opinionated? I can honestly say that out of all the forms of music I can't or won't listen to....jam band is my least favorite...right up there with 80' hair metal, recent pop-punk and most of the rap music I hear....
Everything else, I try to be open minded about!
That is one of the most ignorant things I've ever heard.lucas vigor said:
Not to mention, Bitches Brew is one of the most unstructured, experimental of Miles' albums. (Well, not to say it doesn't have its groovin tracks.)
Sonorous said:It did.
I had the creeping suspicion that my morning coffee had mind control in it
lucas vigor said:
+1.
I haven't really listened to any other jam band other than the Grateful Dead. I'm sure Phil Lesh's playing has influenced alot of players to "free themselves" from the rudimentary-style of bass playing. For this I give Phil a thumbs up.
Players such as: John Entwistle, Chris Squire, Geddy Lee, etc. were big influences on my early playing; I don't consider them as rudimentary-style players.
But, I really can't think of many Grateful Dead songs that I find very memorable. Maybe I just don't get it, but to me what I have heard from the Dead sounds like meandering pot smoker music.
For me, a band has to have something to say song-wise to hold my interest.
And that's coming from a one time meandering pot smoker.
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