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Chuck Rainey interview

Its not that I need to "hear" myself "talk", but I dont see Chuck's name up here enough....

Slipped in my old "Gaucho" cd on the way to work this am. Hadnt really listened to it since I adopted the goal of tbeing a player....

Dang. Chuck sense of timing and feel.... dang...
I mean, I'm a student of Wellington Bassology, and a disciple of Vic 's philosphy ( although he dont know it! ), and I like to hear the Manring's of the world, and all the great slap artists in Bassist4Life's thread...

but for what I do ( backing a female vocalist) .... I guess I want to sound like Chuck more than anyone... and I hear him all over my playing...

The timings in Gauhco, the gentle ghost plucks ( what do y'all call them).... his ability to millisecond time that feel, is aaaahhhh...like buttah...

Mr. Rainey, SIR!. Thank you!:bassist:
 
He doesn't unfortunantly manage his own myspace, but Im sure he will get the message :)

Chuck is a great guy, and amazing player in everything he does. I was fortunant enough to get to hang out with him for a couple of hours not too long ago. Even after all this time, he really is just like a kid when it comes to playing. He seems just as excited about new basses, or players, or pretty much anything having to do with bass as someone just getting started - awesome to see such enthusiasm in someone who has been so immersed in music for so long. He's also one of the most friendly guys your ever likely to meet.

For a semi-obscure recording of him that Im sure you will love - check out Robert Walters - There Goes The Neighborhood.
 
J3, my band has a myspace account, I'll have to get the acess stuff... reherse tonight... I will send him a message, cut n past my post....

J 3, I owe you like many beers for all the **** you turn me onto.

Come to Buffalo, beers and wings on me.Hell bro, stay at my crib and teach my 9 yr old Jake and me somethings!

That's bonafide, no bs J3.

Juneau, I noticed that in one of the best local plyers too, Jerry Livingston, and in Ant Wellington ( whose a young buck like me ), i.e, in many of us lifetime players ( and aspiring wannabees like BB) have that real open , almsot humble attitude. That's my role model right there. That is the attitude that can take you to the top of the game. Its the right feel. And its dumb easy to reckon....

Remember, its not about us, we're just a medium. Its lady music we're "beacons" for.

Prefer to visualize myself as a LIGHTNIN' ROD for her!
 
Chuck Rainey's been my main man ever since I first heard him on Yusef Lateef's 'Detroit' album in 1969. His playing opened the doors up wide for me. Suddenly, I thought I knew what electric bass was supposed to do. The elegance, the imagination, the accuracy, the radar groove... Still working on it...

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From what I've read, Chuck also seems to be the kind of guy who gladly cuts up his original '57 Precision to put a massive 2Tek bridge in, and who rejects a proffered Warrior bass 'cos he doesn't like the shape. Good man, good man. Not many of his caliber around. I'd be honored to shake his hand in this lifetime, but how likely is that?
 
I'd love to hear some more of Mr Rainey's work. The little I've heard (some Aretha) has been awesome. Any listening suggestions would be really appreciated.

Cheers.

So much good Chuck Rainey out there... but two things that spring to my mind are the Steely Dan cuts "Kid Charlemagne" and "Peg"; dig his slapping on the choruses of "Peg", and his fingerstyle stuff all over "Kid Charlemagne." Wonderful playing...