Chuck Rainey interview

[Alan Vorse]

I find myself thinking about the way he approaches bass playing when I'm working with a band or coming up with a line to somebody's song. Even when I played in hard rock groups.

 

[BuffaloBass]

Alan, can you elaborate on Chuck's approach.

I certianly have become a better musician since reading Vic's book, which kinda open up some new "synapses" for me. ( some of the mental "visualizations" I've been using I got from martial arts training years ago - they've been refined)

Although, I think I've been wired to be a bass player since the Creator issued me a soul. I'm deeply thankful for that!

 

[supermonkey]

LOVE the Chuck. I like his work on "Royal Scam" and "Aja" even better than "Gaucho". He's a legend.

 

[Juneau]

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.

In case you missed my more obscure suggestion above - go buy this album!

 

[Mike McGibney]

I saw Chuck play live pretty recently in a Phil Jones Bass Amps endorsement gig. He was great. Really humble, down to earth, with a lot of wisdom to impart. When Chuck talks, you really listen hard!

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[Vandelay]

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...

If you haven't seen it yet, here's a fun video about the making of "Peg". Chuck tells a good story about the slapping on that song.

 

[wheat]

I recently did an interview with Chuck Rainey and I thought some of you might enjoy it:

http://bassplaying.com/?q=node/210

Enjoy,

Wheat

 

[Alan Vorse]

Alan, can you elaborate on Chuck's approach.

I have been putting a lot of thought into how to answer that question. I started breaking down certain characteristics of his playing. I realized that the very approach I take towards playing bass can be linked back to Chuck and James Jamerson.

My first bass teacher way back in 1989 told me ideally, bass is where rhythm, harmony and if possible melody should converge in the music. As I studied and understood music a little better, I realised Jamerson and Rainey were probably two of the earliest examples of that.

In other threads recently, I have been going on about how I like to hear bass players "say something" with the lines they play in order to make a song better. Locking in with a drummer is kind of a given. With Chuck, the ghosted 16th note synchopations are crucial for that hook up with Bernard Purdie. From there I like to hear a bass player outline the harmony. You don't have to incorporate every note in the chord, but get off the root! This is where Chuck's trademark double stops come in. Once you have rhythm and harmony down, this opens the door for melodic ideas to take shape.

Chuck's work with Steely Dan is great. However, I would direct people to the track "Until You Come Back To Me" off Aretha Franklin's Young, Gifted and Black. The bassline in that song epitomizes everything I just listed in the previous paragraph.

 

[peteroberts]

back to Gaucho, Chuck tells the story that 3 versions of that record were recorded - one with him, one with Anthony Jackson, and one with Will Lee. Apparently the Will Lee cuts didn't make the record.

 

[tZer]

Chuck Rainey is partially responsible for re-igniting my love for bass! Shortly after I ran into my (then future) teacher at a Victor Wooten show and heard him mention Chuck Rainey's name, I began to do some research into who this "Chuck Rainey" cat was. When I found out who he was, my jaw dropped! Even though I did not know him by name, I definitely knew him by sound! I had no clue that he was so ubiquitous! "Hawaii 5-0", "Sanford and Son", "Steely Dan"!!!! and on and on...

I became an instant fan and started reading all I could about him. With each article I was that much more impressed. Reading what he said about being a bass player made me want to become a better bass player that much more. I finally met him at one of those PJB Briefcase clinics where I shook his hand and thanked him for his contribution to the bass world and for re-firing my love of bass!

Not only is his playing amazing, but his down-to-earth wisdom and accessiblility makes him truly a bass-playing treasure!

 

[wheat]

IIRC he played bass on the theme from Sanford & Son.

Double stop.....mmmmmmmmmmmmm

He did indeed. We discuss that track ("The Streetbeater" by Quincy Jones) in the interview.

Wheat

 

[Mike Dimin]

I did an interview with Chuck a few years back. It was the cover story of the very last bass fronteris magazine. I'll see if I can dig it out, scan it and post it ... it will have to wait till after namm.

Jacquo,

thanks for the avatar ...rana was a friend and truly good people

Mike

 

[Showdown]

I'd be honored to shake his hand in this lifetime, but how likely is that?

You never know. I got to shake his hand, get an autograph on the pickguard of my Lakland JO4, and a picture with him at the School of Bass in Phoenix last October. He is a truly nice man, very down-to-earth and easy to talk to. He was there for 4 days, and I got several chances to chat with him.

Edit: I just noticed you are in Scandinavia, so I guess that would make it less likely for you.

 

[BuffaloBass]

As Jauqo likely foreshadowed, Chuck goes and send me a message thru the myspace account. Now, I'm not "star struck", and never will be, we all stand naked in the eyes of the Creator BUT, for Chuck to even give a darn and send a thank you means he's "cool beans". I told him thanks arent neccessary, the pleasure of listening to his work was my pleasure.....

Thank you Mr. Rainey Sir,

Peace and Blessings

( and sure hope I can " smell ya later " one day!!)

 

[Vandelay]

I recently did an interview with Chuck Rainey and I thought some of you might enjoy it:

http://bassplaying.com/?q=node/210

Enjoy,

Wheat

Very nice interview! Thanks!