Double Bass Drew Gress WOW !!!

[Mike Goodbar]

T-Bal:

Yes, he was using a microphone -- don't know what kind, but it looked like an SM57 or something similar--but I can't remember how he mounted it. Did the goose neck come up under the tailpiece/bridge? Because the microphone was coming up under the bridge

There was also a transducer on his bass -- a Realist maybe -- but whether or not he was using it I don't know. If the hour hadn't been so late (and if I hadn't had one too many Heinekins), I might've remembered to examine his rig closer.

The amp appeared to be a Polytone, but I could be wrong. Its the same amp I've seem many bass players use at the Showcase, so I'm assuming it's the house's.

 

[Tom Baldwin]

Yes, he was using a microphone -- don't know what kind, but it looked like an SM57 or something similar--but I can't remember how he mounted it. Did the goose neck come up under the tailpiece/bridge? Because the microphone was coming up under the bridge.

Thanks, Mike. The mic placement you describe is different form what he used to do. I believe he had the gooseneck attached to the back of the tailpiece, possibly with black electrical tape (!) and the mic was pointed at the table with the back end sticking out through the afterlength.

 

[ThomastikMike]

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He's using Spiro Mittels.

 

[peteswanson91]

He is still going through that mic, with an older versiom of the Realist (he says it sound a bit darker than usual) and the Woods, but I believe he is using an EA speaker now..I could be wrong..I'm seeing his band tonight at the 55 bar

 

[Sam Sherry]

I just bought Ravi Coltrane's new one, In Flux. I don't care if Drew is using a rubber-band on a sewer pipe. On the first listen, his playing on this disc strikes me as a modern-day Scott LaFaro. It's THAT good.

Best believe I'll be listening again tonight!

 

[oliebrice]

I just got the Marc Copland album 'Marc Copland and...' on hatArt records.
Great record, with some more great playing from Drew Gress on it. Marc Copland is a wonderful post-bill evans pianist anyway, and this album also features quite a bit of John Abercombie and a couple of tracks with Micheal Brecker, both of whom are in fine form.
and while plugging Marc Copland, can't resist mentioning yet again my album of last year, Stan Sulzman's Jigsaw with Copland, Larry Grenadier and Bill Stewart.

 

[Ed Fuqua]

Remember Mike McGuirk (McBass)? He subs in that band (Abercrombie, et al).

 

[Mike Crumpton]

I just got the Marc Copland album 'Marc Copland and...' on hatArt records.
Great record, with some more great playing from Drew Gress on it. Marc Copland is a wonderful post-bill evans pianist anyway, and this album also features quite a bit of John Abercombie and a couple of tracks with Micheal Brecker, both of whom are in fine form.
and while plugging Marc Copland, can't resist mentioning yet again my album of last year, Stan Sulzman's Jigsaw with Copland, Larry Grenadier and Bill Stewart.

Drew Gress toured the UK with Sultzman's Jigsaw instead of Grenadier. I saw them play at Ambleside (yep - the little place in the lakedistrict). He was truly stunning. Players as fuid as Drew are often lacking in tone and invetiveness live albeit that they are playing to the gallery. None of this could be said of DG.

 

[godoze]

ravi coltrane huh ?

 

[oliebrice]

Drew Gress toured the UK with Sultzman's Jigsaw instead of Grenadier. I saw them play at Ambleside (yep - the little place in the lakedistrict). He was truly stunning. Players as fuid as Drew are often lacking in tone and invetiveness live albeit that they are playing to the gallery. None of this could be said of DG.

I saw the sheffield gig of that tour. It was Joechin Reukhart instead of Bill Stewart as well. One of the best gigs I've been to in my live. the interplay between DG, Marc Copland and Stan Sulzman was stunning.

 

[Sam Sherry]

ravi coltrane huh ?

In Flux has been in heavy rotation ever since I got it. I just gave it an unqualified rave review for the upcoming issue of UpBeat (The Jazz Magazine of Record from Bar Mills all the way to Lisbon Falls). Here's what I said about Drew:

One of the disc’s highlights is Drew Gress’ gorgeous composition, the medium-tempo waltz Away. The quartet stretches rhythmically and harmonically but leaves handholds for the listener at every turn. Backing the piano solo, Mr. Gress lays a foundation of fairly straight tempo, but as the tenor saxophone enters the bassist moves immediately to rhythmic commentary, with drums acting as the group’s keel. The bassist then plays a solo which (without any hint of purposeful imitation) raises the specter of the legendary innovator Scott LaFaro. This piece shows contemporary “inside” playing at its finest . . . .

Those with too much time on their hands can read the entire shebang on that paeon to unbridled ego, my (hah!) website. It's in the so-called "Writing" section.

I hope Ravi -- and Drew -- get the juice they deserve for this record. It's all there. It would be really cool to see this band stick around for a long time.

(Man, when I look at this stuff I think it's time to get my mirror cleaned, ya know?)

 

[Marcus Johnson]

100% agreed...listened to it at Borders after reading your post, Sam. Would've bought it, but I needed all my fast cash for my wife's birthday tomorrow. I'll go back after a gig or two, nice disc.

Here are some little samples from Drew's new CD, "7 Black Butterflies", due to ship on May 24;

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Check out his beautiful tone and intonation, especially on the solo tracks. Yikes. I don't think it gets much better than this guy.

 

[oliebrice]

heres a review of his new, soon to be released CD.
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=17746

sounds a bit special!

 

[Confucius]

Hey I just got 7 Black Butterflies. Listening now for the first time and it sounds quite nice indeed.

 

[Damon Rondeau]

I was pleased to discover the other day 7 Black Butterflies online at eMusic. So is Dave Holland's Overtime.

Not that eMusic deserves a free plug or anything but it's nice to see this stuff showing up.

 

[5150]

Drew is a wonderful player (remember I said that when i'm done).


But I would like to hear him play with more emotions than just the few he uses. I'm sure he can but I never hear it.

That's my issue with LaFaro, Gress, Haden, et. al...

Pull the damned strings!! Just every once in a while! It won't kill ya to make the bass "growl" a bit and play some blues.

They play pretty, and pretty is nice. I like pretty. But it's such a narrow aspect of music and art in general.

And don't get me started on Gary Peacock...

 

[Ed Fuqua]

Oh, I dunno, there's plenty of emotion. There's a lot of stuff at work here. I mean, first off, just because you don't see any blue in the painting doesn't mean the artist hasn't used any. Likewise, just cause you YELL WHEN YOU'RE MAD doesn't mean that because I'm yelling I'm mad, or because I'm not yelling I'm not mad.

Secondly, not all of us need to paint with so broad a brush. Most of the musicians I know are fairly "layered" individuals and that complexity of personality comes across in their playing. I don't mean they play hard stuff, I mean that nothing is so black and white - joy tinged with sadness tinged with anxiety tinged with hope etc etc etc. A mirror of the depth and breadth that is the human experience. And, to me, it's more interesting having a conversation with someone who is expressing some emotional depth and breadth than it is with someone who just yells I'M MAD AS HELL AND I WON'T TAKE IT ANYMORE over and over and over and over and over and over and over.....


There's a great line from Neal Stephenson's SNOW CRASH, "...distilling meaning from the vapor of nuance..."

Now certainly you are free to enjoy or not enjoy whatever you want. I would submit that if you find no emotion in the playing of those bassists you mentioned, it may not be because there's no emotion there.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Troll droppings swept up, thread open for business.

 

[godoze]

I was listening to the Ravi cd last night as i crushed my left hand in an unfortunate window accident... anyhoo, am i the only listener who detects a Holland-ish presence in Drews playing ? Very faint, but i was reminded of DH.

 

[Tom Baldwin]

I was listening to the Ravi cd last night as i crushed my left hand in an unfortunate window accident... anyhoo, am i the only listener who detects a Holland-ish presence in Drews playing ? Very faint, but i was reminded of DH.

Dude, you get more injuries than Ken Griffey. What's up with that? Sorry, I hear not even a remote similarity between DG and DH today. But I'm not that familiar with Holland's older stuff - that would certainly be a potential influence.