Eddie Van Halen on Jack Bruce

[ajkula66]

Ok back on topic. What are your opinions on Jack Bruces’ fretless playing?

The one and only time I saw Mr. Bruce perform was in '88 (I think?) and he was playing a fretless Thumb.

I hear what you're saying about his intonation being "shady". While I have zero way of proving this, my impression is that it was intentional. Eberhard Weber sometimes goes "out there" with the intonation as well, if you follow what I'm saying. Not that the two of them are similar musically in any meaningful way but...

My impressions only...

 

[jerry]

The one and only time I saw Mr. Bruce perform was in '88 (I think?) and he was playing a fretless Thumb.

I hear what you're saying about his intonation being "shady". While I have zero way of proving this, my impression is that it was intentional. Eberhard Weber sometimes goes "out there" with the intonation as well, if you follow what I'm saying. Not that the two of them are similar musically in any meaningful way but...

My impressions only...

I was going to mention Eberhard, he's one of my faves from the ECM crew and sometimes gets critique on intonation. Weber and Bruce's intonation never bugged me, and same with Mick Karn, I think its what draws me to their playing, very human!

 

[ajkula66]

I was going to mention Eberhard, he's one of my faves from the ECM crew and sometimes gets critique on intonation. Weber and Bruce's intonation never bugged me, and same with Mick Karn, I think its what draws me to their playing, very human!

Adds a tinge of drama, I'd add. At least to my ears.

Now, if one listens *really* carefully to some of Cream live performances, Bruce's string bending on a fretted bass used to leave the "safe intonation zone" on more than one occasion...

I'll admit that I'm biased, though. While I wouldn't say that Jack Bruce was my favourite bass player, he's definitely the musician who influenced me the most as a whole.

 

[Michedelic]

Adds a tinge of drama, I'd add. At least to my ears.

Now, if one listens *really* carefully to some of Cream live performances, Bruce's string bending on a fretted bass used to leave the "safe intonation zone" on more than one occasion...

I'll admit that I'm biased, though. While I wouldn't say that Jack Bruce was my favourite bass player, he's definitely the musician who influenced me the most as a whole.

His string bending, easier done on the EB-3, just sounded like was keeping pace with all the guitarists(even beyond Clapton)who did it all the time. Just breaking the rules as many did in that era.

 

[bobyoung53]

Clapton put me to sleep after Layla.

Yeah, I liked some of his earlier singles like "I Shot The Sheriff" and maybe some of his country tinged singles but the song about "Heaven" (RIP) really pushed me way past sleeping. Still can't stand that song.