So who used to carry the baby, the white man or the black man?
LOL! I messed that one up pretty good!
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Funkiest non-Black bassists :)
- Thread starter bassguy74
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LOL! I messed that one up pretty good!
I'm not in the least bit riled up
Just my opinion on how it was worded, particularly the part of how someone might sound black. How do we know that the guy you think is black wasn't trying to sound Like Tommy Cogbill ? Thats all, and it has been said already in this thread, music is colorblind and it takes all of us to make music what it is.
Man, I'm seeing a lot of players mentioned who to me are anything but funky. Alain Caron, the dude from the brecker bro's....these guys sort of scream "unfunky" to me. Everything of theirs that I've heard sounds way too forced.
Chris Wood, Rocco, Paul Turner, Pino, Jaco, and guys like them all make your head nod heavy on the one, whenever they want. That is funky to me.
Chris Wood, Rocco, Paul Turner, Pino, Jaco, and guys like them all make your head nod heavy on the one, whenever they want. That is funky to me.
I want to add David Romani
I love CHANGE!
I used to spend hours and hours listening to Change and smoking...
Those were the days...
I agree with Pete Skjold. Irrespective of the intent of the thread, there is a certain lack of awareness in the original post that is troubling. In the nature vs nurture balance, this is strongly a nurture thing, IMO. Bringing skin pigment into the discussion is confusing at best.
Roy Vogt's post was pretty decent.
Our music is the result of a cultural melting pot, perhaps the ONLY place where we have come together as Americans according to our supposed national character. Our funky players of all pigments are national treasures. In their best moments they represent our highest aspirations.
Please don't bring some even inadvertent divisive spin to this thing. Its not there.
IMO
My problem with this thread is it's not unalike the common "who are the best white NBA players of all time" question.
It's always white people asking questions like this, and in essence it disregards the achievements of blacks and other minorities through saying "they're just naturally good at it."
"Black people are just better at bass! it's not fair to compare them to whites in that field."
"Black people are naturally better basketball! Of course there aren't a lot of white NBA players."
No...if you see a black guy (or anyone of any race) better at something than someone else, it's probably because they've worked harder at it.
It's always white people asking questions like this, and in essence it disregards the achievements of blacks and other minorities through saying "they're just naturally good at it."
"Black people are just better at bass! it's not fair to compare them to whites in that field."
"Black people are naturally better basketball! Of course there aren't a lot of white NBA players."
No...if you see a black guy (or anyone of any race) better at something than someone else, it's probably because they've worked harder at it.
Just completed Navy basic training (bootcamp), going from a 30 man barracks to a 3 man enlisted quarters room for my A and C-school.
My room mates noticed that I had a bass and small amplifier shipped from home, 2000 miles to me, I was so happy to open the boxes and play my bass again (such luxuries are not allowed during boot camp).
Upon hearing my playing, my room mates made a comment, "Damn, you must have some blackness in your blood!!"
I just smiled, because they appeared to enjoy my ability to groove. But now, after reading some of the comments, I wonder if I should have been offended, by being stereotyped?
Me, the scrawny 5'11" 143 lb. white guy, and two room mates who resembled Taye Diggs ...
Come on people, why the need to 'color' our abilities (or inabilities)?
If you see someone better at something than someone else, it's probably because they've worked harder at it.
My room mates noticed that I had a bass and small amplifier shipped from home, 2000 miles to me, I was so happy to open the boxes and play my bass again (such luxuries are not allowed during boot camp).
Upon hearing my playing, my room mates made a comment, "Damn, you must have some blackness in your blood!!"
I just smiled, because they appeared to enjoy my ability to groove. But now, after reading some of the comments, I wonder if I should have been offended, by being stereotyped?
Me, the scrawny 5'11" 143 lb. white guy, and two room mates who resembled Taye Diggs ...
Come on people, why the need to 'color' our abilities (or inabilities)?
If you see someone better at something than someone else, it's probably because they've worked harder at it.
Although I think Bryant Gumble is the least funky Black Guy I've ever seen, he doesn't play bass....
....
Gumbel Note: Back in the 70's, believe it or not B Gumbel was a very militant sports writer for Black Sports magazine and if you have followed him over the years he is always saying something "funky" (not good def) on air.
I thought his name would have come up before I got to six pages too.
I couldn't find the original, but this will do:
drasticDUB asked, WHAT, so I assume he/she is unfamiliar. Can anyone put it into words for those that may not know what Funk is?
I'm surely familiar with what funk is...thanks.
My "WHAT?" was in response to this entire threads validity.
It's little topics like this that keep the racial divide alive. Completely pointless in my opinion. What difference does it make what color a musician is? What does white sound like, what does black sound like...it's all a waste of time to divide things up like that.
Preconceived notions never really got anyone too far...the way I see it!
I'm surely familiar with what funk is...thanks.
My "WHAT?" was in response to this entire threads validity.
It's little topics like this that keep the racial divide alive. Completely pointless in my opinion. What difference does it make what color a musician is? What does white sound like, what does black sound like...it's all a waste of time to divide things up like that.
Preconceived notions never really got anyone too far...the way I see it!
Firstly, if you think threads like this are "keeping the racial divide alive" then you must not get out much. There are FAR worse things that are keeping us racially divided. And supposing you are right and that these kinds of threads are keeping us divided then there are A LOT of people that are just afraid of racial integration and are lookign for any excuse to avoid it. I believe that the first step in creating any sort of truly racially integrated society would be to recognize that there are difference between the two (or however many) culturally, historically, and in this case musically. It is very much a fact that Blacks created funk, so for there to be a powerful association between them is inevitable. Perhaps he did not know many funky bassists that ere not black and this was just an effort to find out who they are and what they sound like? Perhaps he just is on his own musical journey to find out just exactly is out there and this is simply apart of that? I couldn't say for sure but I'm sure that his intentions were neither malicious nor misguided.
I'm not sure how the OP feels about your comment but I'd be insulted. I'm sure you read the first post but let me summarize it for you; he's asking, plain and simple, who are some funky, non-black bassists? That's it. No plot by the KKK. No underlying agenda. Just a question! He did not say nor did he imply (at least to me), in any way, shape or form, that black people are inherently funkier by default. He also never said race and an effect on who he listens to or ones musical ability. There are times when a question requires thought on the part of those answering... this is not that time because there is nothing to be thought about besides a buncha' guys playing bass. So, if you don't have an answer to his question, why post at all? Why add fuel to a fire that only exists in minds of the overly racially conscious?
I fear like this thread is gonna be shut down simply because of people's responses to it rather that the actual topic itself. Unfortunately, that would justify my belief that, currently, race is just a topic that some people can't handle... even if the actual question asked had little to no racial implications and is much more inquisitive than it is inflammatory. Sorry to further derail your thread bassguy74, I just felt like this really needed to be addressed.
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