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Guess which one plays bass...

#61
OK, I'll play:

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#66
T_E said:
Maybe not...

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Maybe a bit off topic, but anecdotally fun. A few years ago, I saw Victor Wooten, Steve Bailey, Anthony Wellington, and the rest of their tight band (names escape me at the moment) play. It was my first time seeing Vic live and I'd been looking forward to meeting him for awhile. During the show, Vic played mostly electric, some upright, and cello on a tune or two -- I never knew that he played cello before that.

Afterward, I was chatting with the sax player, an outgoing guy, before Vic came up. During the course of the conversation, it came out that I play cello -- sax player's eyes lit up and he was like, "Yeah? How'd Vic do? What did you think of his cello playing?" I said that I enjoyed it and that I thought it was really cool that he incorporated it and the upright into the show. "Yeah? How was his technique? You're a cellist. Vic will appreciate the feedback." Despite a little warning voice in my head, I said something about his thumb locking up on his right hand and that impeding his bowing a bit. Just then Vic heads over and the sax player says, "Hey, Vic! This guy's a cellist! He's got some advice for you!" (Or something along those lines.) Vic, covered in sweat and obviously tired after the show, says, "Oh, so he's going to give me a cello lesson now?" Not how I wanted to meet Victor Wooten for the first time. Vic was gracious, though, and things went fine after that awkward (for me) moment. We talked a bit -- he showed genuine interest in my job as a teacher -- and he signed my Victor Wooten edition Spidey comic and took the obligatory cheesy photo with me (I usually resist doing that to people, but I couldn't help it this time).

I did not give him a cello lesson.
 
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#69
Cool! Who's going to be President on January 21, 2017?

MarkA said:
Maybe a bit off topic, but anecdotally fun. A few years ago, I saw Victor Wooten, Steve Bailey, Anthony Wellington, and the rest of their tight band (names escape me at the moment) play. It was my first time seeing Vic live and I'd been looking forward to meeting him for awhile. During the show, Vic played mostly electric, some upright, and cello on a tune or two -- I never knew that he played cello before that.

Afterward, I was chatting with the sax player, an outgoing guy, before Vic came up. During the course of the conversation, it came out that I play cello -- sax player's eyes lit up and he was like, "Yeah? How'd Vic do? What did you think of his cello playing?" I said that I enjoyed it and that I thought it was really cool that he incorporated it and the upright into the show. "Yeah? How was his technique? You're a cellist. Vic will appreciate the feedback." Despite a little warning voice in my head, I said something about his thumb locking up on his right hand and that impeding his bowing a bit. Just then Vic heads over and the sax player says, "Hey, Vic! This guy's a cellist! He's got some advice for you!" (Or something along those lines.) Vic, covered in sweat and obviously tired after the show, says, "Oh, so he's going to give me a cello lesson now?" Not how I wanted to meet Victor Wooten for the first time. Vic was gracious, though, and things went fine after that awkward (for me) moment. We talked a bit -- he showed genuine interest in my job as a teacher -- and he signed my Victor Wooten edition Spidey comic and took the obligatory cheesy photo with me (I usually resist doing that to people, but I couldn't help it this time).

I did not give him a cello lesson.
Click to expand...

I don't get the impression that Vic is a "bower" - that takes serious dedication. Although, he does play Violin, too. Probably instruments held onto from childhood. Similar to me still having a trumpet and cornet around, and I can still make music (kind of), with them.
Smooth_bass88 said:
Because I'm smart and I know lots of stuff.
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#75
T_E said:
Cool! Who's going to be President on January 21, 2017?
I don't get the impression that Vic is a "bower" - that takes serious dedication. Although, he does play Violin, too. Probably instruments held onto from childhood. Similar to me still having a trumpet and cornet around, and I can still make music (kind of), with them.
Click to expand...

Yeah, Vic isn't Matt Haimovitz -- then, neither am I -- and bow technique, IMO, is as involved as left hand technique -- moreso in some ways -- but that's not how I was listening to or judging the performance. I just thought it was cool and enjoyed the music. I felt pressed to say something, though, and I'm not always good at censoring myself. :) For what it's worth (if any of you have kids who play bowed strings), the thumbs of both hands are often clues to (and producers of) excess tension, which, aside from making it hard to get around fluidly, can make kids uncomfortable and fidgity, which makes playing less fun, which stinks if you're a kid. My old bass teacher said, "Cherchez la thumb." Corny but true. [/OT]

For not being a "bower", Vic did a good job!
 

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