Guess which one plays bass...

[audreycashin]

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.

We also saw that show, wonderful hang afterwards. I even got to play his Yin Yang Fodera!

 

[MarkA]

We also saw that show, wonderful hang afterwards. I even got to play his Yin Yang Fodera!View attachment 3833041

Holy cow!

 

[dadglasser]

Sort of related:

 

[WestyBassBob]

Keys, bass, drums, euphonium. Hint: I am not the young lady with euphonium. She plays euphonium.

View attachment 697607

If you have a euphonium doesn’t that cover bass?

 

[fishdreams]

If you have a euphonium doesn’t that cover bass?

I don't think of it that way, in this musical context. Each instrument represents a voice with a musician behind it. When we play together, we enter into a conversation. Like any conversation, we can make it engroissing, captivating and interesting (or boring) for each other and the audience. It has nothing to do with the supposed 'function' of an instrument

It covers a certain space. I can play with or around what she is playing, and so can she.

 

[WestyBassBob]

I don't think of it that way, in this musical context. Each instrument represents a voice with a musician behind it. When we play together, we enter into a conversation. Like any conversation, we can make it engroissing, captivating and interesting (or boring) for each other and the audience. It has nothing to do with the supposed 'function' of an instrument

It covers a certain space. I can play with or around what she is playing, and so can she.

Interesting.