Guy Pratt cracks me up!

Great bassline!

 

Isn't Pino Palladino one of the non-readers? The 'by ear' musicians I've known all amazed me with their laser ears. Forces you to recognize chord cycles and they always seem to have a more intuitive sense of melody. My very anecdotal .2 cents.

 

And he slipped in a 'Goodfellas' reference to boot.

 

Is reading a requirement in Louisiana?

I was laughing when he said he's a meat & two veg. guy.

 

I can read but I don't. Was at my band's rehearsal one night and everyone (except me) is musically trained and we had a sub keyboardist this evening. I noticed he kept staring at me (I thought it was because I'm black, LOL). He finally says 'are you reading?' I tell him, 'nope, got it all in my head!' He just shook his head!

Now that doesn't mean I'm a great musician. I just don't read.

Back to that track.......that's an insane bassline. So intrigued that I must learn it.

 

The entire Toy Matinee album is still one of my all-time favorites. Pratt's work on every track is just superb. Even 30 years after its release, this album still holds up. This project never got anywhere near the recognition that it deserved.

 

Wish Guy came on more often. He did at one time.

 

I've never been what I consider to be a good reader. I can, and have, read chord charts on gigs, but by the 3rd time thru playing a song, I've learned it and I'm off book.

 

My favorite part is when he describes himself as a “not very precise player” and then proceeds to play a very precise line

 

Maybe, but if you read his book, he’s done plenty of work in LA and NYC. Famously sessions for Michael Jackson and Madonna. He gets recommended a lot because he’s a good guy to be around, apparently. I think Scott Devine has talked about that aspect of getting hired too - be someone that people are comfortable around and like to hang with.

 

well he does a lot of extra movement that isn’t essential

 

Guy's book is amazing--laughed way more through the read that I thought I would.

His bass line for "Like a Prayer" is beyond category.

The "Like a Prayer" part starts around 9:50

 

That was funny, if kinda non-sequitur. Things didn't end so well for Billy Batts...

 

+1 on his book being a really enjoyable read. I need to take another spin through it.

 

From that I’d venture to guess it’s less “guild” and more “can he get it done?” over there.

 

If you're hired to come up with an innovative bass line that makes the music stand out, you don't get that by playing a part that someone else wrote down. Imagination is more important than the ability to read music in many cases.