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Double Bass I'm in love with Esperanza Spalding
- Thread starter chuck norriss
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I never questioned her ability to play double bass, nor is respective taste an issue.
I just watched the video from the original post: Czech-ease at the White House? That is pretty damn tacky. If I was going to play there I'd get my real, main bass down there, even to play a couple pop tunes! If the fee wasn't enough you know she can cover it.
She is out there doing a lot of good for all of us, but there is no excuse for phoning it in like that. (nothing against Czech-eases or EUBs, they are both great, usefull tools, but the right tool for the right job is key)
I don't know about calling that 'phoning it in' as she still plays beautifully but that did strike me as strange too. If it were me I'd call up Christian McBride and see if I could rent Ray's old bass for a day. I mean, it's the White House. Regardless of your politics most people never get that chance and even fewer get it twice.
I just hope the bass doesn't fall by the wayside altogether has her singing and looks get more and more attention.
Not her fault, but I've read several magazine/web blurbs that simply describe her as a "jazz singer" with no mention of the bass at all...
Not her fault, but I've read several magazine/web blurbs that simply describe her as a "jazz singer" with no mention of the bass at all...
I am pretty sure that only bass players care about this. 99% of her audiences just care about the singing, her songwriting, and her overall entertainment value. My wife for example loves that she sings in Spanish and Portuguese and couldn't give a crap if she plays a Prescott on stage or a Stagg EUB. I don't even think she would notice.
Esperanza Spalding would look good and sound good playing a wash-tub-broom-handle bass!
She probably plays better with mittens on than most of us here!
here is what she says on the Czech-Ease web site about it:
"The Czech ease has become my saving grace for traveling! Plus,with its light weight and small size, I save thousands of dollars every year in airline fees. "- Esperanza Spalding
Also, I notice Dave Holland uses one; I would not think anyone would suggest he doesn't care!
They are good instruments.
She probably plays better with mittens on than most of us here!
here is what she says on the Czech-Ease web site about it:
"The Czech ease has become my saving grace for traveling! Plus,with its light weight and small size, I save thousands of dollars every year in airline fees. "- Esperanza Spalding
Also, I notice Dave Holland uses one; I would not think anyone would suggest he doesn't care!
They are good instruments.
I totally don't get the implied criticism that it is somehow unprofessional to use a Czech ease or an EUB. Spalding is not rich and famous but has to make a living like the rest of us.I wouldn't tour with an upright bass either if I had hundreds of shows per year. She should be judged by the content of her playing, not the authenticity of her bass. Also, those basses are designed to be amplified, and often sound better amplified than a full size upright which was designed to be resonant. I bet 90% of the upright snobs on this site couldn't tell the difference in the amplified tone of the Czech ease or an Azola EUB vs a $20,000 UB if they were blindfolded. They all use the same pickup technology for the most part. Damon, if you don't like her, why do you keep posting on this thread?You are just looking for something to complain about.
I do like her, I think she is great. However, A gig at the White House honoring Stevie Wonder is not a tour. It is a landmark event for any musician at any point in their career.
A lot of great players use them and so have I, they are just not a reasonable instrument for that sort of event.
A lot of great players use them and so have I, they are just not a reasonable instrument for that sort of event.
Sorry mate, I thought you were criticising her playing electric bass. Didn't mean nothing by it, just that's a topic that gets me on my hind legs. Stay cool
Thanks for letting us in on that Damon, I was not, until now, aware that there was a scale to measure what bass is acceptable for gigs if varying prestiege. Could you post it in it's entirity? I really need to know if I should let people into my basement jams with a Squier......
Personally, i'd take a great bass player on ANY bass (washtub included) over a posuer who thinks the music is in the instrument, not the musician....
Actually, I bet it was her skill that got her the gig and I bet they were perfectly willing to leave the choice of instrument up to her.
-eSmith.
Personally, i'd take a great bass player on ANY bass (washtub included) over a posuer who thinks the music is in the instrument, not the musician....
Actually, I bet it was her skill that got her the gig and I bet they were perfectly willing to leave the choice of instrument up to her.
-eSmith.
Maybe she travels with the smaller bass to be more incognito, what with all the Justin Bieber fan death threats against her for depriving their idol of best new artist.
Jake deVilliers
Commercial User
- May 24, 2006
- 6,349
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- Owner of The Bass Spa, String Repairman at Long & McQuade Vancouver
How do you know that she didn't land at Dulles on her way back from a tour and go straight to the White House? Just asking...
Her invitation. Her gig. Her chops. Her achievements. Her talent. Her charisma. Her decision.
She's the one who got there on those terms, not any of we TB'ers. She's supposed to take criticism from us on what's appropriate? Please.
Right.
Bottom line: she kicks ass; she's playing for the president & Stevie; I'm sitting in a cubicle.
Bottom line: she kicks ass; she's playing for the president & Stevie; I'm sitting in a cubicle.
Of course, if I was playing the gig I'd have my lovely Lombardi bass up there but, hey, if that's what she feels like playing, that's up to her. "Phoning it in" is more a statement about "not playing your best" and just "coasting" and you know that Damon. She is also quite friendly with the great staff at Gage, perhaps she was just throwing them a bone by playing her CE on such a high-profile gig. I have a feeling it was probably just that she has her sound totally dialed in with the rig she's using and knows exactly what she's going to get on what may be one of the most high profile gigs of her life. If that makes her feel the most comfortable then alright.
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