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kevbass5

Jan 18, 2008
84
0
#1
Hey Justin
I think we can all agree that versatility is a desirable quality for any musician to possess. But how can one go about avoiding situations where versatility can by a hindrance?

For example, can somebody who wants to play hip-hop get away with doing a country gig? Can somebody who wants to play punk get away with playing a jazz trio gig? etc. I guess my question is, how can you shape your image in such a way that you avoid getting pigeonholed into whatever style you happen to be playing at the moment?
 
#2
kevbass5 said:
Hey Justin
I think we can all agree that versatility is a desirable quality for any musician to possess. But how can one go about avoiding situations where versatility can by a hindrance?

For example, can somebody who wants to play hip-hop get away with doing a country gig? Can somebody who wants to play punk get away with playing a jazz trio gig? etc. I guess my question is, how can you shape your image in such a way that you avoid getting pigeonholed into whatever style you happen to be playing at the moment?
Click to expand...

Well, I've done all that stuff, except for my limited jazz experience (the only released thing I've done in that category is Brad Mehldau). Anyway, I think it's a matter of NOT having such an overwhelmingly specific visual/sonic/aesthetic image that you seem a bit transparent.

IF that's what you're going for.

Versatility, which is my bread and butter, can be a blessing and a curse. If I WAS more specifically stylized, there might be some cool gigs that I could have gotten years ago and perhaps would still have...there are two bands which come to mind (very successful alternative rock bands that are still active and viable - can't say who, obviously). My "versatility" might have been a consideration that got in the way of my being hired for those gigs. Maybe...it's just conjecture on my part, but something to think about nonetheless.

But I gotta be me. And that's the bottom line. So, I HAVE been fortunate enough to be able to do things I like, the way I like to do them.

So I guess my answer, to be more direct, could be said to be that by having a non-image, or preferably great image flexibility is the key.

And remember, we're not just referring to the visual domain here. Good taste is good taste, it's not style-specific. Skill is the same way.

JMJ
 
#3
Interesting discussion. To kevbass5, are you really asking about "image" or "reputation"? As for image, there's no doubt that as part of a touring band you'd want to fit the image of whoever you were working with, but for strictly studio work I don't think having any particular image (other than being a great player) really helps. Look at Pino Palladino. He doesn't cultivate any type of image and is still called on for R&B/hip-hop, classic rock, funk, pop and even jazz fusion gigs. Check out this video for an example of the latter.

On the other hand, take a guy who DOES have a very distinct image - Flea. He's played pop (Alanis Morrisette), hip-hop (Young MC), prog rock (The Mars Volta) and 25 years or so with an ever changing RHCP. And yet, many Radiohead fans thought it was akin to blasphemy that this "shirtless, slap & popping goofball" was tapped by Thom Yorke to play in the backing band for his solo stuff.

Likewise, I talked to Vic Wooten after a show this year and he said that he wished more people would call him to do straight ahead pop session work but they didn't. The blessing and curse of being Victor Wooten is that people call you to be Victor Wooten, not a fully capable session player playing understated lines in the pocket - something he certainly could do.

I can't imagine versatility to ever be a hindrance. People not KNOWING how versatile you are certainly could be though. There's a simple solution for that though: play with as many different bands as you can. The only limitation I've ever put on myself in terms of auditioning or joining bands is that I enjoy the music. As schizo-phonic as I am that's rarely been an issue.

Enough rambling.
 
#4
I read an article on Randy Jackson a couple years back, and he was saying that when he produces and books session musicians, he looks for total commitment to one type of music because he wants honesty in his recordings. This is the guy who played with Jean Luc-Ponty, Journey, and Mariah Carey. Then later in that same article, he talks about how he loves to call Tommy Sims for his sessions. Tommy Sims has played with Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Bolton, Kelly Clarkson, The Neville Brothers...so much for consistency.

As usual, Justin hits a line drive up the middle with his answer...you've got to be yourself. No matter what you do, some people will love you, some people won't. In the end, we're all going to die, so hey, let's have fun.
 
#6
Just a thought.

I'm in quite a few projects, a "Hip Hop" experimental duo, a Reggae band, a "Jam Band" trio, and get a few gigs with metal bands, Singer/songwriters/ Blues guys, Country guys, Folk/world music bands...
I guess the image people see is musician or "bass player"...

musically no one has a problem, but sometimes friends of mine will ask me how i can stand playing country, and i tell them "I love music, and playing music". On occasion a member of a band I'm sitting in with or a person I'm meeting at a gig will not understand how a musician could drift from folk to metal. I engage them in discussion, and they soon understand.

I feel like, even on a small level you can cultivate an "image" for yourself that can be "undefined" or "unclassifiable" to people.
 
#7
Thanks for the thoughts, everyone. I haven't actually ran into too much trouble with this yet, but I suppose I might at some point. Anyway I guess it's more important to focus on playing each style with as much authenticity as possible, rather than worrying about narrow-minded people who assume that you are only capable of playing one style.
 

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