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Is Sheryl Crow really a bassist?
- Thread starter Skel
- Start date
There is a difference between being able to play the notes on a bass and being a bassist. Sheryl Crow is the former.
Almost everyone in the US can drive a car, which means, they can drive a taxi cab. Can we call all those people Professional drivers.
Is a pizza delivery person a professional driver if he/she drives a car to deliver that pizza?
Is a pizza delivery person a professional driver if he/she drives a car to deliver that pizza?
Sheryl can play my bass anytime she wants.
All I know is that for a time at least, she employed the former bassist from Jellyfish who is AMAZING. So she gets huge points in my book for that alone. Whether her bass chops are up to your particular liking or not, no debate she values the instrument highly.
I like her. I like her as a songwriter and a performer. I also agree that she is a competent bass player. But, here is my problem with Ms. Crow.... She committed a cardinal sin that I cannot forgive.
Ten or so years ago (2007?), Eric Clapton called her out onstage to perform with his band at his Crossroads Guitar Festival. She came out wearing her Guild bass and proceeded to walk over to Willie Weeks, reach for his cable, unplug Willie and plug into the bass amp!!!! Now, being a competent bassist is one thing.... but did Ms. Crow really think that she could do a better job holding down the rhythm section for Eric Clapton than Willie Weeks?!!!! She then went on to sing mostly background on two songs and played some very uninspired bass. So, what was the point? Did she just want to play an instrument because it was a guitar festival? She could have come out and sang and it would have been fine - great even. But, to unplug Willie Weeks and then proceed to give me a boring I, IV, V for two songs left me a little cold toward her as a fellow bassist. Just my opinion.
Ten or so years ago (2007?), Eric Clapton called her out onstage to perform with his band at his Crossroads Guitar Festival. She came out wearing her Guild bass and proceeded to walk over to Willie Weeks, reach for his cable, unplug Willie and plug into the bass amp!!!! Now, being a competent bassist is one thing.... but did Ms. Crow really think that she could do a better job holding down the rhythm section for Eric Clapton than Willie Weeks?!!!! She then went on to sing mostly background on two songs and played some very uninspired bass. So, what was the point? Did she just want to play an instrument because it was a guitar festival? She could have come out and sang and it would have been fine - great even. But, to unplug Willie Weeks and then proceed to give me a boring I, IV, V for two songs left me a little cold toward her as a fellow bassist. Just my opinion.
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The answer is really dependent on what defines "bassist" in the perspective of the one asking the question. I think she's a more than adequate bassist for the music she writes. And so far I haven't seen her not perform the bass part exceptionally well when she plays bass. So imho she is every bit a bassist as much as any other bass player is.
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I was under the impression that before she hit it with her own songs - she was a session musician - working on a number of artists records - singing, playing guitar & bass.
And you think that was unplanned and Willie was clueless about it happening? Come on!
So is Sheryl Crow a real bassist? Who gives a rat's ass?
Hey Jimmy. I don't think it was unplanned. I just think it takes a pretty large ego to just walk on stage and think you can fill Willie Week's shoes. The exchange was not particularly gracious. No handshake/hug. She just reached for his cable like he was a roadie or something. Don't know why it bothers me so much, but I still think about it all these years later. It's just not something most bassists would do to "The Baddest Bass Player in the Land"
According to Allmusic.com, that's David Ricketts playing bass on "All I Wanna Do". I imagine he played bass on the other tracks as well. Sheryl may play bass live, but it's someone else playing bass in the studio.
Just as a random fyi, that dude was last seen on TB eight years ago! Thanks for reviving a cool thread though.
She plays parts that fit the songs well, and sings at the same time. That old Guild is a cool bass.
You're joking, right? So based on that one little exchange, you've got it in your mind that she doesn't like or respect Willie? She was there to do a job. She can socialize backstage.
Saw her live about ten years ago. At one point she switched instruments with the guy playing bass. I thought "cool"!
But the groove immediately and clearly disappeared.
But the groove immediately and clearly disappeared.
No joke. How you treat people ranks very high with me. Crossroads is very much a social gig. The players are generally very respectful of each other. Yes, she was there to entertain and that's her job, but it's Willie's job too. It just came off as disrespectful to me. Even if she could play as well as Willie, it would still be wrong for her to dismiss him without any acknowledgement that he was stepping aside to make room for her. Dont need anyone to agree with me. It's just my opinion.
I'm a little bit confused and here is why.
About 30 plus years ago, I started using that term, "A Musician who plays the bass".
(It's possible, I channeled your ideas from the future
.)Let's say, I used that Term to describe Sting - a Musician who plays the bass and Sings.
You said,
It would mean (to me ) the following:
Sheryl is a TRUE bassist but THAT'S IT.
Here is how I would use that same term about Sheryl.
Sheryl is a Musician who happens to play (SOMETIMES) the bass (EASY BASS-LINES), but
she is weak as a bass player, or
Sheryl is MUCH, MUCH better as a Composer, Singer, a Country-style rhythm guitar player than a BASSIST.
I would NEVER judge TOO much what's and WHY it's happening on PROFESSIONAL stage.
