Mark Adams...bassist for "Slave"

[ugly_bassplayer]

Some of the stuff with Aurra is on that jazz


BUT I don't know if it was with all 3 pickups. If I remember correctly he said it like having a bass knob on an active preamp. The little black knob is for the neck pickup..he could dial in more lows.

thanks buddy

 

[DWBass]

Found this interview.

Not recent but you get to see 2 of the youngest members.

 

[bottomzone]

As already stated, Mark had his own sound and all the technique you should hope to acquire as a bassist. PHENOMENAL PLAYER!!!


A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!

 

[otis_thick]

Here is Buddy Hankerson who also play s/ed with Slave and Aurra ans Steve arrington. He is one of the thousands of Funk bassists you may not know the the name of

 

[SX lover]

Most of the funk (& other) players here are very familiar with Mark Adams. One of my early influences and killer player. There is a Talkbass member here who actually plays for Slave these days as Mark is not performing at the moment. He's the first player I ever heard popping double stops (check out the intro to Stone Jam), slides and making use of a chorus/flanger as part of his signature sound! His main bass was a custom Jazz with 3 pickups.

When i saw "Slave" in the 70"s...he was playing an Alembic,or a good copy of one.

 

[SX lover]

WHAT! 16! Tell me your kidding, lie if you have to!

I've not heard anyone else with so many tricks up their sleeve and use each one exactly when it was time and how much. Nothing was over the top and too flashy just all in the right place. Fingerstyle, slap, slide, harmonics just sick skills.

Very tasteful, monster player who every bassist, and especially the funk players must and I mean must get familiar with.

Can't count how many times I would just get my head taken off by something and have to rewind to hear it again. His use of slides was unique and I really dig it.

Yes I steal a lot of slide ideas from him.

Jim

Yes,its true. Him and Mark Hicks(Drac,and lead guitarist of "Slave"...)were just "teens",when the "Slide" album was made. Mark Hicks has one of the most cutting rock guitarist solos on "Slide"...of the 1970's! Check it out guys,then pick your "jaws" up off the ground.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

When i saw "Slave" in the 70"s...he was playing an Alembic,or a good copy of one.

He did use an Alembic for a while. Stanley Clarke had everybody wanting one for a while.

 

[SX lover]

In high school Back in the Day(late 70s)...there would be slap contest during lunch and after school...you had to know all of louis Johnson licks, everything by larry Graham, Wyzards solos and If you could do a Stanley speed lick, you were king! You either played sports or you were in a band. If you were a black kid playing bass, you had to slap or "pump" (That's what we called Rocco's style of playing) One of my favorite concerts was "Battle of the Basses" atthe Savannah Civic Center GrahamCentral Station, Brothers Johnson and Slave

Look at the price of the ticket

Larry Graham

Brothers Johnson

Mark Adams (3 x SD quarter pounders)

Mark Adams

Otis...Your THE man! Thanks for the "ULTRA-RARE" pics! That's Mark Hicks with the white strat,and Danny Webster with the Gibson SG Custom.

 

[diglo]

I was too young to see Slave, but grew up listening to them from my uncle and cousins. Matter of fact I own my cousin's Slave vinyl collection. What I like about Mark was how dirty he was. He did whatever he had to do to get to the next note. He had that dirty funk. He would pop a string so hard even in a ballad. Check out the ballad on the "Showtime" album. That was a good album with Snapshot, Steal your Heart Away and who can't forget Party Lights.
Also, when Slave recorded Slide, they knew the song so well, it was done in one take.
That's why Drac's solo cut out and cut back in.
Man, I'm glad other cats know about Mark Adams! I'm so hype right now!

Also, Mark played on odessey's song "inside out." Which was a copy of slave's "watching you."

THANKS SX lover!!!

 

[DWBass]

Also, Mark played on Odyssey's song "Inside Out." Which was a copy of Slave's "Watching You."

Nope. That was Sandy Anderson, which he confirmed to a friend (and TB member) of mine just recently.

 

[diglo]

Thanks DWBass.

 

[T-MOST]

Nope. That was Sandy Anderson, which he confirmed to a friend (and TB member) of mine just recently.

+1 Sandy Anderson. BassPlayer Mag made this same mistake a few years ago when they did a few pargraphs on mark Adams. They printed a correction in the next edition. It was produced by Jimmy Doulgas and Steve Arrington of Slave.

 

[spideyjg]

One other aspect of Mark is just his sound and how it sits in the mix. Never heard a Slave track that Mark's sound didn't deliver.


While Marcus and Stanley are ungodly monster players sometimes their sound doesn't cut it for me.


Of all the funk greats, Mark's sound is my favorite.

Jim

 

[pyrohr]

Nope. That was Sandy Anderson, which he confirmed to a friend (and TB member) of mine just recently.

Yeah It is correct that Sandy Corrected bassplayer about inside out!

 

[SX lover]

He did use an Alembic for a while.

Wow! they musta been makin "bucks" when they were touring. Alembics wasnt "cheap" in the 70's either! LOL! I know "Fernandez" was making good "lawsuit-copys" of Alembic's "Series I and II's. Any of you "fellow-funksters" remember...or got any pics of them? They were as close as the "woking-stiff's" could get to the Alembics. Anyone every heard the tone of the "Fernandez Alembic copies"??

 

[SX lover]

If you wanna listen to what i think is Mark Adam's best playing on "wax"...listen to Slave's "Just a Touch of Love" and "Watching You". The "kid" had a few years of touring and professional playing under his belt...and it definatly "shows" on those 2 songs. The bass is upfront,just like the rest of "Slave's" songs. He was definatly showcased with them.

 

[SX lover]

Here is Buddy Hankerson who also play s/ed with Slave and Aurra ans Steve arrington. He is one of the thousands of Funk bassists you may not know the the name of

Otis! Your driving us "funkin-insaine"! LOL! Yes,Buddy is the "Funkin'-man"! Your gonna make me listen to Stevie's "Weak at the Knees"! That was some of the best "thumpin and popin" i've heard in a long,long time!

 

[otis_thick]

He did use an Alembic for a while.

Wow! they musta been makin "bucks" when they were touring. Alembics wasnt "cheap" in the 70's either! LOL! I know "Fernandez" was making good "lawsuit-copys" of Alembic's "Series I and II's. Any of you "fellow-funksters" remember...or got any pics of them? They were as close as the "woking-stiff's" could get to the Alembics. Anyone every heard the tone of the "Fernandez Alembic copies"??

Bad guitar series name!

Fernandes Series I

 

[SX lover]

Otis,I'm bowing down chanting..."I'm not worthy! I'm not worthy! LOL! Dang! Those are "law-suit" copy's,if i ever saw one! I bet "Alembic" was throwing "fits"...over that move! Has anyone ever played one??? Thanks a mill,"O"!

 

[T-MOST]

Back in '07 I went to Bass Player Live in NYC. I was introduced to a guy as Sandy Anderson "the bass player for the very early 80's group Unlimited Touch "Searching to find the One, I hear Music in the Streets". at the time I did not know he played on "Inside Out". We shook hands and talked for a quick minute before moving on. It wasnt until this talk about Mark Adams and Inside Out and who played bass (a clip on YouTube has the info wrong) that it all clicked. This is a verrrry cool surprise.