Melvin Smith - blues bass excellence

[Geepers]

 

[Neon Blues]

He's a great player. I like the style of the fills but keeping the bassline consistent. Would have like to see his mix a bit louder.

 

[Geepers]

Apart from his work with John Primer it’s also worth listening to him on Lurrie Bell’s 2013 album “Blues In My Soul”.

 

[HardNHeavy]

love anything blues....

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

This is how blues bass should sound.

 

[Michedelic]

That vid is from a few years back, do you know if he still tours with John Primer? A friend of mine from college, Bob Corretore, plays harmonica with Primer, and I finally caught up with them on their yearly jaunt out west near me, but Melvin was not the bass player. They’re due out again here in October, and I’ll go again. Bob was from Chicago, and gave me a deep education in the blues, and now runs a venue in Phoenix.

 

[Geepers]

That vid is from a few years back, do you know if he still tours with John Primer?

Not sure … John’s website does show Melvin as their current bass player and says they’re glad to “have him back” so yeah, maybe:

John Primer Blues - Band

John Primer Blues music. Women in the Blues Showcase

johnprimerblues.com

 

[jimmydean]

I would pay to be his bassist .........not kidding .

 

[REV]

Well behaved drummer

 

[Michedelic]

Not sure … John’s website does show Melvin as their current bass player and says they’re glad to “have him back” so yeah, maybe:

John Primer Blues - Band

John Primer Blues music. Women in the Blues Showcase

johnprimerblues.com

After their gig(in almost a couple of months)I’ll check back in and let you know.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Yeah he's great. Although I find his tone a bit bright for my taste.

I've played that show before. They have a nice setup there. They bring in a small studio audience.

 

[Michedelic]

Yeah he's great. Although I find his tone a bit bright for my taste.

I've played that show before. They have a nice setup there. They bring in a small studio audience.

That means he’s not stuck in the past. This is the same reason I really enjoyed Johnny B. Gayden with Albert Collins. He applied funky, but restrained slapping to Collins’ music to great effect. Another thing interesting about Smith is that he plays a 5(as does Gayden occasionally), which I think the blues orthodoxy would have a problem with.

 

[Neon Blues]

That means he’s not stuck in the past. This is the same reason I really enjoyed Johnny B. Gayden with Albert Collins. He applied funky, but restrained slapping to Collins’ music to great effect. Another thing interesting about Smith is that he plays a 5(as does Gayden occasionally), which I think the blues orthodoxy would have a problem with.

All the best Blues guys I have seen have used the opposite of what all the hobby guys think you need to play blues.

Easty on his 5 string Yamaha, Reggie Richards also on a 5 String Yamaha, guys on Ken Smiths, Spectors. Most of them running Aguilar and other modern amps.

Funnily enough, the most compliments I ever got for a Blues was also on a TRB through a Markbass.

 

[jerry]

That means he’s not stuck in the past. This is the same reason I really enjoyed Johnny B. Gayden with Albert Collins. He applied funky, but restrained slapping to Collins’ musicto great effect. Another thing interesting about Smith is that he plays a 5(as does Gayden occasionally), which I think the blues orthodoxy would have a problem with.

I still love cats like Johnny B, but I've personally have come full circle on that. I now really like a more old school approach to blues bass with a less bright tonality. One of my faves these days is journyman Scot Sutherland.

 

[Geepers]

I now really like a more old school approach to blues bass with a less bright tonality.

Same here … thanks for the heads up on Sutherland … gonna check him out

 

[Smooth_bass88]

That means he’s not stuck in the past. This is the same reason I really enjoyed Johnny B. Gayden with Albert Collins. He applied funky, but restrained slapping to Collins’ music to great effect. Another thing interesting about Smith is that he plays a 5(as does Gayden occasionally), which I think the blues orthodoxy would have a problem with.

Apparently I’m stuck in the past then with flatwound strung vintage Fender P bass and old, dead, roundwound strung USA Lakland P bass. It has served me well though. I keep getting more and more calls for gigs backing up some bigger artists. I’m probably not changing any time soon.

 

[LowendG]

I still love cats like Johnny B, but I've personally have come full circle on that. I now really like a more old school approach to blues bass with a less bright tonality. One of my faves these days is journyman Scot Sutherland.

He sounds killer here.

 

[NigelD]

That's not Melvin in the video. That's Chicago bassist Smoke.