Peter Cetera: Chicago

[bluesblaster]

Just watched the Tanglewood concert, great stuff. Thanks for posting the link

 

[carsbybigd]

I learned music playing trombone in Jr high and then High school.Always liked Chicago,Started playing bass in HS,then got drafted to join the Jazz Band,director said I wasn't going to make it as a trombone player in jazz band.He finally told me " You are the only bass player in school,no matter how good you play at the tryout,we need you playing bass"!! Got lots of offers to play in various bands after that !Plus learning how to read music[trombone] enabled me to read music for the bass parts !

 

[Mystic Michael]

Cetera’s bass work, on early Chicago recordings, was inspirational at the time.

It's still inspirational to me. Just spent some time listening to the YouTube of the July 1970 Tanglewood concert. Then listened to a couple of studio tracks from Chicago Transit Authority - I'm A Man and Questions 67 & 68.

Now I've heard these tracks many times before. And I always knew that Cetera is a great pocket player. But for some reason, his playing really reached me tonight. Maybe because the bass was recorded so well - even on the live concert - and his playing could be heard so clearly.

But just...wow! Such rich, deep tone. Such smooth, melodic playing. Listening very closely to his note choices at every possible point, Cetera seems to have an instinct for the perfect part to play - tending to the root while keeping it melodically & harmonically interesting, and doing it all so very tastefully.

I know that Cetera has a solid reputation as a player. I still think he's way under-rated...

MM

 

[JimK]

Maybe because the bass was recorded so well - even on the live concert - and his playing could be heard so clearly.

Those early albums (especially the debut) had such a clear mix...everything just seems to sit just right (same goes for the early Santana albums). Not band for the late '60s, huh?

But just...wow! Such rich, deep tone. Such smooth, melodic playing. Listening very closely to his note choices at every possible point, Cetera seems to have an instinct for the perfect part to play - tending to the root while keeping it melodically & harmonically interesting, and doing it all so very tastefully.

Agreed. I keep banging the drum on this one tune from Chicago VIII-
"Brand New Love Affair, Parts 1 & 2"

I know that Cetera has a solid reputation as a player. I still think he's way under-rated...

Early-'70s, I'm flipping through my older (hipper) cousin's Downbeat magazine...this issue had the "Best Instrumentalists" Polling.
I am looking at the Best in Basses & not recognizing anybody (ya know guys like Mingus, Ray Brown, Ron Carter, NHOP, etc)...I do see Cetera, Squire & Bruce made the list.
At the time, OK...Bruce & Squire but the guy in Chicago? Yeah, my cousin set me straight on that.

 

[chuckNC]

In the early '70's my family still had one of those old "console" televisions with the AM/FM receiver in one side and a phonograph on the other side. Nice enough speakers in the cabinet to get some decent bass going. Boomy, but more audible than the car radio's speakers!

Questions 67 & 68 was the bomb through that thing.

 

[dls59]

The bass playing on the musical interlude on "Questions 67 & 68" is pretty tasty!

 

[hands5]

+1, God forbid a musician is able to make a good living and take care of his family.

Tell me about it ! .