Double Bass Playing Standards with Pianist

[Steven Ayres]

At tonight's rehearsal BL gave me a solo designated for the piano player. Just to be sure he'd be on it, I told piano that during the solo he should walk the bass part. I'd put some effort into teaching him to stay out of the left hand, so when he heard that he was like "Oh boy! I can play some bass notes!" I love making people happy.

 

[Jeff Bonny]

I love making people happy.

Within reason.....

 

[jloehrke]

It's just one of those realities of being a working bassist. When I first came to NYC I studied with a great, "hall of fame" bassist. Once during a lesson he got a call for a gig. He hung up and said "I'm playing duo with .........(a great, "hall of fame" pianist). Wow, I said, I can't wait to hear that. He replied "Well,......'s been playing a lot of solo lately, and his time is sometimes a little messed up." I don't feel comfortable using the names here, 'cause the bassist is still alive, tho the pianist has passed, but these are big names and great artists.

 

[johnny4x5]

Here's an idea for playing with heavy handed piano players, don't play bass. Instead play counter melodic lines in the upper register, ala LaFaro. Encroach on thier territory and maybe they'll get the message. Either way at least you'll have some fun.

 

[Huy Nguyen]

+1. Yup. Make lemonade.

If they wanna play roots it frees you up to do other things. The only thing I find that is truly unworkable is when the other player (regardless if they're a pianist or not) can't keep their own time, at least not consistently for a long period.

 

[wpatton11]

I play piano as well as bass - - on a recording session many years ago, we ran the tune - - the producer sez "Nice - now try it again while sitting on your left hand" which I literally did. It worked like a charm.

 

[cpaterso]

There is also that story of Ron Carter: he tells the pianist to look at the piano - it is a Steinway, BTW - and Ron says: "See the letter S? Everything below that is mine."

Craig

 

[robobass]

I have dealt with this a handful of times in my youth. My take is that any pianist (or guitarist) who is so clueless that he plays bass lines with his left hand with a bass player on the gig is a musical zero. If you really need the money, take the gig, and try to find something useful to play, but don't expect anything. Just try to get yourself onto gigs with actual musicians.

It was a four piece band. Three musicians and a drummer.

 

[gerry grable]

I have dealt with this a handful of times in my youth. My take is that any pianist (or guitarist) who is so clueless that he plays bass lines with his left hand with a bass player on the gig is a musical zero. If you really need the money, take the gig, and try to find something useful to play, but don't expect anything. Just try to get yourself onto gigs with actual musicians.

It was a four piece band. Three musicians and a drummer.

In defense of piano players, all of the above is predicated on the assumption that the bass player knows what he's doing.

 

[sean_on_bass]

When i first started on upright i was looking to join in on some jazz jams but had trouble finding them. I caught wind of one a guy hosts at his house, he is a piano player. Open to the public type of thing if you email the guy ahead of time. I email him, we schedule it, and i planned on attending. About a day before the jam, he emails me and tells me that it wont work out. Says he really can't play with a bass player, because he always plays the walking bass and occasionally spikes chords. Apparently that is all he knew how to do. Blew my mind that a jazz jam could occur without bass. I'm sure the others players would had appreciated having a true bass player in the mix, but oh well!