Yes. It's Ron Carter himself that talks about it.
He says Miles wanted him to play electric bass and Carter said he would not do it, so he left.
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Ron Carter on why he stopped playing electric bass
- Thread starter Dr. Cheese
- Start date
Yes. It's Ron Carter himself that talks about it.
He says Miles wanted him to play electric bass and Carter said he would not do it, so he left.
I feel exactly the same way. I can presently get more work on electric bass (when there is work) so I devote my time to that. When there is work available for me to play upright bass I have to work on getting my chops back on that instrument. My playing has probably suffered because I don't dedicate myself to just one instrument. I admire Ron Carter for knowing what he needs to do and doing it.
How I love his bass on Killing Me Softly. It really bums me out when I have a gig with that in the set list, and it's The Fugees version. Hip as that cover is, I wanna play Carter's bass line.
Another great thread Doc. I'm wondering, not if, but why would there would be a need to sub for Verdeen? Injured? Burn out? Vacation? When it comes to residuals from record sales, I'm thinking you want to be on as many tracks as possible.
My high school orchestra director took it even further: He contended that all the woodwind players who were trying to build up their "doubling" chops -- e.g., alto sax players who also played tenor sax or baritone sax or clarinet, etc. -- were just taking time away from their instrument and ultimately compromising their own skills.
Can't say I ever met anyone who agrees with that, but...
Ghost players don't get credits, sometimes artists don't even know the producer called in a ghost player to clean up their tracks. Lee Sklar mentioned how Steve Lukather ghosted for a few big rock stars who were never told he re-recorded their initial tracks.
There was zero reason to sub for Verdine in the 70's. So subbing didn't happen. Verdine style and tone are all over the place in 70's EWF albums.
Thx for the Cliff's Notes version. Ya, reasonable. He had a direction and wanted to keep it on the good foot.
Perfectionism/ obsessiveness can be a big driver of artistry, and certainly of virtuosity........reminds me of Gerry Garcia killin' it on pedal steel, but then clearly articulating that he preferred to fully dedicate himself to guitar because his guitar chops would invariably suffer if he pursued pedal steel as well.
I am inclined to believe that Verdine White played his parts. But the ghost rumors pop up from time to time, so I mentioned them.
I did some more searching, and Ron Carter does have a son named Ron Carter jr. The Ron Carter, himself, is not a junior. He father's name was Lutheran Carter.
I remember reading an interview with Ron Carter where he said that his son identifies all the records that use samples of of his dad's playing because he knows his playing so well.
Ron Carter jr. must keep a low profile if he is an active player because I cannot find video of him on YouTube or any hint of a discography. Maybe he mainly works a day job of some sort?
Pretty much my point, but I also get Doc's response to my post.
They could have been on tour already and needed some last minute overdubs to get the album out in time?
There is definitely at least one EW&F track that always sounded to me like it had two bass parts. Maybe that led to rumors and confusion? It sure confused me! (I think it's from That's the Way of the World, haven't listened in depth in a looooooonnnnnnggggggg time...)
There is definitely at least one EW&F track that always sounded to me like it had two bass parts. Maybe that led to rumors and confusion? It sure confused me! (I think it's from That's the Way of the World, haven't listened in depth in a looooooonnnnnnggggggg time...)
That could have been Verdine overdubbing himself.
I hope Verdine did do all his own work, he certainly was talented enough . I like him even better on the "Sun Goddess" album with Ramsey Lewis.
Absolutely, that's what I always assumed. But interesting if it wasn't! Imagine, he did some weird melodic part, everyone goes off on tour and the produces says, "Where's the bass part?! Call Ron Carter!" Never occurred to me that it wasn't Verdine White, but hearing that there are rumors that Ron Carter played on an EW&F album, that's what jumped into my mind. How often do people have overdubbed bass parts, especially in as large a band as EW&F?
'Shining Star' features meat and taters Verdine White AND fonky lix Verdine White. Is that the one you mean?
