Tal Wilkenfeld's sound...

[78Jazzlover]

I struggle with her playing a bit. It is obvious she is a great player. It just feels as if many people are reacting with alot of PC and maybe also with opinions filtered by her "femaleness". the real test wouldnt be to say "how would we feel about her if she were male, 55, fat with a big old scruffy beard...." but what would you think if you just heard her without knowing who she was. Would that test bring comparisons to Jaco? I am Berklee grad and I can tell you that just in the year I graduated there were a handful of bassplayers that "best" Tal. Tony Grey comes to mind....or check out Mitch Cohn, or Janek Gwisdala......why are we all not going nuts over these guys, they are all monsters. I also think alot of bassplayers are apologists and patronizers. We know the absolute role/function of the bass is as a rhythm section/time keeping instrument. So, if a guy has "too much" chops" some of us reverse our opinions..."he plays too much, has too much chops, therefore he isnt really a pocket player....". Tal is a terrific sensitive rhythm section player and has decent chops and creates some beautiful solos, yet her chops are not mind blowing. I mean physical chops as well as "blowing" chops. While her ability to create "lines" is good, I am not hearing really advanced playing over changes. Her greatest assets are her overall feel, sensitivity, ears, and she does have a nice sound on the bass, but its not strikingly original. In all fairness, it gets more and more difficult to get a completely original sound. I guess the adjective I'd use to describe her playing and musicianship is "enigmatic". Very objectively and in the overall big picture though, I'd really like to see the same attention paid to ALL of the monster young bass players in their 20's, some of whom are mind-blowing in all respects. As for our opinions of Tal i think the fact that she is somewhat of an aberration in terms of the bass demographic (very young, attractive female) has definitely aided in her acclaim.

This is 100% correct IMO. To say that Tal has leveraged her looks and ability to socialize/make connections and network through hanging at NAMM and other places is not to say that she is not every bit the player she is, and she is a very very good player. What it does say is that players with the same or better abilities have not and will not have had the same kind of pure non- musical opportunities as she has had..sorry but that is just a reality that may not sit well with some but is the truth. She is a very good player- I like her- but IMO she is also an anomaly and a pleasant change for many musicians and band leaders who facing the choice of her or another great but non -flirtatious, average looking male bassist will go for the new anomaly/change. Not everyone will but many will.
Again, you cant have it either all one way or the other. She is a talent and able to cut the gigs she has, she is a talented writer too. But bluntly, she has opportunity that others who have been playing far longer and who may have more artistic character (in some people's eyes ) dont have. This works in TV, movies, media, and even at times in applying for regular jobs or positions. It works for men too in positions- but make no mistake its in effect all around . Image and sexuality make a difference, its only human.

 

[Rebmo]

Jeff Beck must think she's pretty good.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

If this thing is coming back from the grave, I want everyone to remember to keep the talk to her basses and sound. There are already TONS of threads about her/her playing/her image in the Bassists forum.

 

[ajb]

Two separate issues IMO. When I play my ash/maple Sadowsky with singles, my phrasing, time, note choice, groove, etc. doesn't stack up very will with Tal (I love her playing). My tone is pretty darn close

I don't know. I used to agree with this. But the more I get into fingerstyle funk I'm beginning to think that phrasing, time, note choice (well maybe not note choice) and groove are inseparable from tone. You have to touch the strings a certain way to get the right phrasing and timing, especially when playing 16th-note patterns.

 

[ElMon]

I struggle with her playing a bit. It is obvious she is a great player. It just feels as if many people are reacting with alot of PC and maybe also with opinions filtered by her "femaleness". the real test wouldnt be to say "how would we feel about her if she were male, 55, fat with a big old scruffy beard...." but what would you think if you just heard her without knowing who she was. Would that test bring comparisons to Jaco? I am Berklee grad and I can tell you that just in the year I graduated there were a handful of bassplayers that "best" Tal. Tony Grey comes to mind....or check out Mitch Cohn, or Janek Gwisdala......why are we all not going nuts over these guys, they are all monsters. I also think alot of bassplayers are apologists and patronizers. We know the absolute role/function of the bass is as a rhythm section/time keeping instrument. So, if a guy has "too much" chops" some of us reverse our opinions..."he plays too much, has too much chops, therefore he isnt really a pocket player....". Tal is a terrific sensitive rhythm section player and has decent chops and creates some beautiful solos, yet her chops are not mind blowing. I mean physical chops as well as "blowing" chops. While her ability to create "lines" is good, I am not hearing really advanced playing over changes. Her greatest assets are her overall feel, sensitivity, ears, and she does have a nice sound on the bass, but its not strikingly original. In all fairness, it gets more and more difficult to get a completely original sound. I guess the adjective I'd use to describe her playing and musicianship is "enigmatic". Very objectively and in the overall big picture though, I'd really like to see the same attention paid to ALL of the monster young bass players in their 20's, some of whom are mind-blowing in all respects. As for our opinions of Tal i think the fact that she is somewhat of an aberration in terms of the bass demographic (very young, attractive female) has definitely aided in her acclaim.

This is just MY opinion, but the reason I gravitate more towards playing like Tal's is that it has a degree of personality and uniqueness that IMO those other players do NOT have. When she solos I hear a very lyrical voice coming out, not a barrage of 16th/32nd notes that only serve to bore me to tears.

That's not to say that I don't admire, from afar, the sheer athleticism that some new bassists display, but it literally does nothing for me emotionally/musically/etc. YMMV.

 

[Staccato]

Bass a gogo is going to translate for us!

In the April '09 issue of Japanese 'Bass Magazine'(Tal's on the cover), there are close up pics and descriptions of her whole set-up, including close ups of her bass, semi-close-ups of her pedal board, and close-ups of her right and left hand positions. Those people at Japanese Bass Magazine don't mess around! Unfortunately, I don't know how to read Japanese! By looking at the pics though, I can see she's using Avalon U5s, EBS Octobass & Multidrive Pedals, and what looks like an old Mutron or bass synth pedal (don't quote me on that one), a Peterson Strobostomp tuner all powered with a Voodoo Lab Pedal power 2 Plus. They also mention 19mm string spacing on her bass. That's about all I can figure out without being able to read Japanese.

 

[peterpalmieri]

Bass a gogo is going to translate for us!

Please post a link to the pics if you have one.

Regardless of how and why I have been exposed to Tal's playing I really dig it. I am not in search of the "best" bass player to listen to just appreciating it for what it is. Really solid playing that I wish I was capable of and appreciate listening too.

 

[Staccato]

This [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] does not show Tal on any 2010 back issue cover, wrong Japanese magazine?

 

[joinercape]

Regardless of how and why I have been exposed to Tal's playing I really dig it. I am not in search of the "best" bass player to listen to just appreciating it for what it is. Really solid playing that I wish I was capable of and appreciate listening too.[/QUOTE]

+1....Well put Peter.

 

[Jheake]

I may not know much about her family history, but from what i can gather she has worked very hard to get where she is.
So why does it matter that she happens to be female? The point is that she like the rest of us , enjoys the instrument and plays it with conviction and passion in a way she sees fit.
I can see the point people make about her looks age and what not but i dont buy into it. She is a great player, no one can take that from her.
We should all be greatfull that she brings to the table what she does. Its not like she is just standing there with a pick and a pbass in black highheels and a thong playing bass lines written by someone else. one of my fav bands as a young man had several female bass players who fit that shoe. Dont get me wrong, im sure those players can play as well but they definately capitalized on being female and young. SHE is the real deal, give her the credit she is due. She writes her own tunes, and plays with some amazing people as well. Im sure she could get a rock gig where she shows her body parts a little more and could make a ton more money. She plays what she wants tho.

But what do i know? I dont play in a pro band or with awesome jazz players. So maybe im clueless. Im just glad to see any bass player do well, it seems we are often overshadowed by noodleing guitar players.
It just makes sense to me. sorry, end of rant?

 

[78Jazzlover]

Again, no one said she is not the real deal..she is. That issue many cant leave alone, the nuanced "side" issue is one of opportunity and non- musical factors . These issues are not just in music but in almost any industry.

As per main thread issue....IMO she has great tone in her hands and from the bass. I like it recorded better than what I've heard live- a little scooped for me- but on her album it was beautiful.

 

[netwatchers]

Clarke, Jaco, Levine, no one recently can match the bass mentality and skill more than Tal WIlkenfeld. She is the real deal. Posts are suggesting soft hands, soft attitiude, boobies and other stupid stuff. Nothing to do with gender. She's Aussie, a student of music that took up bass cause of a natural rhythmic talent that didn't express itself fully with melodic instruments (a bassist, rather than a guitarist playing bass). Her tone is what I'm interested in: the Sadowsky plus amp/speaker choices. Is it the bass? Is it the amp settings? is it the speaker combo? Her work with Jeff Beck is exquisite. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gO7FI_ogvA>

 

[netwatchers]

As a bassist of 40+ years i listen for musicality and nuance more now than just speed scales. Tal seems to punch when she needs too, while still creating the melodic dance. Jeff Beck is an appropriate collaborator. Think Flight of the Bumblebee

 

[snowtraveler65]

She is not another Jaco, Victor, or Ox. I like her playing better. And I'm not kidding. But that's just my personal taste in music. And don't get me wrong, I love Jaco, Victor and the Ox.

I can't really explain it what it is about her playing that impresses me so much, but it has something to do with the emotion in her playing.

Anyway, I keep watching videos of her playing, and I really think a lot of her tone has to do with her touch.

I've seen a few other posts on Tal that follow a similar line. What seems to stand out (along with her tone and overall skill) is the feel that she achieves. There is a very lyrical and melodic quality to her playing along with a terrific energy. She doesn't play fast runs just to do it, she does it where it fits. She doesn't constantly slap and pop, but only does it where it enhances the mood of a song. There are excellent technicians out there who can do runs/pop & slap, etc. at lightning speed but their playing doesn't connect. It's impressive but quickly gets redundant and tedious to listen to. I can listen to her playing all day and never get tired of it. "Transformation" is wonderful and I look forward to what she comes out with next.

 

[Denial]

When she solos I hear a very lyrical voice coming out, not a barrage of 16th/32nd notes that only serve to bore me to tears.

That's not to say that I don't admire, from afar, the sheer athleticism that some new bassists display, but it literally does nothing for me emotionally/musically/etc. YMMV.

+1

Watch the video on You Tube with Jeff Beck at Crossroads and the song "We Ended as Lovers", then listen to the original. Her bass part is WAY better than the original.



You'll hear her with the octave divider on the second song.
Her counterplay off of Beck's playing is great as well.

As far as her tone from my fingers...not a chance!

 

[snowtraveler65]

As far as her tone is concerned... I have an EBS Micro Bass II pre amp. It has the same tone controls as the EBS HD350 Amp used by Tal. The sweepable mid tone control allows one to dial in a very warm tone. Mix that with the EBS 4x10 cabs, which are very tight and bright, gives a wonderful balance of warmth and articulation. She also uses an Avalon U5 preamp. Of course her technique is good too... ;-)