Double Bass The Duo Thread

[Chris Fitzgerald]

I'm working on a Duo project this summer and am looking to listen to great duo recordings featuring bass + anything else. I'd most like to hear what other TBers have recorded, but if anyone wants to share a great duo recording that they know of that they aren't playing on, that's OK too. Basically looking to hear what other bassists do in the duo format with all the open space.

This cut was recorded this afternoon with my long time friend, clarinetist Dave Klingman. Dave is 78 years young this year, and is kind enough to stop by my music room every so often to play duo sessions. On this cut, we decided to keep it simple and let the tone of the instruments speak for us, but we plan on getting a little more adventurous (as in our early days) as we play more and find the range. Anyway, here's the cut:



I'd love to hear some duo recordings from the TB peanut gallery and maybe get some ideas.

 

[Michael Karn]

Just a quick comment before i go to bed (i'm too tired for anything else), which is your bass sound is fantastic, particularly the amazing growl on the E string. That's a New Standard, right?

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Thanks! Yes, it's the very first hybrid LaScala ever made. The picture is still on the New Standard website when you click on "LaScala". It's strung with Dominant G-D-A and the E is a spirocore stark. As people are fond of saying of the stark E, it's a honey badger that invades small countries at the slightest provocation.

 

[Tom Lane]

A trio one too many? This is the first thing that came to mind. I learned a lot from it.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Great cut, Tom! A trio is not too many, but it's a different beast because the drums provide a little cover for the bass. In a duo setting, we're completely exposed.

 

[jmlee]

For a number of years, I've played in a really oddball duo of upright bass and harmonica, that's it. The harmonica is a chromatic and the fellow plays jazz very well. It's surprising how well it works, especially in a restaurant setting. There's tons of space, but that's what I think keeps it from taking up all the air in the restaurant. We've taken this to a blues bar as well, adding only a drummer...never any harmonic spackling—and it's gone over very well. For my part I love the freedom, and at last no one is plastering over my solos (although they likely deserve it). [Sorry, we've not recorded anything to date.]

 

[Mike Goodbar]

This Jeremy Steig/Eddie Gomez duo album was one of the first jazz records I bought. Still love the sound of bass and flute -- the two single voices on the extreme ends of the register give it an almost Baroque flavor, especially with the "contrapuntal" lines they're blowing here.

 

[Ed Fuqua]

Red Mitchell and Warne Marsh Live at Sweet Basil's
Miroslav Vitous and Jan Garbarek Atmos
Michael Moore and Roger Kellaway Live at Maybeck (that whole series is a bunch of great duos)
Undercurrent, of course.
Charlie Haden Golden Number (and pretty much any of his other duo records)
There's a nice duo record with Peter Ind and Rufus Reid that might only be available directly from Peter, but he's got a website.
And a couple of Sheila Jordan records, one with Harvie S and one with Cameron Brown.

But the bottom line, as always - what do you hear? Play THAT.

 

[Ed Fuqua]

As regards Goodbar's comment - that's one thing Lennie Tristano had Konitz and Marsh do, practice Bach two parts together. And since Dan has moved back to the northwest, he's been taking some Bach preludes, 4 parts etc. and reducing them to two voices, bass and tenor, to play duets with a bassist. It provides structured to hear your two voices against and that "teamwork" gives your ear something to strive towards when improvising.

 

[Mr Ralph]

Red Mitchell and Herb Ellis did one. Duke Ellington has an album solo's duets and trios and I believe there are some duets on This Ones for Blanton.

 

[Joshua]

Wish I had something of my own to offer, but 3 of my faves:

Invalid Link Removed

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

My far better half and I chose "Alone Together" as our wedding song because we liked the version above so much...

 

[MLysh]

"The Art of Conversation" Kenny Baron and Dave Holland
"Jasmine" Jarrett and Haden
"Intuition" and "Montreux III" Evans and Gomez
"Structures" Abercrombie and Gomez
"Oracle" Towner and Peacock

 

[mdcbass]

I saw Milt Hinton and Frank Wess play for college students as a duo prior to their larger group performance later that evening. This was inspiring and I soon began doing restaurant gigs with tenor and alto players. A clarinet is even "Woodier". Here's another great duo recording.

 

[Emoody]

Dave Young made three Duo-CD's with different Pianists, as shown on his website Invalid Link Removed

Just a thing to add:
the playing is much different with a harmonic- or a melodic instrument (or singer). You are looking for the second, I suppose?

 

[Sam Sherry]

C McB duetting with thirteen outstanding musicians right ovah heeyah:

 

[Joshua]

C McB duetting with thirteen outstanding musicians right ovah heeyah:

With a version of Alone Together by my fave musician ever (HJ) as well as one of my fave bassists - how did I forget this?

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

You guys are great! How did i not know about the Red Mitchell and CMB duo albums? Just bought both on iTunes and will be sinning those over the next few days/weeks. The Red Mitchell cut in this thread in particular is exactly the kind of creative accompanying ideas I'm looking for.

As for the rest, in no particular order:
@Mike Goodbar - Every time I play a lightly set up bass, I can't resist attempting that nimble dance thing that Eddie Gomez does so well. As with other fast/chopsy virtuosos, I find that this way of playing and the way my bass has to be set up to get the sound I like don't really go together but it sure is fun hearing Eddie go on that cut.
@Joshua - I know those three and all are great.
@mdcbass - thanks for that link. I can't believe I didn't know about this one. Warburton's gonna chew me a new one, but at least I'll have good music to listen to while he's chewing.
@Sam Sherry - As above....I shoulda known. But thanks for the heads up.

Dave Young made three Duo-CD's with different Pianists, as shown on his website Invalid Link Removed

Just a thing to add:
the playing is much different with a harmonic- or a melodic instrument (or singer). You are looking for the second, I suppose?

I have the Dave young stuff and it's nice. You are correct: I feel like I pretty much know what to do in a duo setting with a pianist or guitarist. But with another melodic instrument, it's good to get ideas from other people because unless I'm really "on", I can run out of ideas pretty quickly. On the project I'm recording beginning this summer in my music room, There will be a pianist/guitarist or two, but as for the others, it will be sax/clarinet/trumpet/vocal duos, and this is where I need to grow. What better way than to plan to record an album, what?

Last, would still love to hear recordings along these lines from other TBers if anyone has some. Ed? Sam? Bueller?

 

[Chris Symer]

Here's one from a few years ago that was recorded with a guitarist friend for his grad school audition tape. A Gary Peacock tune that is on the Oracle recording he did with Ralph Towner. I'll look around for some duo stuff with Tenor or Alto, although when I record gigs it's usually just for me and I delete it soon after, I have done quite a bit of duo with sax.

You sound wonderful on your clip BTW.....

 

[Emoody]

Sheila Jordan and Harvie Swartz made 2 Cd's in the 80ies, perhaps you know: Album search results for "old time feeling" | AllMusic
Looking forward for your new album

 

[Francois Blais]

Not to denigrate Harvie's talent, but Invalid Link Removed was IMHO the absolute best in that genre.