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the Late Great James Jamerson..

#343
I searched around and didn't find anything, so I apologize if this has been mentioned before, but has anybody transcribed what Jamerson plays on that live performance of What's Happening Brother? As good as the line on What's Going On is, I really like his playing starting around 6:30 in the video the most.
I have a feeling I'll be listening to this over and over to figure it out by ear.

Also anybody notice how the other guys on stage all seem to be listening to Jamerson? The way they react to certain phrases.. love it.
 
#344
Just had an early Christmas present - I've found out about a new (to me) Jamerson album for the discography - will be picking it up next week from a pal who found it for me:

Beverly Glenn's 1969 Album "Coming Again So Soon" on Cross records. Produced by Ahmad Jamal with "J. Jamerson" and "Ernie Farrow" on "string bass"

Seasons greetings to all. Make sure you have your Jamerson Xmas compilations to hand for your parties!
 
#346
Does anyone know if he played on the Shirley Bassey album "Something Else"?
One day when I turned on the radio and the song "(Where do I begin) Love Story" was playing (right in the middle of the chorus) the first thing that I thought: "JAMERSON!"
I haven't been able to find any personnel info for that album, but Jamerson did record with Bassey at least on "Nobody Does it Like Me" (says so in SITSOM).
If that's not Jamerson on "(Where do I begin) Love Story" it's someone doing a very good imitation :D
 
#349
just saw this thread. here, as in many other "internet databases" I'm reading again that Jamerson played "Streetlife" song with Crusaders - which is not so. That song played a great Wilton Felder. Jamerson SR (son) has played on Carnival of the night song from the famous "Streetlife" album.
cheers!!!
 
#351
Jamerson related story:
I bought the Book/Cassette version of Standing In the Shadows of Motown when it first came out in 89. I didn't know anything about Jamerson but I knew I loved the bass playing on those Motown tunes. Plus Geddy Lee was in it. It had to be good, right?

I was tending bar in a hotel bar in Boston's theater district at the time and had the occasional celebrity sit down. One afternoon after the lunch rush, the bar's dead and 4 guys in really nice looking track suits and with expensive looking watches sit at the bar. Very low key, nice guys. They definitely looked familiar. After getting their drinks I had to ask who they were.

The biggest of the group answers in a deep voice "We're the Temptations. In town to do a corporate gig."

The Temptations? It hit me that I was looking at and talking to Melvin Franklin. Otis Williams was sitting there too. No idea who the other two younger guys were. I told Mr. Franklin I was a bass player. He immediately said "You and me, we're brothers man, we're both all about the bass." Then I told him I was a fan of Jamerson's playing and I was currently reading/listening to the book. It floored him that I actually knew who Jamerson was. He was really, genuinely surprised by that. They spent the next hour telling me stories about Jamerson and Motown.

They were just killing time in the hotel bar before another corporate gig. I got one of the most incredible afternoons of my life and some great first hand reminiscences about Jamerson, the Funk Brothers, etc.
 
#352
marmadaddy said:
Jamerson related story:
I bought the Book/Cassette version of Standing In the Shadows of Motown when it first came out in 89. I didn't know anything about Jamerson but I knew I loved the bass playing on those Motown tunes. Plus Geddy Lee was in it. It had to be good, right?

I was tending bar in a hotel bar in Boston's theater district at the time and had the occasional celebrity sit down. One afternoon after the lunch rush, the bar's dead and 4 guys in really nice looking track suits and with expensive looking watches sit at the bar. Very low key, nice guys. They definitely looked familiar. After getting their drinks I had to ask who they were.

The biggest of the group answers in a deep voice "We're the Temptations. In town to do a corporate gig."

The Temptations? It hit me that I was looking at and talking to Melvin Franklin. Otis Williams was sitting there too. No idea who the other two younger guys were. I told Mr. Franklin I was a bass player. He immediately said "You and me, we're brothers man, we're both all about the bass." Then I told him I was a fan of Jamerson's playing and I was currently reading/listening to the book. It floored him that I actually knew who Jamerson was. He was really, genuinely surprised by that. They spent the next hour telling me stories about Jamerson and Motown.

They were just killing time in the hotel bar before another corporate gig. I got one of the most incredible afternoons of my life and some great first hand reminiscences about Jamerson, the Funk Brothers, etc.
Click to expand...


(THUD!!! pedro faints in a heap of jealousy and admiration.)
 
#354
marmadaddy said:
Jamerson related story:
I bought the Book/Cassette version of Standing In the Shadows of Motown when it first came out in 89. I didn't know anything about Jamerson but I knew I loved the bass playing on those Motown tunes. Plus Geddy Lee was in it. It had to be good, right?

I was tending bar in a hotel bar in Boston's theater district at the time and had the occasional celebrity sit down. One afternoon after the lunch rush, the bar's dead and 4 guys in really nice looking track suits and with expensive looking watches sit at the bar. Very low key, nice guys. They definitely looked familiar. After getting their drinks I had to ask who they were.

The biggest of the group answers in a deep voice "We're the Temptations. In town to do a corporate gig."

The Temptations? It hit me that I was looking at and talking to Melvin Franklin. Otis Williams was sitting there too. No idea who the other two younger guys were. I told Mr. Franklin I was a bass player. He immediately said "You and me, we're brothers man, we're both all about the bass." Then I told him I was a fan of Jamerson's playing and I was currently reading/listening to the book. It floored him that I actually knew who Jamerson was. He was really, genuinely surprised by that. They spent the next hour telling me stories about Jamerson and Motown.

They were just killing time in the hotel bar before another corporate gig. I got one of the most incredible afternoons of my life and some great first hand reminiscences about Jamerson, the Funk Brothers, etc.
Click to expand...

Great story man.
Please consider sharing some of the Tempts stories about JJ
 
#358
Tomorrow at BassPlayer Live at SIR in L.A. BassPlayer Magazine will honor James with the first posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award. I was at the rehearsal for the event and saw Jamerson Jr. playing bass, Allen Slutsky (of SITSOM) playing guitar, James Gadson Playing Drums and my friend Pauli playing Sax (mostly baritone, this is Motown after all) and two Wonderful Singer.

Anthony Visits Nijel in LA. - YouTube

I will post video I took of the event. The link above is the video of this sculptor Nijel Binns who wants to do a statue of Jamerson.
 

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