The Tal Wilkenfeld Thread

[Humabass]

It's funny I was more impressed that she was only 21 and playing with Jeff Beck and Vinnie. The gender thing is irrelevant to me although there is no denying that her being female adds a bit to the "novelty" factor.

 

[Jonyak]

That's true about many, many musicians. Male or female. Attractive or not.

oh I know.

and hey nice to see another canadian player.

I'm in ottawa.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Yes, and then we should all castrate ourselves.

Look, I'm not about to put down her abilities as a bassist. She's up there playing with Jeff Beck, and if she's good enough for Jeff Beck, she's good enough for anyone. But do you really think she'd be a well known phenomenon at 21 and hired by Jeff Beck if she looked like Rosie O'Donnell? I don't.

And why is that a bad thing for someone to be called "pretty" or a "hottie?" Most women would kill to look like her and be called a hottie. It's only women who are hot who try to play down their looks. And who's to say she's playing them down? Yeah, she doesn't wear evening gowns, but she does wear tight t-shirts and jeans. If she was truly trying to play down her looks, she'd wear a baggy shirt and baggy jeans and not style her hair or anything like that.

I think it's extremely hypocritical of people who are good looking to say they want to be judged on their abilities alone. Really easy for them to say, isn't it? Meanwhile, there's plenty of girls out there the same age who plays every bit as good as Tal but look like bulldogs with a glandular problem, and we will never hear about them. So I say she should be thankful she looks like she does and just accept the fact that looks got her a lot farther than not having them.

I understand your point, but just how many times do men on Tb have to say how hot Tal is? As I said earlier, the woman is not doing anything to draw attention to herself in a sexy way at all. If this were Rhonda Smith, a favorite bassist of mine, I could see it more, because she has played up her looks alot more in her photos and on her CD covers. Even then, you would eventually have to focus on the fact that she is bad!

Since Tal clearly isn't trying act like a hottie, I can't help but feel that always talking about her age and looks is a backhanded putdown.

 

[ikkim12]

i admire her music abilities..

BUT


i dont think she is hot nor cute..

 

[Bass Boy]

I'm in ottawa.

Ottawa is such a pretty city. It's a shame they allow all those politicians there!

 

[Yankeesfan1115]

she's awesome, it reminds me of the kind of stuff i think jaco would be playing today. just a fantastic player.

 

[Altitude]

fI don't think she is any better than a million other people out there doing the same thing that get no attention at all. Why I must ask does she get the attention? because she's cute.

That's true about many, many musicians. Male or female.

...and about people in just about any walk of life, since the dawn of time. Not to mention the role attractiveness plays in the rest of the animal kingdom. We can't change it. Ask Danica Patrick.

 

[j-raj]

it was suggested by a fellow TB'er, that I modify the title, to make it less sexist.

 

[Bass Boy]

it was suggested by a fellow TB'er, that I modify the title, to make it less sexist.

Actually now it isn't sexist at all! (that's a good thing!)

 

[jerry]

it was suggested by a fellow Tb'er, that I modify the title, to make it less sexist.

I agree, thanks j-raj!

I love her CD and her playing, she is cute but way too young for this old man! I really do judge her on her playing AND writing. I wish people would hear her CD, and stop listening with their eyes.

 

[BassSurfer]

I like this clip:

A little too much shred imo still amazin

 

[Showdown]

There's no denying that Tal is talented but the majority of comments tend to focus on the fact that she is:
a - attractive
b - playing bass well

I sent a link to her myspace page to several musician friends of mine and their comments were:

a. Wow. She's really good.

b. It's amazing that someone that young can play like that.

None of them mentioned her looks.

 

[Marcus]

I sent a link to her myspace page to several musician friends of mine and their comments were:

a. Wow. She's really good.

b. It's amazing that someone that young can play like that.

None of them mentioned her looks.

I suppose that offsets all of the comments on YouTube and the previous thread that was locked.

My bad?

 

[perfektspace6]

Why is there a thread on one of the tribal children from "Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome"?



I wouldn't go out of my way to listen to her play but she sounds good. Sweet tone.

 

[xlows]

Ok, let's cover all of the Tal Wilkenfeld bases right here and end the thread:

-She CAN, in fact, play. And play well.
-She's cute as a button.
-The fact that she's young and attractive is probably a draw for people she plays with as it adds stage presence, but in the end her playing is good enough that they might have picked her up anyway.

/thread

Edit for Baird6869:

-Roger Sadowsky endorsed her on the spot at NAMM the first time he heard her play, she tours with Jeff Beck and Marcus Miller loves her playing. I really don't think many of us here at TB are better at judging her capabilities than Marcus or Beck.

-For someone that has only been playing bass for 5 years, she is amazing IMO. Hot or not, male or female, who cares? She can play. And she is 21. Imagine what she will be like in 5 more years?

 

[JimmyM]

Ok, let's cover all of the Tal Wilkenfeld bases right here and end the thread:

-She CAN, in fact, play. And play well.
-She's cute as a button.
-The fact that she's young and attractive is probably a draw for people she plays with as it adds stage presence, but in the end her playing is good enough that they might have picked her up anyway.

2 out of 3 ain't bad. But she would be playing bars in Australia with all the other ugly punters if she wasn't cute.

 

[mlowe]

I think Tal is a great bassist, and if it is great if people are talking about her abilities. What I am getting tired of is people talking about her looks. She is a young woman that many men find cute. We all know that! More important, is the fact that she doesn't play up her looks or feminity AFAIK. She clearly wants us to focus on her music, therefore, I think that if we respect her as person, we should stop the references on her looks.

That's a very good point i think. And now you mentioned that it does seem far more evident to me. She is a nice looking woman but I like her playing and approach and the fact that she doesn't tart up to try and make up for lack of talent. Then again, she doesn't need to.

 

[-Sam-]

2 out of 3 ain't bad. But she would be playing bars in Australia with all the other ugly punters if she wasn't cute.

Hey I'm not ugly!

 

[mlowe]

Yeh That ugly punter in Australia thing was a low punch.

Then again, they probably meant Austria. Geography not a strong thing in them here parts!

 

[Baird6869]

Roger Sadowsky endorsed her on the spot at NAMM the first time he heard her play, she tours with Jeff Beck and Marcus Miller loves her playing. I really don't think many of us here at TB are better at judging her capabilities than Marcus or Beck.

For someone that has only been playing bass for 5 years, she is amazing IMO. Hot or not, male or female, who cares? She can play. And she is 21. Imagine what she will be like in 5 more years?

Ok, let's cover all of the Tal Wilkenfeld bases right here and end the thread:

-She CAN, in fact, play. And play well.
-She's cute as a button.
-The fact that she's young and attractive is probably a draw for people she plays with as it adds stage presence, but in the end her playing is good enough that they might have picked her up anyway.

/thread