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Uber bassists- I don't get it.
- Thread starter Paulabass
- Start date
There's a similar discussion amongst visual artists. It goes something like, that art isn't legitimate because blah blah blah. But then at art school I came across the philosophical expression, Art For Art's Sake, which basically means, art doesn't have to give a reason to exist.
Hey @Paulabass. Interesting question...I tend to agree with you to a certain degree. I personally am more attracted to the musicality of a virtuoso than the shredding aspect. Uum...say...Vito Bratta soloing vs Yngwie Malmsteen soloing, & to keep it in the same genre. Bratta was so expressive, Yngwie excessive, to me.
I rhymed! I had my Al Sharpton moment of the day!)That's where I draw the line, I guess. If it's very musical, cool chord changes & all that, then I dig it. For instance, even though not a shred-fest per se, Jerry Douglas' solo on the song "Maybe" as done by Alison Krauss & Union Station is to die for. The man can most definitely shred, but is SO tasteful over such killer chord changes.
When music is used as a vehicle to simply showcase a "soloists" talent, I might be very impressed, but it's 50/50 whether or not I'll listen to it again. Write a song, or a piece of music, then maybe get shreddy in that context...I'll likely enjoy that more.
I remember seeing Victor Wooten & some of his brothers & friends on a tour outside of the Flecktones, say in '98. It was the most...meh...thing I've ever witnessed musically. Ridiculous talent of course, but...it got boring after about an hour. I almost left...GAWD, I finally got that off my chest...I've been holding that in for all these years!
Thanks @Paulabass!As an aside...
I respect uber bass players for the enormous amount of work they put into their craft, in addition to their inventiveness, without necessarily liking their output.
On the other hand, I was an instant and avid fan of Les Claypool's rapid slap and chord skills on his 6-string fretless when Primus first hit the airwaves.
On the other hand, I was an instant and avid fan of Les Claypool's rapid slap and chord skills on his 6-string fretless when Primus first hit the airwaves.
that’s an awkward statement right there. i guess sentence structure is something to add to your “don’t get it” list.
by the way i’d love to hear examples of your own playing that exemplifies whatever point you’re trying to make.
don’t worry, i’m not holding my breath.
When people find out that I play jazz, they seem compelled to tell me that they basically don't like jazz. This includes what kinds of jazz they like and don't like, and why. Usually, the jazz they don't like is the modern, interesting, technical stuff. The jazz they like is background music. If pressed for more detail, they will reveal that they don't like bass solos of any kind.
So, when people ask me what kind of music I play, I always feel tempted to respond: "I play the kind of music that most people hate."
There will always be a place for music that most people hate (same for art, architecture, etc), and it will always have a very small but loyal audience. I don't lose sleep over it.
So, when people ask me what kind of music I play, I always feel tempted to respond: "I play the kind of music that most people hate."
There will always be a place for music that most people hate (same for art, architecture, etc), and it will always have a very small but loyal audience. I don't lose sleep over it.
I like how you phrase your subjective opinion like it's an actual musical rule.
I's the least I can do. When people all walk off the dance floor anytime the typical bassist (including myself) takes more than a 20 second solo it's all the evidence I need.
Jamerson is a virtuoso! Bob Babbitt played bass on Mercy Mercy Me. It's difficult to make a point with diluted facts.
So I listened to the first 45 seconds or so of the Manring song....the ability to play in three registers of a bass guitar to create rhythm, melody and harmony is amazing.....honestly the nature of that rhythm and melody aren’t really my thing which might have affected my lukewarm reaction to it......he’s not so much playing bass as he is playing a complex piece of interesting music and just so happens to be using an electric bass to do so......
Did I miss a meeting where it is mandatory to listen to music we don't care for?
How is that really different than you must listen to music that you don’t care for because someone else likes it?
I like music that I am sure that others don’t. I don’t try to impose my views on anyone else. I can and do respect folks talent and ability without liking their music.
For example, I grew up in the ‘70’s and early ‘80’s, born in ‘63, and loved rock and roll from that era, still do. I like other music, too. I have heard every song that Led Zeppelin ever recorded, but I will never buy one of their albums. They don’t do it for me and never will no matter how many other folks like them. I don’t deny that they are talented and that that they play rock and roll, I just don’t care for their music.
I also respect the talent and ability of all the players that everyone in this thread says are so great. That doesn’t mean that I have to like any of their music. That doesn’t mean that there is anything wrong with me or my taste in music. Just like it doesn’t mean that there is anything wrong with you or your taste in music if you love any or all of their stuff.
We’re just different folks that like different things. Neither of us are right or wrong, it’s just an IS thing. I want everyone to enjoy their idea of good music and I will enjoy what I like.
Now, eat your spinach and brussel sprouts, they have lots of vitamins and they are good for you.
I’ve noticed a curious thing with social media. I recently joined a FB group dedicated to bass and I frequently see many posts of people playing solo bass. I watched a few at first and then I found myself just scrolling past them all. I never listen anymore and I’ve realised that it’s not bass that I’m interested in per se. It’s making music with other people that interests me and I happen to do it using a bass.
The esoterica of the bass is a cerebral activity - bass academia if you like. I like making music.
The esoterica of the bass is a cerebral activity - bass academia if you like. I like making music.
This is fantastic! you nailed it! playing music is (for me) a journey and an adventure, and most journeys and adventures are better when shared.
I like to listen to a mix. Too much of anything and I lose interest. I like groove and feel players that simply play bass very well. A lot of players that aren’t considered virtuosos fall into that category, occasionally I like to listen to flashier stuff but I rarely listen to any of the people you mentioned.
I’d rather listen to Ryan Martinies playing with Soften the Glare than any other player slapping anything.
I’d rather listen to Zander Zon play a piccolo bass renditions of a movie theme than Micheal Manning play some super crazy stuff on his piccolo bass.
Only flashy player I listen to regularly that’s known for playing Fodera is actually Janek Gwizdala. But sometimes I just want to hear some fresh jazz and I happen to like a lot of the groups he plays with.
I respect Victor as a monster player and a great teacher but to be honest my favorite thing Ive heard him play was a couple years back when he played on a metal album.
Sometimes I just want to hear bass with a crap load of effects on it. So I’ll put up some Nerve and listen to John Davis’s playing.
Micheal League from Snarky Puppy is actually one of my favorites to listen to lately. He’s a p bass with flats and keybass player. I just think he has great groove and feel and his solos while much simpler than the guys you mentioned just has a great vibe imo.
I also like players who play very simple stuff but write cool songs and have great tone. For example I’m a big fan of the band Architects and the bass isn’t doing anything crazy. It just sounds good.
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Pretty soon no one will want to start a Talk Bass thread for the inevitable resultant bashing.
Why compose a paragraph when a sharpie and the words "kick me" are more expedient and just as effective?
What's really getting discouraging with these threads is how monolithically uniform the snarky responses have become.
And the fact that the same low-hanging Uber joke was made 30 times in eight pages suggests that no one is doing much
reading, either, once they have gotten to some minor bugaboo they can decry.
At least on Twitter the posts strive to be droll.
Bummer!
"YMMV"
Why compose a paragraph when a sharpie and the words "kick me" are more expedient and just as effective?
What's really getting discouraging with these threads is how monolithically uniform the snarky responses have become.
And the fact that the same low-hanging Uber joke was made 30 times in eight pages suggests that no one is doing much
reading, either, once they have gotten to some minor bugaboo they can decry.
At least on Twitter the posts strive to be droll.
Bummer!
"YMMV"
I saw stanley clarke was coming to santa Fe and got psyched. Then went to book tix and realized I was going just cause hes a legend..not because I like his music.
