Vail Johnson

[DWBass]

Kenny had his new sig sax onstage (shiny thing all the way to the left) that he was giving away and had a raffle for it. The winner came up onstage and Kenny played it for her and when he was done, he presented it to her! Lucky girl!

My camera's battery was dying when we took this shot. The battery died 2 shots later. My wife on the left and of course me on the right cheesing away! Vail's a real cool dude! He was in the crowd sittin', dancing and playing!

 

[DWBass]

I believe that was Al Turner with Kem. I wasn't at the show but the Ken Smith bass and Eden rig gave it away as he is endorsed by both. Also he's been playing with Kem for quite some time.

I'm thinking it was Darrell 'Peanut' Smith on bass with Kem. He also plays Smiths & Eden. Didn't look like Al Turner. Was definitely a younger (at least younger looking) cat.

 

[smoothjazz]

I rate Vail Johnson a great bass player and down to earth guy. I asked him how to do the up and down technique with the thumb and he showed me some years ago what a great guy.

 

[TimWilson]

Nothing nothing nothing TOUCHES the tone of Kubicki. The BEST tone ever. And notice that Vail was double-thumping 15 years ago?

 

[Rano Bass]

Thank's for posting those photos DWBass!
I wish i could meet Vail.

 

[anonymous101511]

Nothing nothing nothing TOUCHES the tone of Kubicki. The BEST tone ever. And notice that Vail was double-thumping 15 years ago?

It's funny, I developed my version of that after seeing Dig Lewis, a Seattle bassist, do something like it back around 1980!

 

[anonymous101511]

.

 

[anonymous101511]

Vail, a lot of guys in smooth jazz play 5-strings, but you seem to be pretty much a 4-string guy through-and-through. Why'd you stick with the fours?

Hey 'Z', I really prefer the 4's. I figure I've a lot to learn with just 4 strings, still!
I do play a 5 if needed for session work.
Live, I string my Kramer fretless B-E-A-D, as I do like the low range. The X- factor is D-A-D-G and my electric upright is standard EADG.

 

[anonymous101511]

Killer bassist. I have all his cd's and they all kill! My problem was his stage persona. The wife beaters and wrist bands were so played out as is the short mullet thing he's got going. I know it's an old vid but he ran amock with that style. He's also a stage hog drawing attention away from the 'star'. Why is the bassist stationed in the middle of the stage?

The better question is 'why ISN'T the bassist stationed in the middle'? That's where the groove eminates from, after all.

 

[jady]

The better question is 'why ISN'T the bassist stationed in the middle'? That's where the groove eminates from, after all.

That's where I like to be, PMed on the ticket offer. That's really cool of you Vail!!!!

 

[DWBass]

The better question is 'why ISN'T the bassist stationed in the middle'? That's where the groove eminates from, after all.

Ahhh...man! You had to bring that back up! Well, after seeing the show first hand, I understand! Kenny is never onstage!! LOL! Geez! One minute he's in the rear of the crowd, the next minute, he's up in the nosebleed seats! Dude was everywhere! Vail came out into the crowd too! He actually walked right by me and my wife elbowed me and asked why I didn't tap him or high five him! LOL! It was a fun show and I definitely had a great time! Where did y'all find that percussionist? That dude was amazing! I thought Steve Reid, from the Rippingtons, was good but I like this guy way better!

Thanks again, Vail! I appreciate your generosity

 

[DWBass]

Here's an open invitation to Talkbass members. If you check the tour dates on my website, vailjohnson.net, and we're coming to your town ( anywhere around the world), send me an email and I'll try to arrange tix for you! I had "DWbass" out to the Hampton, Virginia show and he seemed to have a good time. I'll bet money that any of the Kenny G 'haters' out there would have a different story after seeing the live show. If not, that's OK, you could base it on actual experience at least. The only exception is Los Angeles; too many friends and family there!

Thanks again, Vail!!

 

[DWBass]

Hey 'Z', I really prefer the 4's. I figure I've a lot to learn with just 4 strings, still!
I do play a 5 if needed for session work.
Live, I string my Kramer fretless B-E-A-D, as I do like the low range. The X- factor is D-A-D-G and my electric upright is standard EADG.

That explains the 'low' notes when you were playing the Kramer! I kept scratching my head and talking to myself wondering how is he doing that! Never even thought of it being strung BEAD! I loved that segment when you played the electric upright.

 

[Steelers Fan]

Here's an open invitation to Talkbass members. If you check the tour dates on my website, vailjohnson.net, and we're coming to your town ( anywhere around the world), send me an email and I'll try to arrange tix for you! I had "DWbass" out to the Hampton, Virginia show and he seemed to have a good time. I'll bet money that any of the Kenny G 'haters' out there would have a different story after seeing the live show. If not, that's OK, you could base it on actual experience at least. The only exception is Los Angeles; too many friends and family there!

Man, I wish I had known that this weekend. The wife and I were also at your show at the Hampton Jazz Festival. It was great!! You were tearing it up!! We did get to meet Kenny before the show though.

 

[anonymous101511]

Ron Powell is the percussionist in question. He's really in a class of his own. We 'stole' him from an 'unnamed' jazz combo back around 1989, I think. They opened for us and we were looking for a percussionist to fill the vacant chair. He blew us away; we ran into him after the set and Kenny says "how much is she paying you?' The next night when she looked over for the conga solo, he was with us in Kansas City!!
He's recording his solo CD in my studio at the moment. World Beat stuff with lots of percussion, of course!
He cut his teeth with Brasilian legend Sergio Mendes. Studied/ lived in Brasil and Puerto Rico, he's a monster!!

 

[anonymous101511]

Man, I wish I had known that this weekend. The wife and I were also at your show at the Hampton Jazz Festival. It was great!! You were tearing it up!! We did get to meet Kenny before the show though.

check the website; we'll be back to the east a couple more times this year

 

[Altitude]

Here's an open invitation to Talkbass members...

Vail, I am sure you'll end up convincing a few nonbelievers, and I would come just to listen to you anyway. It doesn't look like you're hitting Colorado, but as I travel a lot myself I'll check in to see if we coincide.

For what it's worth, most of us old enough to remember the 80s did the mullet thing - I did. Your original response to that point was admirably mature. I wonder what people do now that will be seen as period-specific and silly 20 years from now. I hope it's the pants-below-the-butt thing.

 

[troyus]

I just noticed Vail is on here... that's great... I have that Terminator CD... not my style but the playing rules... Had to stomach through some Kenny G saxophone in the vid to get to the good stuff but well worth it.

 

[MR PC]

And notice that Vail was double-thumping 15 years ago?

Doug Rauch (Santana) was double-thumping over 35 years ago. And he's not the only one. What's the big deal? The thumb is an appendage governed by your brain. There are lots of possibilities for thumb technique.......double thumping is pretty boring (and obnoxioius IMHO) after executing the first circus act.

 

[MR PC]

Vail Johnson could probably "whup my ass" in so many ways ....

You can drown in an inch of water too! Give yourself a little more credit.