Very Strange Recording

[StrangeBass]

Hi all,

Been a lurker for years, but never signed up for this site, and may never post again for that matter. I don't know exactly where to post this, so I dropped it here.

Disclosure (my main bass playing influences are Geddy, Cliff Burton, Steve Harris, and "Geezer", as well as myriad hair band bassists who aren't or may never be known).

Something has been bugging me a bit from our last rehearsal.

We hadn't played in a month due to schedule conflicts etc. It's Summertime "and livin' is easy" except those of us who work a lot.

Now down to why I posted.

During that time off, I spent a lot of time reading up on a few of the greats. Jamerson, the Ox, Duck, Flea, Les, and others who aren't usually in my wheelhouse or are normally not on my "normal rotation" since I'm a bit of a metal head.

During our last get together, we recorded a fantastic Em jam. I hadn't played anything much over the last few weeks (just reading up on the styles), and came out with a recording that had some bass playing from my hands that I've never noticed or heard before.

I went so far as to accuse my guitar player who holds the rehearsal recording gear of going in and "fixing" parts. (we use ambient stereo for drums, and close mics for cabs. It's hard to fix when the bass or guitar bleeds into ambients. I thought he was performing magic or something). In the shared mix I couldn't believe what I was hearing here and there. I could hear my sour notes, but certain parts led me to believe my buddy had came in and handled certain hammers and pulls on the bass after the fact.

He said he didn't have time to work on something like that, and probably couldn't have "pulled it off" anyway with the drums being ambient mics. I solo'd both side and it was definitely me. But I don't remember doing it! And didn't think I could handle it so well anyway. I'm good but literally this was DAMN!!! Guitar player/producer is off the hook, it couldn't have been done. We have the same software packages. If he did, he needs to get out of software and into producing or engineering.

My question for you all is, do you think you've ever picked up or "channeled" a bass player, or in any case blown your own damn mind when listening back on a recording, like I did? I read a lot about their styles, and didn't play much at all over that time. I'm not sure what happened, but I'm glad it did. But it's so out of character. i'm almost 50 now, and I figured being an old dog, new tricks would be hard to come by. Something happened, and for the better.

I'm looking forward to hearing your stories of learning and blowing your own minds

Thanks for reading.

 

[craigie]

Right on!

Not a recording, but I remember at a campfire jam weekend where we had consumed a bunch of the soon-to-be new product on the shelves in Canada I played the best thing I have ever played. It was a bit out there and wacky but it was exactly what I intended to play and it was awesome! They didn’t quite get it the same as me but I still have the vague recollection of that most amazing moment and hope to equal and surpass it.

 

[garp]

Welcome!

My question for you all is, do you think you've ever picked up or "channeled" a bass player, or in any case blown your own damn mind when listening back on a recording, like I did?

Absolutely.

Much of my current bass playing is influenced by music I listened on AM radio as a youngster – long before I even knew what a bass was. (In fact, back then, I didn't even know what a vinyl record or magnetic tape was – I thought all musical groups drove back and forth very quickly between various radio stations to perform everything live. Amazing how the lead guitarists never flubbed a solo.) I credit all that early "ear training" for helping me to discern bass parts when I finally took up the instrument many years later. And it has been a wonderful journey going back to research all of the players I had been listening to as a kid: James Jamerson; Bob Babbitt; Carol Kaye; Ronnie Baker; Wilton Felder; Klaus Voorman; Dee Murray; etc.

I'm not sure it's possible to "channel" a particular player or style without hearing examples first. For example, you could read everything ever written about someone like Jamerson, but unless you're able to read music notation and have access to accurate charts, it's tough to fully comprehend/appreciate his genius without listening to it.

 

[viper4000]

I often listen to jams from years past and wonder how I did what I did. Not just technically, but as an ensemble. Like, how in the world did we know we would go from here to there? On play backs, some of them sound like arranged parts.
It's fun trying to figure out what the heck you were doing.

 

[JRA]

glad you impressed yourself OP! it happens...maybe all too infrequently.

i've spent a lifetime recording. i'm generally unimpressed with my own playing unless say, i nail a part/solo on the first take, or i 'leave the road' and play something clever but unexpected/unplanned and it just works.

i think most of my in-the-zone, inspired moments occur in live playdown situations (recorded or not) when i'm having great/fun 'dialogue' with other players who are also playing in-the-zone themselves --- that magical stuff where everyone involved knows it, and everyone keeps 'upping-the-ante'...until someone goes bust! but i've occasionally experienced whole nights/gigs where the ensemble could do no wrong: 2-3-4 hours of non-stop love supreme.

it's goodness. giddy stuff! best of luck as you seek more of the magic!

 

[charlie monroe]

It’s nice when you get in the zone.

Sounds like your horizons just expanded through osmosis. Don’t look back.