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Double Bass Wasn't RED a GREAT Player?
- Thread starter powermans
- Start date
Thanks, Damon...I liked Mr. Farlow's playing, but I found it was about all I could hear from that video with very small exceptions, unfortunately. One thing I noticed was where Red plucked with his right hand -- awfully high on the fingerboard, ne? Is this how he usually played, or was he just playing a little bit more sensitively on this one?
Yes.....colors. Also, Red played alot of 2 and three note stops and certain places on the FB respond differently to that stuff....as you more than likley know. He'd use his thumb and index finger on his right hand alot too.Aaron Saunders said:
Recently, I made Presenting Red Mitchell my first purchase from the I-Tunes store. Other than a few snippets on Sirius, this is my first exposure to his music. I have never heard such melodic playing.
Anyone who has never heard him should check him out. This is especially true if you are not a jazz player. Many players I know (generally bluegrass folk) usually write off other kinds of music. They spend hours discussing guys like Mike Bubb or Barry Bales who have excellent taste, timing, and feel for bluegrass but who also rarely take the bass beyond the "norm." I can see (or rather hear) how listening to someone like Red could open up a whole new approach to any type of music.
Anyone who has never heard him should check him out. This is especially true if you are not a jazz player. Many players I know (generally bluegrass folk) usually write off other kinds of music. They spend hours discussing guys like Mike Bubb or Barry Bales who have excellent taste, timing, and feel for bluegrass but who also rarely take the bass beyond the "norm." I can see (or rather hear) how listening to someone like Red could open up a whole new approach to any type of music.
A BIG Thankyou Damonsmith for finding this treasure....
I just think he was such a great showman the way he uses both hands firstly, his right hand and the way he uses his fingers.... looks like at times ALL four and the way he goes into that struming position half way up the neck as if he were playing a Ukulele and to the left hand when he solos and slides up to the note (INTONATION PEFRECT)everytime! It's so easy to overshoot at times when I attempt this move.
Just love it. Any of you guys who got to see him live!(Paul W etc) I envy you.
I went on youtube not long after I found the site(months back) and put in "Red/M"and it came up with nothing! I now realise that I should have put in the names of the guys he was backing ! Good Move ! I wonder if anyboby else knows of any more clips like this one on youtube that may exist with Red playing?
I just think he was such a great showman the way he uses both hands firstly, his right hand and the way he uses his fingers.... looks like at times ALL four and the way he goes into that struming position half way up the neck as if he were playing a Ukulele and to the left hand when he solos and slides up to the note (INTONATION PEFRECT)everytime! It's so easy to overshoot at times when I attempt this move.
Just love it. Any of you guys who got to see him live!(Paul W etc) I envy you.
I went on youtube not long after I found the site(months back) and put in "Red/M"and it came up with nothing! I now realise that I should have put in the names of the guys he was backing ! Good Move ! I wonder if anyboby else knows of any more clips like this one on youtube that may exist with Red playing?
I just downloaded the tracks with Red from Ornette's "Tomorrow is the Question". I can't believe I waited so long.
I wrote this review on emusic:
"I have to disagree with the assements that this is a sub-standard Ornette release. The tracks with Red Mitchell are especially great. His crisp, clear intonation and unwavering, articulate swing bring a lot to this music- not to mention his beautiful melodic and virtuoso solos. Haden was certainly an innovator, especially in terms of his ability to modulate with Ornette but Red was one of the finest double bass players that ever lived, Ornette did not get bass playing on this level until the fantastic trio with David Izenzon and Charles Moffett."
I wrote this review on emusic:
"I have to disagree with the assements that this is a sub-standard Ornette release. The tracks with Red Mitchell are especially great. His crisp, clear intonation and unwavering, articulate swing bring a lot to this music- not to mention his beautiful melodic and virtuoso solos. Haden was certainly an innovator, especially in terms of his ability to modulate with Ornette but Red was one of the finest double bass players that ever lived, Ornette did not get bass playing on this level until the fantastic trio with David Izenzon and Charles Moffett."
Question: Maybe someone out there can help me. How come the picture and sound freezes every time I try to play these takes?
Thanks for that Damon! I was amazed to see his right hand technique which was perpendicular to the strings and very light, like an electric bass technique. I'll bet he didn't always play that way.
Because of this thread and especially praise from Paul Warburton I've really become a big "Red" fan lately. (It has also gotten me back into the sound of Spiros) I Just got Joe Pass and Red Mitchell Duo CD Finally from 1992 and it is my new fav.
(Although the song Red sings on might not appeal to everyone here)
Thanks for the you tube links and Thanks again Paul!
(Although the song Red sings on might not appeal to everyone here)
Thanks for the you tube links and Thanks again Paul!
Randy, I just noticed your last post on this thread....A note on Red's singing......Do you know Burt Lahr? The guy who played the lion in The Wizard of Oz? That's who Red sounds like....please listen to the music not the sound. Same goes for Louis. As I said earlier, Red was singing, whistling and playing piano at the same time....This moved Don Thompson to tears!
Thanks Randy for bringing up this great old thread!
Thanks Randy for bringing up this great old thread!
Hi Paul;
Well first off; I like Burt Lahr's singing and I think Red's singing is a lot less 'effected' than the famous Cowardly Lion. Don’t get me wrong, I really like what Red’s doing with his voice and the phrasing. He is so musical it wouldn't matter if he was playing a rubber band! I just thought the singing might not be to everyone's taste. My wife made her 'big nostrils-squinty eyes' face the first time she heard it. But she came around.
BTW, A local guy that I am looking to take a lesson with named Ed Dimattaeo, heard I was into Red and gave me a old worn out cassette of a Joe Beck & Red Mitchell live duo. Man it is great! I like these guitar duo settings because it gives Red a lot of room to become the total accompanist.
Oh man, what a player. Crazy how dynamic he is! Even playing on spiros and going through a crappy amp, he still achieves a great variety of tone and timbre. That's not easy...
I must admit, though, I prefer his sound before he switched to steel strings. The warm gut sound from "Presenting Red Mitchell" never gets old! Just my my preference though.
I must admit, though, I prefer his sound before he switched to steel strings. The warm gut sound from "Presenting Red Mitchell" never gets old! Just my my preference though.
I love hearing great instrumentalists sing. Not too often do they turn out to be "great" singers, but you get a new and different window into their musical mind.
Red was not a showman, power. The only thing on Reds mind was....music
I was noticing on the Wave video, they were playing it it C. Of course the original is D.....but there can't be any doubt because in his solo Red keeps whacking the low C.....Jaws was a dear friend of mine, and it was a joy to see him again......thanks Damon!!!!!
Hey but there's nothing wrong with the fact that he looked good doing it, Paul!
In these videos Red always looks like he is enjoying the music. I think that's important.... Whatever he played, it always looked and sounded like he meant it and it came from deep within. A lot of sincerity and meaning in his playing.
Well in your eyes Red may not have been a Showman, Warburton. But in my eyes ( if you don't object to me having an opinion on this subject) he looks and sounds like one hell of a player and a showman.... and for your information Warburton, "Collins English Dictionary"
quotes a SHOWMAN as :-
"A person skilled at presenting anything in an effective manner" Unquote ....And I happen to think that Red did exactly that. Warburton!
I love to watch almost all bassists! I just meant that I didn't think that Red was intentionally setting out to be a showman.
Wow....Sounds like you don't love me anymore.....why would you think that I would think that I would object to you having an opinion?????????
What the hells going on around here?
