What about Jam bands??

[On the down low]

Hello everyone just joined today, so second post other than in the new members section. I don't want to start controversy right out of the gate, but what about the Jam band bass players? I've been lurking for awhile, and reading a lot of the threads. I see a pattern of the same bass players being mentioned all the time, hence Chris Squire, Geddy Lee, Marcus Miller, Victor Wooten etc....
Yes they are good players, but the Jam bands out now are what it's about holding a band together in a pocket. The player that made me pick a bass back up is Erick "Jesus" Coomes of Lettuce, and what a resume he holds too. I just thought I would ask, l mean those guys can improvise like crazy and hold it together, also get on stage with another Jam band and play a song with them for 22 minutes like they been playing it every night, even though they always play it different. I don't think a player that has been playing his same songs from the same album that came out in 1978 could get on stage with these bands and, do improvisation playing like they can. The world is a changing...

 

[Gorn]

Sometimes a twenty minute song would be better if it was 16 minute shorter.

 

[On the down low]

Sometimes a twenty minute song would be better if it was 16 minute shorter.

What I'm really saying is how good of players they are without all the flash.

 

[Gorn]

What I'm really saying is how good of players they are without all the flash.

I'm not sure to what flash you're referring, but sure. Different strokes for different folks.

 

[Pilgrim]

It definitely takes good players to keep a number going for a long time in a jam setting.

The trick is to do it with musicality and not wanking your way through it. I've seen way too many pointless solos.

 

[On the down low]

I'm not sure to what flash you're referring, but sure. Different strokes for different folks.

Flash as in fancy bass solo. Like you said different strokes for different folks. I was not into Jam bands till I went to the Suwannee Hulaween festival in Florida WOW music draws you in and the crowds these festivals draw. Don't see that with cookie monster metal now.

 

[FirewalZ]

What you'll learn from TB and a musical life in general is that there are as many different types of players and music as there are listeners, we need to be open and receptive of it all. In addition, your initial comparison of taking a musician who specializes in a particular genre or style of music and comparing/contrasting his ability in a completely different genre, is not really fair or accurate. It's a bit like having a great blues guitarist, placing him in a Symphonic Orchestra and trying to now make the claim that the blues guitarist is a lesser player because he cannot play classical

 

[On the down low]

What you'll learn from TB and a musical life in general is that there are as many different types of players and music as there are listeners, we need to be open and receptive of it all. In addition, your initial comparison of taking a musician who specializes in a particular genre or style of music and comparing/contrasting his ability in a completely different genre, is not really fair or accurate. It's a bit like having a great blues guitarist, placing him in a Symphonic Orchestra and trying to now make the claim that the blues guitarist is a lesser player because he cannot play classical

You are right. All I wanted to point out was those players don't get enough publicity, and all they are doing is what a bass players job is hold it all together, and, drive the band.

 

[FirewalZ]

You are right. All I wanted to point out was those players don't get enough publicity, and all they are doing is what a bass players job is hold it all together, and, drive the band.

Yep the music business sucks and is not a level playing field. Long ago I stopped wanting to "make it", "get signed", etc, now I just focus on being the best I can be, and to quote the opening line from "The Music Lesson" by Victor Wooten, "Boy, do I have a lot to learn"!

 

[On the down low]

Yep the music business sucks and is not a level playing field. Long ago I stopped wanting to "make it", "get signed", etc, now I just focus on being the best I can be, and to quote the opening line from "The Music Lesson" by Victor Wooten, "Boy, do I have a lot to learn"!

I quit the band thing in my twenties, now just play with friends, and maybe play out if we want to. Still learning here to that is why I have really taken to the Jam bands, so I can learn how to be in the pocket better.

 

[StyleOverShow]

The problems with jam bands:
- not all players are of equal ability
- generally, the principles play the same tunes/artists
- changing keys or the feel is difficult for some
- singers are wary, where's their spotlight
- good times aside, it gets boring unless the playahs are monsters

 

[On the down low]

The problems with jam bands:
- not all players are of equal ability
- generally, the principles play the same tunes/artists
- changing keys or the feel is difficult for some
- singers are wary, where's their spotlight
- good times aside, it gets boring unless the playahs are monsters

It can get boring if you let it. I'm not saying it's the only music I listen to just IMO if you want to hear musicians playing real music, and can play rock, funk, and jazz all in the same set. I just heard Phish just sold out 3 nights at Madison square garden next month. It is just funny how people don't care for them and they are the last real acts in music. The pop scene is all lip sync, and metal is all one riff with cookie monster singers.

 

[StyleOverShow]

Phish, I almost get a contact high just thinking about them.

Agree live music is best served fresh and hot. Carry On my wayward son

 

[Stevorebob]

Hello everyone just joined today, so second post other than in the new members section. I don't want to start controversy right out of the gate, but what about the Jam band bass players? I've been lurking for awhile, and reading a lot of the threads. I see a pattern of the same bass players being mentioned all the time, hence Chris Squire, Geddy Lee, Marcus Miller, Victor Wooten etc....
Yes they are good players, but the Jam bands out now are what it's about holding a band together in a pocket. The player that made me pick a bass back up is Erick "Jesus" Coomes of Lettuce, and what a resume he holds too. I just thought I would ask, l mean those guys can improvise like crazy and hold it together, also get on stage with another Jam band and play a song with them for 22 minutes like they been playing it every night, even though they always play it different. I don't think a player that has been playing his same songs from the same album that came out in 1978 could get on stage with these bands and, do improvisation playing like they can. The world is a changing...

TB celebrates all great bass players — vintage and new. Share and we'll check 'em out. No need to have angst that your fav is less appreciated than another.

Sometimes a twenty minute song would be better if it was 16 minute shorter.

And the other times, 17 minutes shorter.

 

[On the down low]

TB celebrates all great bass players — vintage and new. Share and we'll check 'em out. No need to have angst that your fav is less appreciated than another.


And the other times, 17 minutes shorter.

No angst, as stated above.

 

[On the down low]

Maybe I worded it wrong. I like the guys mentioned in the first posting, I still stop the scan button on the radio to listen to Rush. I guess the Jam band thing is where I'm at now musically. Hell next year I may even be listening to cookie monster metal, and asking everyone on here how to play the newest deathcore song " stuck on Satan's taint.

 

[FirewalZ]

Maybe I worded it wrong. I like the guys mentioned in the first posting, I still stop the scan button on the radio to listen to Rush. I guess the Jam band thing is where I'm at now musically. Hell next year I may even be listening to cookie monster metal, and asking everyone on here how to play the newest deathcore song " stuck on Satan's taint.

I listened to Phish for quite some time, i love the musical journeys they go on...it eventually led me to Jazz and other styles

 

[On the down low]

I listened to Phish for quite some time, i love the musical journeys they go on...it eventually led me to Jazz and other styles

So true man. So true.....

 

[Helix]

and metal is all one riff with cookie monster singers.

I had your back there, I've jammed in many Jam Bands and always love the ability of good musicians to improvise on the fly......but then you had to bag on metal, and you lost me

Have you ever been apart of a metal jam band?

 

[On the down low]

I had your back there, I've jammed in many Jam Bands and always love the ability of good musicians to improvise on the fly......but then you had to bag on metal, and you lost me

Have you ever been apart of a metal jam band?

Was just a joke. No metal jam band just a metal band, so see was there just a joke. Still have my back