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Double Bass When Your Sub is Christian McBride

#21
T
SAlcott said:
I’ve heard a lot of Rhiannon’s music and never thought it was rinky-dink. When I’ve been called to sub in established groups, I do my best to absorb their vibe/aesthetic. I’d never expect them to change to accommodate me.
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Ha. It’s the wrong word. I love our repertoire! But I’m saying, compared to what Christian can do (or maybe just what I can do) it’s pretty simple stuff. Rhiannon is definitely not rinky-dink, but maybe I am! Hahaha.
 
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#22
BobKay said:
Rinky Dink - hope Rhiannon isn’t on TB.
Don’t sell you or your band mates short, Jason. The product she and her band put out is absolutely great, IMHO.
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Rhiannon knows I’m selfeffacing to a fault! I don’t mean her, I mean me. Christian can play anything and so can Rhiannon. I would have loved to hear her do something from Porgy and Bess, something I never had the opportunity to play with her.
 
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#23
Jason Sypher said:
Actually, I won’t change a thing from what I play. My choices are my choices for a reason. My lines incorporate my experience in New Orleans, brass band music, oldtime jugbands, second line. I noticed immediately that none of that was there in his playing. Of course he sounded great, he even changed a quick chord and the pianist picked it up. But he sounded like a modern jazz master, which is what he is, which is what I’m not, and not what I am inspired to be. I would love to be able to solo like him, for sure. But I like what I play and I’m going to keep listening to what’s around me and playing what fits in the moment. What came as more of a surprise is why my band mates didn’t take advantage of having someone of that caliber in the trio and play JAZZ! Why the hell would they give him our relatively simple (originally I mistakenly referred to as rinky-dink) tunes instead of playing something that would showcase his underpinning? I think it was a huge mistake!
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I didn’t mean to imply you should change anything. Your playing serves the music very well. Complex harmony, re-harms, bass solos, etc don’t necessarily serve the music better..

Hearing Christian’s choices inform how they affected the music.
I.e. his articulation, line shape, register, sound, counterpoint, etc. Yes, likely different than yours, but that’s just it - different, not better!
 
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#24
Jim T said:
I didn’t mean to imply you should change anything. Your playing serves the music very well. Complex harmony, re-harms, bass solos, etc don’t necessarily serve the music better..

Hearing Christian’s choices inform how they affected the music.
I.e. his articulation, line shape, register, sound, counterpoint, etc. Yes, likely different than yours, but that’s just it - different, not better!
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100%. And it’s an honor to hear his take as well. We live in our notes, reveal in our lines. It’s a great big world of music!
 
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#26
Man - your journey just keeps getting better and better! I guess it really shows something when you experience growth even when you AREN'T on stage, and someone else is doing your job! :D

I agree with you - it woulda been fun for Rhiannon and group to pick at least 1 tune to lean into the jazz. Would be interesting to ask why they chose not to. Whether it was RG's choice or CMcB's.

When you play w/ RG, how firm are your setlists?
 
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#27
Ed S said:
Man - your journey just keeps getting better and better! I guess it really shows something when you experience growth even when you AREN'T on stage, and someone else is doing your job! :D

I agree with you - it woulda been fun for Rhiannon and group to pick at least 1 tune to lean into the jazz. Would be interesting to ask why they chose not to. Whether it was RG's choice or CMcB's.

When you play w/ RG, how firm are your setlists?
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Floaty. And we will come up with something in soundcheck and then play it that night. I haven’t heard the whole set list yet. Maybe they did something new for all of them? I haven’t talked to them yet. We start touring again in August so I’ll find out pretty soon. I hope I’m surprised to find they did something way outside the comfort zone. They certainly have the abilities.
 
#34
Don Hergert said:
Honestly, if it was a gig I seriously valued, I'd be worried that he was going to be my permanent replacement. To be fair though, I'd be similarly worried if anyone from here subbed for me. :)

I'd be honored though.
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Of course my very first joke when she told was “Ok, can I keep my locker for a week until I sort things out!”. I mean, it’s FUNNY getting the best in the world to fill in for you. That’s just crazy bad luck, hahaha! But we are who we are and we play what we can. Nothing else you can do but shake your head and smile. It’s almost a Larry David moment. The one thing I really like about watching him was he SMILES! He has this great joy of playing. I need more of that vibe!
 
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#35
Jason Sypher said:
...The one thing I really like about watching him was he SMILES! He has this great joy of playing. I need more of that vibe!
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That is a great point. I recall watching the group Big Sandy and his Fly-Rite Boys, and the upright player just had this huge grin on his face throughout.

Me, I have major resting-bitch-face. I basically hate seeing photos of me playing, as I'm usually concentrating, and even tho I might be having more fun playing that I do with just about anything else, I look like I could murder someone - or my dog just died. Recently someone posted some pics of our group in which I was smiling, and I almost didn't recognize myself! :D
 
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#37
Chris Fitzgerald said:
I would love the opportunity to experience this. I would expect that a lot of positive reinforcement could come of it, plus a fair amount of inspiration!
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Many years ago I was working with pianist, Karen Springer. She wasn't happy when I had to take off for an extra gig which was on a Sunday way out on Long Island. It was Guerney's Inn in Montauch and it would be hard to get a sub to travel that far for $100. Finally, I got Jay Leonhart to do it. I hadn't heard him play but a drummer I knew, Jim Kappas, he was his brother-in-law, vouched for him with the highest praise.
The next week when I showed up for our steady gig, we had them in those days, I asked Karen, How'd he do? Without missing a beat, she answered, When are you taking off again?
 
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#40
Back when I was in college I had a four-nights-a-week supper club job. I would occasionally have to take off for some school-related reason. I had a normally available sub who I tried to get for a last minute conflict but had to get somebody I didn't know instead. This guy was so bad the bandleader fired me for sending somebody so lame. It was a life lesson. Always send the best person you can.
 
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