Double Bass When Your Sub is Christian McBride

[Jason Sypher]

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.

Yeah. I do the same but dayyyyym Christian McBride?!

 

[Reiska]

This is a very cool story! Still at the end of the day, I think that a band is a band, certain music is just that, and virtuoso players are what they are. All sorts of stuff that could be described as " americana " and roots music is what I`m trying to learn to play here in this godforsaken part of the planet, and I`m not listening to Christian McBride to learn it, for a reason. No, I`m listening to Jason Sypher because he is a great musician and specialist on that stuff, who has devoted his life and career to be where he is at now. No virtuosity or name can replace that. And, there`s the additional benefit of that I can actually discuss bass and music with the man himself here from this forementioned part of the planet. And, I also would like to add that anyone who actually is able to slap Claypool lines on the DB, could be described as a virtuoso. It`s not a contest, it`s music.

 

[Jason Sypher]

This is a very cool story! Still at the end of the day, I think that a band is a band, certain music is just that, and virtuoso players are what they are. All sorts of stuff that could be described as " americana " and roots music is what I`m trying to learn to play here in this godforsaken part of the planet, and I`m not listening to Christian McBride to learn it, for a reason. No, I`m listening to Jason Sypher because he is a great musician and specialist on that stuff, who has devoted his life and career to be where he is at now. No virtuosity or name can replace that. And, there`s the additional benefit of that I can actually discuss bass and music with the man himself here from this forementioned part of the planet. And, I also would like to add that anyone who actually is able to slap Claypool lines on the DB, could be described as a virtuoso. It`s not a contest, it`s music.

This post has been paid for by the Save the Sypher’s Gig Fund established for self-taught musicians in a world of virtuosity and mentorships…

Well that’s about the most generous thing anyone ever said about me. Thank you. Christian is just ridiculous! I actually never learned one line from him and I think it’s because I don’t think I could stand behind it. It’s just not me. Charlie Haden, sure, even Edgar Meyer (butchered) sure, but not Mr McBride. He is in a class of his own. The performances are up on YouTube, check them out. His soloing is just silly good. What a player. We hung out and had drinks at a bar during Newport Jazz. We talked about all kinds of bassists. He loved that I love Welman Braud with early Ellington and Sam Brown on the Paul Whiteman recordings. I did study jazz for a decade or so. I love it so much but I never saw how I could really contribute to it. If I worked hard I might end up pretty good but I never felt I had a voice in it. I’m excited to hear the stories myself from Rhiannon and Francesco.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

This post has been paid for by the Save the Sypher’s Gig Fund established for self-taught musicians in a world of virtuosity and mentorships…

I’m in that same guild as well, though on a much smaller scale and largely in the jazz world. Pretty much completely self taught on the bass, and cutting my teeth in the shadow of my “holy trinity” of real life, in-person bass mentors: Rufus Reid, Lynn Seaton, and John Goldsby. For years I was playing with a group that recorded albums with John when he was in town, I learned the arrangements from those albums and went from there.

Just now getting to the point where I’m getting called to be the bass player on those albums. Of course, it helps that John lives in Germany and those recordings are being made here.

 

[Jason Sypher]

I’m in that same guild as well, though on a much smaller scale and largely in the jazz world. Pretty much completely self taught on the bass, and cutting my teeth in the shadow of my “holy trinity” of real life, in-person bass mentors: Rufus Reid, Lynn Seaton, and John Goldsby. For years I was playing with a group that recorded albums with John when he was in town, I learned the arrangements from those albums and went from there.

Just now getting to the point where I’m getting called to be the bass player on those albums. Of course, it helps that John lives in Germany and those recordings are being made here.

It’s a fine place to be!

 

[Reiska]

This post has been paid for by the Save the Sypher’s Gig Fund established for self-taught musicians in a world of virtuosity and mentorships…

Well that’s about the most generous thing anyone ever said about me. Thank you. Christian is just ridiculous! I actually never learned one line from him and I think it’s because I don’t think I could stand behind it. It’s just not me. Charlie Haden, sure, even Edgar Meyer (butchered) sure, but not Mr McBride. He is in a class of his own. The performances are up on YouTube, check them out. His soloing is just silly good. What a player. We hung out and had drinks at a bar during Newport Jazz. We talked about all kinds of bassists. He loved that I love Welman Braud with early Ellington and Sam Brown on the Paul Whiteman recordings. I did study jazz for a decade or so. I love it so much but I never saw how I could really contribute to it. If I worked hard I might end up pretty good but I never felt I had a voice in it. I’m excited to hear the stories myself from Rhiannon and Francesco.

Well, I think you earned it, and I already sent you my bank account ID McBride surely is a beast and one of the best to ever play the instrument. Also, it`s very interesting to see how a virtuosic straight ahead -type of player approaches much more minimalistic music and it`s aesthetics. Still, it`s not something I`m primarily interested in, or am searching for in my own DB self teaching and truth seeking ( if there is one, or many ). I listen to lots of jazz, love it and play lots of music that has more or less evolved from it on my another main instrument, drumset. DB represents different side of music for me, and has me seeking from different places compared to jazz. Overall I`m much more informed on jazz than I`m on roots music. Still, in a way, from my northern scandinavian point of wiev, roots, americana, jazz, it`s all american music in it`s wonderful diversity. But I think that if learning roots playing on the bass is my priority at this point, I need to be listening and diving into that music and masters of that style, which you surely represent for me. I hope this could be found between the lines.

 

[gerry grable]

In my active playing days, I always tried to send someone I considered better than me if I had to sub out a gig. Twice in 50+ years, it cost me the job, and I learned a lot about the character and ethics of a couple of my colleagues.

That has always been my philosophy, too. I never lost a job though. Those were the days of short bread and long hours. A lot of the great players didn't want a steady job, just a few extra bucks. It worked the same with my hiring Horn players and drummers. I got to play with many players who would never have called me for their gigs. One exception was Jaki Byaird. We were friends and he called me for several of His incidental gigs. But that's a different story.