Who's not Overrated?

[arther daily]

i'm going to see some live music this evening actually.

a band called R-effect are looking for a bass player, i'm going to see them play in London tonight. they advertised the band as a "groove project" - which immediately caught my eye!!! they're a full band: drum and bass (to be!!!) guitar, lead V, trumpet and trumbone, percussion, 2x BV's the full works!!!

it's also Soho jazz week, so I might try and catch some stuff up there too?

just half an hour of work to go...

 

[jazzbo]

What is that icon?

Anyway, I think I'm overrated! People after gigs tell me I'm a good bass player, and friends and bandmates do also, but I honestly think I'm not that good. I don't think I suck, but sometimes I feel like "if I arpeggiate that chord that way one more time I'm going to kill myself, and everyone's can realize I suck." I think it's a little easy for bass players to be overrated because it is a easier instrument to "fake" than many others, like say, trumpet. Plus, most people don't really know as much about the bass player's role, so generally they'll pay less attention, and think your job adequate. Singers and guitar players seem to have a lot more focus on them in popular music, so it invites more critique.

I think Jaco is not overrated. Generally, what they say about that guy is right on.

 

[arther daily]

that's pretty true,

i think the guys in our band think i'm pretty damned good - probly cause i play simple stuff most o' the tome then pull a few tricks out o' the bag when i thinks its right.

personally i'm not happy with my playing and am continually saying " we need to practice more" - "i need more prictice". i know i can play OK, but I'm not happy about getting on stage until I can play the songs backwards.

the others think i'm up to scratch?

 

[embellisher]

I know I'm overrated, all of my playing life(20+ years) I've always heard that 'Man, you're good! Man you rock!' stuff, except for from one old cat who let me play his P Bass and BXR 200, the song called for some slap/pop, so I dialed in some treble and let 'er rip, man, he was up on the stage and all over the amp, turning the treble and mids all the way down to mud level. To that guy at least, I guess I do suck.

When somebody comes up to me and tells me how great I am, I wish I had some Jaco or Keith Horne or Victor, etc to play for them and show them that yeah, I'm a decent player, but I have a LONG ways to go.

 

[anubis101]

Victor Wooten is probably the best bassist i have seen in a long freaking time...Claypool's pretty freaking good too!