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Willy Weeks

#22
I'm currently reading Standing In The Shadows of Motown and it has a page about Willie in there talking about how Jamerson was very influencial on his playing, I never stopped to take a notice untill I read that.

And this months bass player magazine mentions his name as well and I quote Greg Rzab. (whoever he is)

"Im sitting here listening to Donny Hataway Live. I'm pretty sure rule No.1 should be that if you are going to be a bass player you must hear Willie Weeks before you ever touch your insturment. This record is the ultimate lesson of how to play with feeling, support, tone, and the almighty pocket! It's absolute eloquence"
 
#24
Originally posted by mchildree
Greg Rzab is a well-respected bassist in the blues/rock world. Has worked with Buddy Guy, Black Crowes, and a bunch of other people. He knoweth of what he speaks...
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Clapton, Rolling Stones, Jimmy Page too. Ive heard and like music by all the people he's played with, Im really suprised and a bit upset with myself that I didnt know who this guy is.

About this Donny Hathaway cd, I just downloaded "Everything is Everything" man the bass solo on that song is great! I think Im going to have to order the entire cd now. :D All you guys said its a must own, this Greg Rzab said its a must own, my own ears love what they just heard, (even if it is only one tune) and to quote a line from "Standing In The Shadows Of Motwon" if I may..."Willie has been on the scene making great music since 1966, but he feels that his finest work came in the mid '70s with the late Donny Hathaway"
 
#25
Originally posted by cassanova
Just got in from a Vince Gill concert and his bassists name is Willy Weeks (sp)
His tone was to die for, it was so deep, yet clear and articulate, he didnt get lost in the mix so much as once. I know he had a eden wt-1000 head and eden xlt 2x10 cab. and a lakland bass. I was close enought to spit on the guy so i know thats what he was using.

He played some really cool lines kinda jazzy without being jazz if ya know what i mean, some r-v stuff, every line he played suited the song to a tea imo, he didnt over or underplay anything. and i was really impressed with a few of his lines.
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Hey Cass, I saw Vince Gill last summer with Willie Weeks on bass. He really played great, as you said.. everything just seamlessly blended into the songs, but he had his moments to shine, too. He was playing a Modulus 5-string when I saw him.
Glad you've discovered Donny Hathaway Live. It took me a couple of years to find a copy, but it was well worth it!
 
#27
Originally posted by Dave Siff

Hey Cass, I saw Vince Gill last summer with Willie Weeks on bass. He really played great, as you said.. everything just seamlessly blended into the songs, but he had his moments to shine, too. He was playing a Modulus 5-string when I saw him.
Glad you've discovered Donny Hathaway Live. It took me a couple of years to find a copy, but it was well worth it!
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he had a modulus sitting on the guitar stand right behind him. What I thought was odd, was that he only had a 2x10 cab on stage, in fact the rest of the gang has combo amps. Ive never seen rigs this small at a pro venue in my life. Especially at an outdoor gig.
 
#30
Need some help-

This weekend, I caught a glimpse of a live George Harrison thing on local radio(actually, it was a syndicated Beatles' program hosted by Ex-MTV original VJ dude, JJ Jackson).
Anyway, the tune sounds like a Rock "Big Band" doing a shuffle. Near the end of the song, Weeks takes a gnarly solo.
Anyone know the album?
 
#31
The guitarist in my band played on tour with Willie Weeks at some point. It might have been with Wynona...can't remember who he said he was playing with at the time. This is the guy that some of you may have heard me mention earlier...used to play with Elvis etc...

BTW, the Willie Weeks thing came up because Jon (the guitarist) said that he was playing guitar for the veterans at the VA and this guy walks up with a bass and starts jamming and Jon said the guy is fantastic and really similar to Willie in style. I'll have to check that out myself..

brad cook
 
#38
One of the many great things about Willie, as Brad mentioned above is that he's not flashy. He plays bass like a bass player not a frustrated guitar player. Willie is one of my favorite players of all time. Everything he plays just has this unstoppable groove. I think it's impossible to listen to Willie play without your whole body moving. The dude is just a badass bassist.
 

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