Mr. Patitucci gave a free public master class yesterday at University of Washington. John studied with the chair of the bass department before and they go way back, so Patatucci was an artists in residence for this week. He is giving a master class for jazz players, (thats what is below) and then for classical players later this week, and finally a concert.
Take a listen below to the class, recorded on my Ipod with an mic attached, just sitting in the room. But the quality is still fine, it will be just like you are there through the magic of technology.
Here is more info on the week with Patitucci:
http://www.music.washington.edu/news/?mode=detail&id=139
John Patitucci Master Class Part 01
21.2.12
15.2.12
Seattle Bassist Dean Schmidt with Byron Vannoy
Dean Schmidt is pretty much the busiest electric bass player in town. Jazz, funk, latin, soundtracks, he does 'em all. Here are couple of videos of him out and about and laying it down. He is The Phrase Master.
Here is Dean with a standard quartet of keytar and vibes, drums percussion and electric bass, you know, the same old thing we always see. Oh yea, if anyone can count this tune out, please let me know what time signature it is in. This was filmed with drummer Byron Vannoy's Thread project at a club called SeaMonster in Seattle last year.
Here he is taking a solo on a very serious latin groove last week.
Dean also has played on hundreds of different kinds of records, pop, jazz, latin, a movie soundtrack some chick won an oscar for called "The Blindside", and his own solo record on OA2 Records called "I Know Nothing". You can pick it up on Itunes here.
If you are out in Seattle and checking out live jazz or latin music, you should be on the look out for Dean.
Here is Dean with a standard quartet of keytar and vibes, drums percussion and electric bass, you know, the same old thing we always see. Oh yea, if anyone can count this tune out, please let me know what time signature it is in. This was filmed with drummer Byron Vannoy's Thread project at a club called SeaMonster in Seattle last year.
Here he is taking a solo on a very serious latin groove last week.
Dean also has played on hundreds of different kinds of records, pop, jazz, latin, a movie soundtrack some chick won an oscar for called "The Blindside", and his own solo record on OA2 Records called "I Know Nothing". You can pick it up on Itunes here.
If you are out in Seattle and checking out live jazz or latin music, you should be on the look out for Dean.
7.2.12
Thanks for 100,000 page views on Basso Ridiculoso
Well, sometime in the last week this blog crossed the 100,000 page views mark.
It took about 12 months to reach that level, which is kinda amazing. I never thought there would be enough of you mooks to ever get even close to that number, so I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has read, commented, downloaded, clicked, or forwarded any of the posts from up here. Thanks for reading!
I have learned so much, got a few books published, and added many bass player friends from around the world in the last year, so thank you!
This next year will bring more transcriptions, articles, and maybe even another book or two, who knows.
It took about 12 months to reach that level, which is kinda amazing. I never thought there would be enough of you mooks to ever get even close to that number, so I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has read, commented, downloaded, clicked, or forwarded any of the posts from up here. Thanks for reading!
I have learned so much, got a few books published, and added many bass player friends from around the world in the last year, so thank you!
This next year will bring more transcriptions, articles, and maybe even another book or two, who knows.
Nosso Trio - Mônica (Ney Conceição)
Youtube gives forth another amazing player I have never heard of. It seems like an unending supply out there.
Here is a really pretty solo bass piece with some mixed time signatures, harmonics, and some definite groove-age. From Brazil.
Here is a really pretty solo bass piece with some mixed time signatures, harmonics, and some definite groove-age. From Brazil.
6.2.12
1.2.12
Jamerson's Part on "Can't Help Myself" by the Four Tops
Since it was Mr. Jamerson's birthday recently, I thought it would be befitting to put up one of his famous bass lines. This is what he plays on "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)".
Surprisingly, this song is not in the "Standing In The Shadow Of Motown" book of transcriptions, which is a little weird, but hey, that means I can put it up here.
The song is very simple. It is an 8 measure long repeating phrase, and it just loops. No B section or bridge really, there are 8 measures out front with bass, and then after they go through the progression 7 times, they do 8 measures of bass and drums and then they start the 8 measure phrase over again and fade out after a few more.
The progression:
The bass line is simple, but very sly and drives the entire song along. Notice how he puts a little marker at the last measure by changing the rhythm there, its like a little period at the end of a sentence.
Here is a recording posted by Rick Suckow that is supposedly the master tracks from the original recording:
And here it is written out:
So just put on a drum loop (at about 125 bpm )and practice playing this line evenly, steadily, and let every note get that thud. Even though this might be considered an easy song, making it sound great and groove is never easy and takes concentration.
Sometimes that last measure could be notated even more syncopated like this:
He really anticipates some of them, but they are not that syncopated, it just feels like they are. He is grooving but kinda floating at the same time. Listen to the track to get into his feel, that is the most important thing for a track like this.
Enjoy!
Surprisingly, this song is not in the "Standing In The Shadow Of Motown" book of transcriptions, which is a little weird, but hey, that means I can put it up here.
The song is very simple. It is an 8 measure long repeating phrase, and it just loops. No B section or bridge really, there are 8 measures out front with bass, and then after they go through the progression 7 times, they do 8 measures of bass and drums and then they start the 8 measure phrase over again and fade out after a few more.
The progression:
C | C | G | G | Dmin | Dmin | Fmaj | G maj |Thats it. Over and over.
The bass line is simple, but very sly and drives the entire song along. Notice how he puts a little marker at the last measure by changing the rhythm there, its like a little period at the end of a sentence.
Here is a recording posted by Rick Suckow that is supposedly the master tracks from the original recording:
And here it is written out:
bass lick tempo 125 4/4 | C c8 g a c8~ c g8 a c8 | c8 g a c8~ c g8 a c8 | G g+ d e g~ g d e g | g d e g~ g d e g | Dmin d a b d~ d a b d | d a b d~ d~ d e4 | F f8 c d f~ f c d f | G g d e8 r g8 a8~ a8 g |
So just put on a drum loop (at about 125 bpm )and practice playing this line evenly, steadily, and let every note get that thud. Even though this might be considered an easy song, making it sound great and groove is never easy and takes concentration.
Sometimes that last measure could be notated even more syncopated like this:
bass lick tempo 125 4/4 | G g+ d e8 r g8. a16~ a8 g |
He really anticipates some of them, but they are not that syncopated, it just feels like they are. He is grooving but kinda floating at the same time. Listen to the track to get into his feel, that is the most important thing for a track like this.
Enjoy!
30.1.12
Happy Birthday to James Jamerson
To the man who kinda started it all. There would have not been the Beatles, Zeppelin, or Jaco without him first. Thanks, man.
Here is a link to just his isolated bass track from "Heard It Through The Grapevine" with Marvin Gaye.
Jamerson's Isolated Bass on Grapevine.
Here is a link to just his isolated bass track from "Heard It Through The Grapevine" with Marvin Gaye.
Jamerson's Isolated Bass on Grapevine.
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