Bilbo

One gig in June. I had to stop gigging for a couple of years and it is hard to get out there again because people have forgotten you are about (and some may not know I am available for work). Also, my double bass is screwed so a lot of Jazz artists won't book me. If I didn't have my writing and transcriptions site, I would probably give up.

Winters End Prog Festival in Chepstow next week. Can't wait.

Nice job, Chris.

Just remembered one I can never quite pull off. Daryl Jones part on the John Schofield tune 'Techno'. Can't make it sit right.

I saw them early on with Fish. My kid brother is a massive fan but I never really got past SFAJT. It's ok but I don't get excited by the later stuff (and I am a Prog fan). One of those bands I want to like but it's just not happening.

Something a bit different today, this is the Ron Carter performance of the tune 'Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)' from the first Wynton Marsalis album (1982). Tough read - he's all over the place even though it's mostly a ballad. Slides and slurs and double stops. Great to listen to, impossible to transcribe. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/who-can-i-turn-to-when-nobody-needs-me-wynton-marsalis/

I am not judging people wot use backing tapes, I just think it's sad that a, they have to, and b, the audiences accept it. It somehow devalues the art of music making for me. The tragedy is that, when you look on line, there are so many monster players but, when you go out to watch live music, you get half arsed shite badly performed against backing tapes. I think we deserve better (by we I mean the listening public). And don't get me started on A.I.

I think that everything is playable, it's just a question of how long you are prepared to spend on it. Jaco took 9 years to nail Donna Lee. I gave up on HMWYRS because I decided the time would be better spent on other things. There is a tasty Al Di Meola guitar part on Suite: Golden Dawn from his first solo album. Impossible. It took me 30 years but I got there!! It's a question of how much you are willing to invest to get the thing nailed.

Bummer. I have played with Brendan several times and recorded an album with him a couple of years ago. It's a hateful thing to steal musical instruments. They are such a personal thing.

Things are going to get a lot quieter for a while, guys. I have a book project that needs my attention for the time being and that has to take priority. I will still post stuff when I can, though.

A really easy read but a love song - another from the Solstice album, 'Light Up', this one is called 'Home'. Five notes (maybe six) and all roots mostly on the one. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/home-solstice/

Another one from the same album, this is 'Wongle No.9' - Classic British Neo-Prog. Interweaving lines, odd bar lengths and a completely inscrutable title. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/wongle-no-9-solstice/

Another Solstice track, this is the Robin Phillips bass part for the tune 'Mount Ephraim' from the band's most recent album, 'Light Up'. Mostly 5:4 with some 6:4 and some 3:4. Bloody Proggers! https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/mount-ephraim-solstice/

Link should be working now!

I will have a look at the link later on, Dave. It's a simple enough thing to address but I am not at home so cannot access the admin side of the website until this evening.

Proper one this time; 'The Enemy Within' from the 1984 Rush album, 'Grace under Pressure'. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/the-enemy-within-rush/

Complete bass part for 'Red Sector A' from the 1984 Rush album, 'Grace under Pressure'. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/red-sector-a-rush/

A renowned guitarist once said to me, there are three reasons to gig. 1. The qualities of the music. 2. The quality of the 'hang', or 3. Good money. One of the above is enough, two is great, three is heaven. I think we get out of it what we put in and it will vary for all of us.

Something less well known from Jeff Berlin. This is the first and final heads and two choruses of walking bass lines from a session Jeff Berlin did with Italian pianist Massimo Columbo with Billy Cobham on drums in 2005. The album is called 'Caravaggio'. The reason it is not complete is because JB's part is impossible to translate into dots, even with Moises and Transcribe! software. It is just too dense (not fast, just all over the place with octaves and pedal notes and sliding etc). The tune is called 'Blues For 3'. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/blues-for-3-massimo-columbo-trio/

I heard this much later than I should have, thinking Billy Joel was a boring balladeer but I have since come to appreciate how strong a songwriter he is. This was the song that woke me up to his talent. From the 1976 album, 'Turnstiles' this is the complete Doug Stegmeyer bass part to the tune(s) 'Prelude/Anger Young Man'. It's almost Prog. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/prelude-angry-young-man-billy-joel/

A 'complete album' version of 'Caress Of Steel' is up there now.

Just to tidy things up, Geddy's part to 'I Think I'm Going Bald' from the same 'Caress Of Steel album. A bit of fun lyrically but, reading-wise, a bloody roast! https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/i-think-im-going-bald-rush/

Another lovely tune, this is the complete Geddy Lee bass part for 'Lakeside Park' from the 17975 Rush album, 'Caress Of Steel'. Not too difficult to play but some of the reading gets lairy due to the tempo. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/lakeside-park-rush/

Dirty Looks

A beautiful tune, this is the Nick Beggs bass part to the tune 'The Raven That Refused To Sing' from the 2013 Steven Wilson album 'The Raven That Refused To Sing (And Other Stories)'. It is not hard to play but there are some challenges with shifting bar lengths and a couple of fills. Otherwise, a stunning tune. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/the-raven-that-refused-to-sing-steve-wilson/