Bilbo

You should get an award for services to music, Chris.

I love this version of 'I Am The Walrus' by Jim Carrey.

Another favourite

Listen to the phrasing on this. And the organ solo is sublime.

Not learning but transcribing 'Easy Did It' by Dave Holland.

I got one of these a year or so ago. I realised that I had not practiced through a bass amp at home for decades, usually going through the computer/headphones or a handily placed guitar amp (Roland Cube). When I got this, I couldn't believe how much better it felt to practice with the 'air' in my sound. It's a Phil Jones BG-75 DOuble 4. Retails around £375

Something unusual today. This is a transcription of the Jerry Watts bass part for the tune 'Nostalgia' from the 1983 Eddie Jobson/Zinc album, 'The Green Album'. The transcription also contains Jobson's violin melody transcribed for bass so you can try both the bass part and the melody. Both are easy to play but it shows that you don't have to be Hadrien Feraud to play achingly beautiful music. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/nostalgia-eddie-jobson-zinc/

Miles Davis tune, Nardis, in case anyone didn't know.

It's been over twenty years since I played a Warwick so my opinion ain't worth shinola.

I never liked the Warwicks. Wanted to but never got on with them.

From the same 1985 Dave Holland Quintet album, 'Seeds Of Time', this transcription features the bass/percussion duet 'Walk A Way'. The piece is essentially a one bar riff of rapidly executed sixteenth notes that ends with two eight notes. It is then repeated endlessly with subtle variations - impossible to read at speed but an interesting insight into what makes the composition sound the way it does! https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/walk-a-way-dave-holland-quintet/

Rumours are circulating that Vanilla Fudge bassist Tim Bogert has died, aged 76. Anyone in a position to confirm?

From the 1985 Dave Holland Quintet album 'Seeds Of Time', this is a full bass transcription for the tune 'Perspicuity'. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/perspicuity-dave-holland-quintet/

This one came as a pleasant surprise. I learned it originally in the 1982 shortly after the album came out. I remember thinking it was a chorus effect on the bass but, coming back to it nearly 40 years later, I realised it was a three part bass harmony in which bassist Larry Klein had overdubbed three bass parts. I can't believe that I didn't notice it at the time! This is Larry K;ein's bass part for 'You Dream Flat Tires' from the 1982 Joni MItchell album, 'Wild Things Run Fast' https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/you-dream-flat-tires-joni-mitchell/

If anyone near Felixstowe ever wants to try a Wal, I am happy for them to visit (once lock down is ended, of course).

I love my '86 Wal (Mk I Custom Fretless) but a new one is the other side of a lottery win, I am afraid. I sometimes find it helpful to remember that we should be all about the music not the gear and, when it comes down to it, good enough is good enough. My £6k Wal will still sound like stinky poo if the drummer has the wrong ride cymbal or the venue has a tiled floor. 😃

My studio (shed) is 8x10. It is rammed with stinky poo. Three basses, one double bass, six guitars, 88 note electric piano, two amps, pc, shelves of books, 1000 + cds, a soprano saxophone, hi fi and, taking up the most space by a country mile, my massive inflated ego. I sit in the middle of it pretending most of it isn't there.

Another Dave Holland performance from the same album, 'Triplicate', this is the full transcription of the bass part to 'African Lullaby'. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/african-lullaby-dave-holland-trio/

I have been a little focussed on electric bass for a while so I thought I would post a few double bass transcriptions. This is Dave Holland's bass solo on the Jack DeJohnette tune 'Blue' from the Holland trio album he did with the drummer and saxophonist Steve Coleman in 1988, 'Triplicate'. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/blue-dave-holland-trio/

I saw this band at The Four Bars Inn in Cardiff. John Scofield in a local pub 😀Those were the days.

I am doing another book and needed to find examples of bands who continue to perform under a name even though they have no original members. One is too many, it has to be none The intended outcome has been achieved so thank you to everyone.

I read the article and realised that the drummer thing was not the most important element in his story. It was his relationships that were important and, whether we recognise it or not, we all have that in our lives. Things to be be proud of, things we regret but, most importantly, the people to share them with. It's there in all our lives. Some stories are big, some are much smaller but that is simply not the point. Be kind and appreciate who you have. The rest comes from that.

Four days I will never get back, this is Gary WIllis's tune 'It's Only Music' from the 1998 CD 'Bent'. The ranscription features the head, chords and bass solo. A masterclass is nuance. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/its-only-music-gary-willis/

The first thing to remember about playing fretless is that you are probably always going to be out of tune to some degree. Get used to it I have slightly been out of tune since 86. Seriously, though. It is a constant concern. Hearing yourself on stage, making sure your bass is properly intonated, using your ears constantly not your eyes (using a tuner doesn't work EVER as it is always a few seconds behind you and what you are seeing is where you were two seconds ago and not where you are now - also lined fretlesses can be bear traps - don't trust the feckers), understanding that it may not be you that is out of tune but it may be a saxophonist or singer clashing with the piano or guitar, understanding that there are ways that your tone can play tricks on your ears so you sound out of tune when you are not and in tune when you are out. The 'secret' of good intonation, and, yes, it is not hard to play in tune, is to understand that you NEVER EVER get to the point where it is not a concern. You will never have 'nailed' intonation. It requires your attention FOR THE REST OF YOUR PLAYING CAREER , not because you are in any way a substandard player but because that is simply how it is with fretless instruments. Having played fretless bass with an orchestra (Karl Jenkins' The Peacemakers), I have sat next to a viola section. The simple fact is that, listened to close up, they are all slightly out of tune with each other. Nevertheless, the overall effect is not one of being out of tune but one of a subtle chorusing - the whole is greater than the sum of it's parts. With fretless bass (and double bass), you are constantly making microtonal adjustments to stay on piste. Sometimes this is a slight twist of the knee, at other times, you have one leg in the air and are flailing around like a crazy person. It only really matters if you are recording, otherwise, no-one notices you unless you catch fire.

I am writing a piece on this issue and need a few examples of bands that still perform but who no longer have any of their original members left in the line-up. Soft Machine and Yes come to mind but I need a few more. Can I draw upon the Basschat hive mind? Muchos gracias.