Bilbo

I have spent three evenings working through a transcription of Anthony Jackson's bass part to the version of 'Not Yet' off the Michel Camilo album 'Caribe'. I am still on page one. It's incredible.

Most 'influential' albums had no influence on me whatsoever. Never heard most of them.

Just getting into an album called Then, a live recording of the Allan Holdsworth band. Flim Johnson sounds absolutely awesome.

Looks great, Graham, but I am specifically NOT looking for a fretless. Don't you wish you had enough money and space for ALL basses 😄

Another one from the same Al Di Meola album, this is the title track, 'Casino'. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/casino-al-di-meola/

I am inclined towards humbucckers but am also thinking of a change. I have to remind myself that I am playing something other than Jazz now so may need to rethink. It is hard to try anything different out this far East.

I remember being interested in the Rattus Nnorvegicus album in spite of it being Punk (I was hostile to most Punk rock at the time - still am, if I am honest). It's a great 'bass' album.

No, not at all.

I am veering towards the Sadowsky because of the demos I have heard but the Spector is such a 'looker'. Call me shallow 🤣

Sadowsky MetroExpress 21-5 Vin Mo SGMP or Spector Legend Classic 5 WB I need a five string and these two are in my budget (around £700). I have looked at online demos and tried to find some reviews but wondered if anyone had anything to say that could help to convince me either way. If there are any alternative products that anyone can add to the discussion, feel free to do so.

Both absolutely exceptional albums.

It doesn't happen nearly as often as I would like but, occasionally, there is an album that you listen to and, from the first beat to the last, it is special and you keep going back to it for inspiration, sometimes for decades. A few I can't get over are: Michel Camilo Big Band- Caribe - Anthony Jackson is on absolutely top form here. He is also massively impressive on Steve Kahn's live album 'The Suitcase' - a double live CD with Anthony Jackson on fire. Allan Holdsworth's 'Road Games' with Jeff Berlin ripping us all a new one. Jimmy Johnson on the first three Wayne Johnson Trio albums; Arrowhead, Grasshopper and Everybody's Painting Pictures Bruford's first three: Feels Good To Me, One Of A Kind and especially Gradually Going Tornado - Jeff Berlin at his finest but the production on the last one really works for the bass. Joni Mitchell 'Shadows and Light' - Jaco's finest moment? Possibly. But what about Pat Metheny's Bright Size Life. Marc Johnson's Bass Desires Dave Holland's Conference Of The Birds. Which are the albums you go to for bass inspiration?

Anything by Steve Swallow. And this....

Jeff Berlin has a great reading package available, digitally and in book form. https://www.jeffberlinmusicgroup.com/home

Oh, yes.... He taught me everything he knew...

'Egyptian Danza' from the 1978 Al Di Meola album 'Casino'. Some intense passages and probably played with a pick! https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/egyptian-danza-al-di-meola/

Another Jeff Berlin chart, this is the tune 'Johnny Joker' from the 2001 CD 'Taking Notes'. Great fun to play as the harmony moves in and out of key (so called 'outside' playing). Most of the chart is a walking bass line (straight quarter notes) but there is a solo that requires a bit more work. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/johnny-joker-jeff-berlin/

He played the whole gig calling standards I didn't know in strange keys, sequeing every tune without stopping and oblivious to me not having a clue what was going on. So I rolled off the top and got the muddiest, most indistinct sound I could and bluffed the whole thing.

Roll off all the top and just thump away 'ambiguously'. I did a whole duo gig like this once because of a lunatic piano player.

Another Jeff Berlin chart, this is a chart for the tune 'Reggae Ricardo' from the 2009 Jeff Berlin album, 'In Harmony's Way'. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/reggae-ricardo-jeff-berlin/

If you haven't heard Road Games before, you are in for a treat.

Just for fun, those of you who know the Jeff Berlin bass part as well as I do should have a close listen to what Jimmy Johnson does with the part. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MqzFN5-5jk

Special request from the website, this is Jeff Berlin's complete bass part from the tune 'Road Games' from the 1983 Allan Holdsworth album of the same name. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/road-games-allan-holdsworth/

Complete PDF for the entire 'Sia' album by Solstice https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/sia-complete-album-solstice/

And, wrapping up the album, Robin Phillips's bass part for 'Cheyenne 2020' from the 2021 Solstice album, 'Sia'. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/cheyenne-2020-solstice/