Bilbo

I think there are many motivations for doing this thing we do and some of them require an intelligent approach and others not. If you want to 'entertain' and are happy to pulse root notes all night then actually, you don't really need the theory. As long as you know where to put your fingers to make the right noise, you are be fine. If you are more a 'performance artist' than a craftsman, then, again, you can probablty just get away with a superficial knowledge of the details. If you want to blow over Coltrane changes in all the keys or to re-write Stravinsky's The Rite Of Spring for a quartet of basses, I guess 'winging it' is probably not going to get you there. We are all on a continuum between ignorant bliss and profound and intimate knowledge of the mechanics of music - where we are on the continuum is likely to be the consequence of any number of variables.

John Patitucci's double bass part for the track 'Cool Weasel Boogie' from the first Chick Corea Elektric Band album. A simple 20 bar chorus that repeats with minimal variation throughout. It's a great tune to play along to if you are just starting out on the reading thing. Relatively simple; once you have the first four bars down, you are pretty much there. Listen to the Carlos Rios guitar solo; magic. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/cool-weasel-boogie-chick-corea/

And another Jeff Berlin transcription. This is from an 'In The Studio with Jeff Berlin' video off YouTube and features JB recording the head for 'Joe Frazier Round Three'. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/joe-frazier-round-three-jeff-berlin/

Anthony Jackson. Head and three choruses of solos on the all star Rhythmstick recording of Bob Berg's 'Friday Night At The Cadillac Club'. Jackson swings. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/friday-night-at-the-cadillac-club-rhythmstick/

I had a conversation with a musician who has studied composition once. He said the training helps you develop your ideas more quickly and intelligently but, in the end, you need to find the idea to develop yourself. They can't really teach you that (although I think they can teach you how to provoke ideas).

Through just reading. Transcribing helps with learning details but the discipline of concentration whilst reading charts in tempo is not the same thing at all.

It never did Stravinsky any harm. Or Chris Potter. Its a non argument. The two disciplines are not mutually exclusive. You can do one, t'other or both. Some are creative because, some in spite of. It's all good.

The one guaranteed dance floor filler in my experience is 'I Will Survive'. Might say more about the age of the audiences I play to. What I find about things like Uptown Funk and Happy is that the production is so strong on the recordings that it is almost impossible to make an average function band sound anything like the original so I find they never really work.

Same here. I came to playing properly after I had started work and I have never had enough confidence in my music activities to consider going pro. I was primarily concerned about the lack of financial security that freelancing represented. Looks like I was right. For me, the downside of the lockdown is not financial but the lack of gigs has robbed me of a 'safe place' to spend time and to make my contribution. I have had to find other outlets for that but, no, there has been no hardship for me. My pay has gone up actually and my overheads down. I do feel guilty when I hear the stories.

😀 The website got 684 hits on Friday.

\New bass transcription on the Bilbo's Bass Bites webiste. 'And So To F' from the 1979 Brand X album 'Product'. A Phil Collins composition (he used to do it on his own tours) it'smain riff is in syncopated 9:8 which is weird on paper but, once you get it under your fingers, it is not too difficult. Link to the website - https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/and-so-to-f-brand-x/

https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/heart-of-the-sunrise-yes/ Also on there are South Side Of The Sky, Close To The Edge (Yes, all of it), Onward, Circus of Heaven, You By My Side (off ish Out of Water), Long Distanced, Roundabout and Your Move from I've Seen All Good People.

Allegedly. JA denies it as does V. The story is the V loaned J a synth. In truth, I don't really care 😃

I love the fact that he did it all himself. I really do think JA is a musical genius.

I love the Todmobile version. No need to choose. They are both superb.

Huge Yes fan to Drama. They lost me at 90125 and I never came back. By then, I was more a fan of Bruford and Brand X and off to Jazz heaven. I love Jon Anderson'Olias, Song of Seven and Animation albums but think FOOW is overrated. There are transcriptions off a few tunes off Fragile and the whole of CTTE on my website https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/ There is even one off FOOW.

New transcription of Steve Swallow's solo on the tune 'Alfie' from the 2004 John Scofield Trio cd 'En Route'. An absolute exquisite solo where Swallow effective duets with himself using the tried and tested 'question and answer' approach with himself!! Link to the Bilbo's Bass Bites website. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/alfie-john-scofield-trio/

😀Well spotted, Dave. I didn't know what DF looked like so I thought I would have a look at videos of the track and screwed up. Will have another try.

Here are the links to the latest transcriptions on Bilbo's Bass Bites Lunar Sea - Camel - https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/lunar-sea-camel/ Aubade (melody) - Soft Machine - https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/aubade-soft-machine/ The Flattery Stakes - Greenslade - https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/the-flattery-stakes-greenslade/ Waltz For A Fallen Idol - Greenslade - https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/waltz-for-a-fallen-idol-greenslade/ Catalan - Greenslade - https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/catalan-greenslade/ In These Shoes - Kirsty Macoll - https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/in-these-show-kirsty-maccoll/ Dark Eyed Tango - Al Dimeola - https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/dark-eye-tango-al-dimeola/ Chasin 'The Voodoo - Al Dimeola - https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/chasin-the-voodoo-al-dimeola/

3:4, 4:4, 5:8 and 6:8. Easy peasy 😄

Have finished Lunar Sea, Dave. Will post tomorrow. That brings back memories. I used to love that album. .

Got it this time. Watch this space.

Can you try again, Dave? The contact button wasn't working but it has now been fixed.

Todays' transcription, posted on Bilbo's Bass Bites at www.bilbosbassbites.co.uk and linked below, features Steve Swallow's on chorus solo from the tune 'Shoe Dog' of the John Scofield Trio CD 'This Meets That'. An easy read once you get past the 8va element. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/shoe-dog-john-scofield-trio/

Right. I have now uploaded most of the stuff from the archive. Still have to upload the seven pieces mentioned above and one or two of the old ones (the Coltrane Love Supreme charts for one) but we are pretty much there. I won't post the charts on here in future, just links to the website. Remember, it's all free and I am just putting up stuff I like rather than anything with a commercial bent. You won't see any slapping or tapping on there as I can't be bothered with it 😉