ambient

That's very sad. He was an incredible musician. I was fortunate enough to see him play with Mike Stern in a masterclass at my old uni.

The dictionary definition is: ‘noun One, such as a painter, sculptor, or writer, who is able by virtue of imagination and talent or skill to create works of aesthetic value, especially in the fine arts. A person whose work shows exceptional creative ability or skill. "You are an artist in the kitchen." One, such as an actor or singer, who works in the performing arts. One who is adept at an activity, especially one involving trickery or deceit. "a con artist." One who practices some mechanic art or craft; an artisan. Similar: artisan. One who professes and practices an art in which science and taste preside over the manual execution. One who shows trained skill or rare taste in any manual art or occupation. An artful person; a schemer. Similar: schemer. A person who creates art.’ I don't see anything pretentious in calling yourself an artist. If you do create art then you're an artist. Does playing ‘Sex on Fire’ down the Dog and Duck on a Saturday evening make you an artist? Probably not, but if you're writing lyrics and composing your original music, then yes.

I was doing 14 or 15 hours a day, every day when I was a student. That was for three years. Nowadays I juggle practising with having a full-time lecturing job and caring for my sick mom. I'm lucky to get a few hours a week.

The latest version of Logic has a built-in session bassist. If you're lucky enough to get called to record for someone, it might be because you can deliver that little something else that only you can.

Unless you're Dave Swift or Guy Pratt, playing in time and in tune is essential, and nobody will care what bass you're playing or how many strings it has, especially with remote sessions being very much the thing nowadays.

I have autism and prefer e-mail or text messaging to phone calls. I've been using Bass Direct since before Mark had a shop, and I've always received exemplary service from them. I've been using Bass Bros for the last two years. Again, I've had nothing but exemplary service from them as well. I think people should remember that both are small shops, staffed by knowledgeable, but small workforces. They don't have 24 hour call centres or customer service centres. They probably receive dozens of emails and telephone enquiries each day. As such, it's easy for them to miss one or think they've replied to an email when they haven't. It's also a simple matter to follow your enquiry up with another email or a call if you don't get a reply. We should be supporting these fantastic businesses, rather than criticising them over silly things.

I figure it’s their band, their music and their choice who plays it.. so it's completely irrelevant what the public thinks. I love that they’re doing what they want to, and if people like it too then great, but they certainly aren't doing it just to please others, or to get public approval. I saw them with my brother on the Roll the Bones tour. We were three rows from the front at the NEC. We are both going to go and see them next year, assuming they do UK shows.

They sound like a right bunch of pirates.

It wouldn't open on my phone either. I had to download it on my MacBook.

Thank you.

Thank you. It wants me to become a member and download an app though.

Does anyone have a transcription of Stuart Zender’s bass line for this that they can share, please? Standard notation preferred, please. I struggle to get my head around TAB. Thank you.