ambient

With my solo bass gigs it’s just me. I toyed with the idea of using film as a back drop. I make my own films to fit my music, but decided a projector was too much else to carry around. There’s no show as such, and very little conversation, just a thank you at the end. People coming along mostly know what to expect. I get people sitting quietly, eyes closed, I’ve had people meditate too, that started at a gig I did in Paris in April. That was great because I realised that people had finally started to understand what I do.

My F

Excellent, thanks

It's a little annoying that when you reply to a thread, you're automatically following that thread, you have to opt out of it. I'd prefer it if you had to opt in instead.

Hmmm, not the mocha I thought

I think he's a very talented bassist. He was a jazz bassist I believe. That's how come he plays upright and bass guitar. He also sings incredibly well too, at the same time as playing bass.

I love John Williams's playing. I mentioned female composers earlier. It's only very recently that it was considered 'suitable' for women to make a career in composition. Mendelssohn's sister was a very accomplished composer, but she had to publish under her brother's name. Similar to authors of the period.

The Joni Mitchel and Peter Gabriel’s new blood albums were excellent.

Part of the problem is, like with the original question, "the most musically talented man of all time". It's really only in very recent times that it's been considered acceptable for women to forge a career in music, either as a musician or a composer, for instance craddock Mandelson, she often published under her more famous brother's name. Jaqueline DePres is one female musician that I’ve always particularly admired. In the avant-garde you have Eliane Radigue, an electronic music pioneer who worked with the late Pierre Henry. Delia Derbyshire from the BBC Radiophonic workshop, and composer of the doctor who theme. Another electronic music pioneer Pauline Oliveros who began playing music at a ridiculously early age, and later developed some lovely concepts about soundscape and listening. In musical performance you have Maria Callas for instance, and a whole load of more contemporary artists, Carol Kay instantly springs to mind.

Also why only man?

There are so many, and talent manifests itself in a myriad of ways. I would argue that having the ability to spend thousands of hours practicing and learning is a demonstration of talent? In the past as now there have been phenomenally talented youngsters from all walks of life. Haydn was the youngest of 20 children and was destined for a life as a boot maker. I'd say maybe Mozart.

It's capitalism. The same as someone buying shares in a company owned by the state that's being sold off cheap by the government, with full knowledge that it's undervalued and the shares will be worth two or three times more within hours of the sale, i.e BT, British gas, Royal mail etc.

You like what you like. I love classical music, it lead me to the music that I now play myself. I don't like all classical music, the 'popular classics' I especially dislike. What I love about classical music is the soundscape that's produced, the way the instruments mix to create beautiful textures and layers of sound. Similar textures can be created in electronic music, but rarely to my ears in pop or rock, where it's melody that is important. Jazz is something else I can listen to, though I wouldn't call myself a huge fan. It is more interesting to listen to than standard rock and pop though. It's something I play quiet often too, mainly because I'm lazy and it's a gig I can just turn up to and play.

Seven.

The Phil Jones double 4 is amazing. The size of a shoe box, and 75 watts. It can also be used at small gigs too, if needed. There's currently one for sale in the marketplace