knirirr

I'm not sure about any other genre but in the jazz world there are more bass solos than one could ever need. I even use the bow for some and yet the solos keep happening.

In Chipping Norton there's a "community piano" provided by the town council for the use of the general public. They even tune it from time to time and most of the keys work! This afternoon we used it to do a bit of busking as a means to promote the local jam session. A recording of Blue Bossa (a well-known jazz standard often used at jams) can be heard here. The public passing by seemed to like it; a few compliments were received and around £19 and four cans of beer were dropped into one of the drummer's cases. A nearby bakery offered free pies/cakes which the pianist was pleased to accept. The only passer-by who appeared less than fully pleased was one who commented that we needed a guitar in the band (we don't agree).

As a main band I'd have to say Mingus Tree, which I joined probably 4-5 years ago. Most of the members are based in Charlbury and we mostly play around that area, e.g. at the beer festival or other Cricket Club events such as the Oktoberfest. Also fetes, pubs, and sometimes private parties. The gig schedule is pretty relaxed, which suits me nicely. The material is jazz, though the tunes are quite accessible with fairly simple arrangements, catchy grooves (sometimes Ska or Reggae-like) and lyrics to some of the pieces; listeners who "hate jazz" have often told me that they enjoyed our sets. It's almost all original material written by the trumpet and guitar players (who founded the band long ago). There's not much I've managed to get on record but there is a video of us struggling through some bad weather at Ramsden fete and a song from a Charlbury gig where I was recovering from an inner ear infection and struggling to stay upright. I'd like to get a proper recording done but never managed it.

Normally I only listen to instrumental jazz and don't pay attention to lyrics. But, I found these entertaining and thought the song not bad at all:

That's a bit like my situation, except that anything I buy and don't like I leave gathering dust in a corner or give away because no one else appears to like it enough to offer me money for it. Similarly, though I am trying to resist as there's nothing I actually need right now...

For this gig we were supposed to play various sets around the festival site to spread our jazzy vibes (according to the site). I guess that this made us look a bit like buskers - at one point a child accosted me between tunes to offer me 50 pence. Nice that it was the bass they liked best. The audience appeared to like what we played, but it's quite accessible jazz. The weather was quite good:

Last night I did a dep gig for a U3A jazz band as their usual chap has various health issues and had been advised by his physician to take a rest. He actually turned up to watch and, fortunately, appeared to like what he heard. Not many in the audience, but it was a fairly rural venue. Nice building, though: https://thehallevents.org.uk/ Gigging again tomorrow: https://www.charlburybeerfestival.org/live-music-and-entertainment/ ...then a jam on Sunday.

Apologies for resurrecting an old thread but I saw this: https://bsky.app/profile/oxfordpedestrians.bsky.social/post/3lsgqfm6hlk2v ...and wondered if the building being demolished is the one ABC Music in Oxford occupied during the 90s.

My best (and most expensive bass) is an acoustic upright so that really ought to come out for jazz gigs. It has only been broken once (neck crack from a fall when unloading afterwards). For a local jam in cramped quarters I use an EUB I got cheaply on Ebay. I would do the usual trick of a fancy carved bass for gigs and a cheap laminated one for jams, if I had space for two acoustics.

I tried that for a while, before the other eye also worsened. These days monocles only appear to be made in certain set diameters and gallery depths rather than made to fit the wearer; if those standard sizes are right for your eye then you should be fine. Otherwise, it is likely to fall out frequently and be uncomfortable to hold in pace.

Three acoustic guitarists, two saxophonists, a brass player, a drummer, a singer with amp and mic, plus me playing unamplified. Somehow, I managed to be complained at for being too loud.

We usually get booked for the Ramsden fete, finishing the musical entertainment for the day, and this year was no exception. As is the tradition, it rained towards the end of the show. Right near the end the drummer's bass drum pedal broke and he was summoned via the event PA to move his car. I have a large blister on my middle finger after some vigorous plucking. Despite all this, the audience clearly enjoyed it, we were asked to extend the set a bit, and we got paid.

Connections to pmtonline.co.uk now timing out, sadly.

Nice - thanks for posting it. The ad I saw had a fretless bass on it (which I bought) but it was a little later than the one you posted. I only have one picture of the bass, and one recording.