Hector

Hah, that wasn't supposed to sound quite so narky from me there, sorry Rob! Your thoughts on changing it up are of course spot on. EDIT - Just looking the jazz thread, and it totally fits with your mention of the joy of seriousness. It's really finding that, finding the pleasure in being diligent .

Damn Rob, that was killer! Really enjoyed that, and your intonation wasn't nearly as bad as you made out. I'd really love to play more solo DB pieces, but I never have the guts to go through with it on tape.... Would you recommend One's All? Think I saw you mention it before.

Similar to the last Jaco post, nice little duet: [url="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2w7ni_jaco-pastorios-piano-toots-thielman_people"]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2w7ni_jaco-pastorios-piano-toots-thielman_people[/url]

Hah, was just chilling out with a bit of Jazzmatazz after seeing your post on FB! Great stuff.

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1319306672' post='1412604'] I am always fearful that all of this is just asn illusion caused by the different perspective created by the absence. Would it be better just to find ways to prevent/address stagnation that don't involve 'time out'? Learning a new genre, some new songs, transcribing something really hard or really easy, trying some classical etudes instead of jazz solos (or the other way around' etc. Just thoughts. Still, it is always good to remember its not all about music. [/quote] Not really an issue of how to address stagnation and not really an issue of what I "ought" to have done to get out of my former plateau - just extra enjoying picking the bass up again and feeling a new approach! There are lots of ways to not stagnate on the instrument ( I actually do all those things you listed). I'm not suggesting anyone should stop playing for two months every time they go through an off period, which every musician does once in a while. It was just interesting to note how refreshing it is to come back to playing after a break, and wanted to share how happy I was to be playing bass again. Doesn't feel particularly very illusory to me, but at the end of the day that's between me and the bass.

[quote name='algmusic' timestamp='1319212342' post='1411444'] Do you think it was the new experiences or the time away from the bass that re kindled your love for bass..? [/quote] Complicated question! Short answer: both. Long answer: I think absence makes the heart grow fonder of course, but a lot of that was to do with feeling a little stagnant on the instrument and taking a bit of time to relax - I was getting really worked up about trying to be skilled and lost sight on enjoying it. But I also think nothing exists in isolation and it isn't just about me and the bass - a lot of seismic shifts have happened in my life during and around that gap, some really great and some really terrible, and for me the bass became a constant. All the changing about led me to think about what I really enjoyed in my life and convinced me to hold onto it. Playing the bass became about more than than just technique and getting it "right". It became about expression and simple joy and escapism and a hundred and one other things that it never used to be. I guess as we grow and change as people, our relationship with the instrument develops too, and the last 6 months has been an interesting time to be me. I pick it up for different reasons now. Am I totally nuts? Quite possibly. It's just a piece of wood, right? I find it quite hard to properly explain how I feel, but there's something new between me and that piece of wood, and it feels great.

I seem to struggle with youtube embedding, but here's hoping! [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AreefiCrN8[/media]

Oh Clarky, sorry to hear that! Don't let the buggers get you down.

Brian Bromberg has the odd solo track. He's also a totally killer player! [media][url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWHuuffVbLs"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWHuuffVbLs[/url][/media] In fact, now I think about it, pretty sure he has a totally solo album out now: [url="http://brianbromberg.net/audio/hands/hands.html"]http://brianbromberg.net/audio/hands/hands.html[/url]

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1318067612' post='1397731'] am i the only one who thinks Bjork is a quirky hottie..? [/quote] Definitely not!

[quote name='Mike' timestamp='1317586532' post='1392167'] Problem is I love my iPhone dearly (as do many musicians with whom I work) so that's not really an option for me! [/quote] They're a fantastic tool, but I expect you were probably just as good a musician before you had one! You could always try turning onto Aeroplane Mode - then you have all the sweet apps (iRealB, tuner etc.) without actually sending/receiving annoying clickety signally things....

....turns out it can be a bloody good thing! Over the summer, I went travelling for almost 2 months (dordogne, cornwall, mexico, tuscany and isle of wight, ooh la la!) and was without a bass for the entirety. I did some ear training exercises (some boring ones, but some fun ones as well, like harmonising tunes by ear, and singing along to stuff and scatting my own melodies), and some work with a metronome to keep myself fresh. Coming back to reality and picking up a bass again feels [b]fantastic. [/b]I'm falling in love with it all over again! My ideas are much less samey and to me it's become once more a total joy to play, rather than me being preoccupied with trying to play as well as possible and stagnating into the same old practice routines and playing the same old ideas. I'm making much better progress than I ever have with my playing, and I'm loving every minute! Life is being a little hard on me at the moment, but as soon as I have the bass in my arms, there's a smile on my face and everything else melts away. I'm also really getting a buzz out of my technique improving that little bit every day, as I get used to the physicality of the instrument. Just to say really, that I've reaffirmed my love for the bass with some time out, absence definitely makes the heart grow fonder. I wanted to tell someone, and only you would understand - most people go cross-eyed when I try to talk bass. Looking forward to becoming a more active presence on these forums again! H

[quote name='Clarky' post='1307786' date='Jul 18 2011, 01:17 PM']Towards the end of our 75 minute set at the Upton Blues festival yesterday I got cramp in each hand and my left hand curled up like a claw - I had to really use ingenuity to keep playing (used the side of my right hand thumb to pluck for most of a song and to use one very mobile left hand finger to keep the riff up!) Managed to stretch my hands after the song and just about got through the rest of the set. I obviously need to do more hand conditioning if we are going to play longer sets more often. Has anyone else experienced this problem with a DB and - building up hand strength aside - do you have any tips for alleviating the issue if it strikes?[/quote] I think that the excitement of a live show leads to slightly poorer technique sometimes (I know it does with me), so relaxing into it and really focusing on having iron hands in velvet gloves is important. A lot of issues with technique and posture only become apparent after playing for a long time, but can affect your playing all the time in a small way (if that makes sense). You'd be surprised how much you tend to tense up portions of your neck, shoulders, arms and hands when a bit nervous/excited. Made easier by relaxed technique in the practice room, spending time focusing on your posture. I know Gary Peacock is a big advocate of "reintroducing" himself to his bass each time he plays it, and there's a lot to be said for an awareness of your posture and what each muscle is doing (although he did seriously trip balls during the 60s, he still makes sense!) Also stretch out your hands properly before and after the gig, as well as in between numbers if needed. Hydration and eating bananas both help combat cramps, or even drinking some sports drinks. These things shouldn't really be that necessary with the technique stuff - couldn't see PC drinking gatorade between sets!

Can recommend both of those, although only the latter though personal experience. Would also recommend looking at Billè's Nuovo Methodo - I've used the etudes in there for years, since they're pleasant on the ear and progress in difficulty nicely. I have volumes 1&2, I think, and while they're both useful, I'm not sure which volume has the etudes in. I'm working today (exam on weds and my brain doesn't have anything except neuroscience in it, so sorry for being hazy with the details), but will have a check and update you this eve.

[quote name='Gareth Hughes' post='1250515' date='May 30 2011, 05:26 PM']Absolutely - where'd you get them?[/quote] [url="http://www.jazzeducationdatabase.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=66:drones-for-intonation-practice-download&catid=48:misc-lessons&Itemid=57"]Here[/url] and [url="http://www.2reed.net/awesome.html#MP3_Drones"]here.[/url] A very very good way to practice intonation - you know if you're in tune or not, but your ear is doing the work by hearing the interval. Tons of different ways to use these.

Not so much for jamming, but Bill Bentgen's scales podcast is pretty good for practising intonation. (If you just search his name on Itunes store, I'm sure it'll come up) I'd quite like to get into trying to practice scales with some drone notes though, if anyone knows where I can find some? EDIT - Found a couple of sites that have drones free to download, if anyone's interested.

Had a lengthy session with a luthier today, making soundpost adjustments and whipping on a new set of spiros (weich). Everything seems to have come together - she really sings now, with a resonant low end that had me grinning. Not had much time on the spiros yet, but they show a lot of promise. Weren't half as bad under the bow as I was expecting. Shame about those pesky finals getting in the way of my precious playing time!

[quote name='lobematt' post='1245795' date='May 26 2011, 03:52 PM']Has anyone got any transcriptions for anything off this album? (Except Power!)[/quote][url="http://www.lucaspickford.com/"]This has a selection of Marcus Miller transcriptions[/url]

[quote name='Skol303' post='1243138' date='May 24 2011, 04:46 PM']... just quickly popping back in here to ask: is there any reason why I should avoid a 3/4 size DB for my first upright? Or should I be starting with a 3/4 (or 5/8) to 'get the hang of it'? Thanks again folks - and cheers for further encouragement to take the plunge! This forum is going to cost me a fortune in the long-run, I'm sure... [/quote] [url="http://www.gollihurmusic.com/faq/2-SIZES_DOUBLE_BASS_SIZING_FAQ.html"]This might be useful[/url] (As an aside, the gollihur website has an FAQ section that really covers most of the topics you could want to know about when just starting up in a simple and informative manner. Maybe we should have a sticky in this forum with useful links/resources?

Four's legit though, so you can relax gentlemen.

Great list, but I would add as absolutely essential: Avishai Cohen Trio - Gently Disturbed Phronesis - Alive Brad Mehldau - Art of the Trio (all volumes) Curios - Closer All really exciting displays of what can be done with the piano trio format, taking it in new (and in each case slightly different) directions.

Thanks all. It's just the open strings (and in fact just the E string) - setup was the first thing I did with the new strings! Will try padding the slot with something.

[quote name='bassace' post='1233496' date='May 16 2011, 07:34 PM']Sorry Hector, I'm having trouble with it. If you'd PM me with your email address I'll forward it to you - or anyone else who is interested.[/quote] Not to worry - edited version has a working attachment

[quote name='bassace' post='1233483' date='May 16 2011, 07:23 PM']There is a vacancy for a double bassist on a jazz course being run in Oxford by Sue Greenway. Sue is a very experienced sax player and a great communicator. See the flyer attached, it looks very good value for money. [attachment=80102:pdf.gif][/quote] I might be interested, but can't access the attachment.

[quote name='Bilbo' post='1233219' date='May 16 2011, 04:15 PM']I went to far this month . I downloaded some massive recordings by Anthony Braxton, Old and New Dreams and Keith Jarrett. The Braxton stuff is really tough going. It is very abstract and I listened to 90 minutes (half?) of it before I had to give it a rest. I then went onto a live cd by 'Old and New Dreams', an Ornette Coleman 'tribute' band featuring Charlie Haden, Don Cherry, Dewey Redman and Ed Blackwell, whcih was also pretty free although much more accessable. I am now listenting to Keith Jarrett's 'Sunbear Concerts', a 6 cd boxed set of live improvisations that is also pretty intense. I am 4 hours in and not even half way there yet. I think I need to go lie down in a dark room! I have a Coltrane cd to get to yet that will probably sound like Kenny G after this stuff [/quote] Hah, a friend of mine went into a room at North Sea to check out Anthony Braxton - apparently he was lying on his back, eyes closed, delivering a very fast atonal stream of altissimo squeals...... The Sunbear Concerts are ace though, really dig them.