Favourite DB players?

[TheRev]

Ah, bugger it. I said I wouldn't post this for the umpteenth time, but I love everything about this version of Solid air. The languid pace, the interaction between John Martyn and Danny Thompson and the beautifully phrased solo (from about 3 minutes in) with all those lovely harmonics and slides. I've spent days working on some of the elements from this solo and still not got anywhere near anything as musical sounding as this. Still, good to have something to work towards, eh?

[media]http://youtu.be/ohmSPv-rtSQ[/media]

[oggiesnr]

I've always thought that the beauty of that solo is that the guitar keeps going and the bass still relates to it unlike so may bass solos where instruments stop and there's no relationship to anything else in the piece.

Steve

[TheRev]

Exactly. A perfect example of two musicians actually listening to each other.

[Rabbie]

[quote name='timbass' timestamp='1386229666' post='2297364']
I keep coming back to the Willie Dixon vid. Love it. Technique specialists out there care to comment? He sounds amazing, yet seems to break all the rules - doesn't brace his thumb against fingerboard, stands alongside the bass rather than slightly behind it. What can we learn from that?
[/quote]
There are may ways to play any instruments. Take the guitar as a prime example: if they had stuck to the classical technique, we would never have had rock n roll. Likewise, a pristine classical double bass technique will get you nowhere in roots music. Willie played gut strings and high action, yet he did so with such facility because of practice I guess, and also because he was a bloody huge man.

[timbass]

Thanks Geoff, TheRev (I wouldn't have seen that video if you hadn't posted it "for the umpteenth time" and Rabbie for your wisdom and thoughts. It is so important for musicians to listen to each other. I have played with several who "go off on one" not understanding that the millisecond interactions create the tension, feel and mood of the music. I was led by a friend to consider and contrast New Orleans with Nordic Rock 'n Roll, one full of loose feel and emotion, the other metronomic, dry and well, soul-less. I will probably be told off big time now.... "TIMOTHY!" my Mum would shout....

[TheRev]

You're welcome mate. It is a beautiful track, but I'm just aware of how may time I've posted/raved about it.

I couldn't agree more about the loose vs metronomic argument. One of the best (i.e. my favourite) recordings of my jazz/soul trio was done on a camcorder at our second gig. We're all still feeling our way through the arrangements and we're all a bit scared, with the result that we're actually taking time to listen to what each other are playing. Solos were give space and support, there was loads of space, giving an atmospheric sound and there was time to think about what notes you wanted to play next and, more importantly, time to decide where you wanted to play them.
Our next recoring was in a studio where the singer was at the controls with very definite ideas about how everything should sound. The result was a highly polished, muscially adept, souless and unemotional collection of songs that were completley devoid of dynamics and very, very boring to listen to.

[timbass]

I think that "soul" comes from the micro-second responses exchanged between players in a band that vary pace, volume and the duration of notes, rests, chords and other structures like glissando. Aaah I don't really know what I'm talking about. Anyway, found some more Carlos Bica that I really like:
http://youtu.be/e7NJsI3Q7k0

[Conan]

[quote name='TheRev' timestamp='1386254603' post='2297773']
[media]http://youtu.be/ohmSPv-rtSQ[/media]
[/quote]

Now [i]that[/i] is what I call music. Incredible. My favourite DB player by miles.

[timbass]

What about Esperanza? http://youtu.be/jgnDE_5Wxiw
Yep, there's something about Esperanza!

[alexpea]

this ones pretty fun...


[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfFBdViZHzk[/media]

[timbass]

mesmerised:
[url="http://youtu.be/lfEtf0C5ovg"]http://youtu.be/lfEtf0C5ovg[/url]

[timbass]

Just found another great bassist - Jimmy Blanton - who died aged 23 apparently. Very sad.
http://youtu.be/8xJlV0Agi1w

[timbass]

[quote name='alexpea' timestamp='1386860154' post='2305528']
this ones pretty fun...


[/quote]
Lots of fun - even anarchic

Edited December 15, 2013 by timbass

[Scorpius]

1+ to Timbass for finally mentioning Esperanza... Great player, composer and singer. I was lucky enough to catch her show at the Southbank Centre last year and was 'blown away'. Hot bassist... and hot mama. I'd like to mention another talented player I came across recently: Adam Ben Ezra from Israel. Great solo work, intonation and reference to earthy eastern passages.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=xjhZhI2Zthg

and:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=0N2UOxkcs8w