JapanAxe Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 I've just been offered a spot in a big band, and going through the pad I found [i]Birdland[/i] by Weather Report. The written part is all low-register (the horns do Jaco's high parts), but I felt I needed a refresher to how the tune went, and found this YouTube clip. Oh the tightness of the band! The lameness of the jackets! And most of all, the burgeoning splendour of the band barnets! http://youtu.be/pcEKAWZ1Nbk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmo Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 The bass player doesn`t seem to have Jaco`s stage prescence Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 That was great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Basil Fawlty on bass? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drTStingray Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Fabulous - I saw the Buddy Rich orchestra a few days before seeing Stanley Clark's band in the mid 70s - I recall it being equally excellent. Interesting brown fretless Precision and some excellent playing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
project_c Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 I'm going to chime in here to mention that the bassist is in fact a guy called Tom Warrington - an absolutely amazing bassist and a great example of someone who plays Jazz on electric bass with total authenticity. You should watch the rest of this gig before judging him, he plays a fretless precision through an Ampeg and his tone and playing is incredible. He's still playing jazz and teaching in LA as far as I know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmo Posted September 11, 2015 Share Posted September 11, 2015 [quote name='project_c' timestamp='1441926715' post='2863115'] I'm going to chime in here to mention that the bassist is in fact a guy called Tom Warrington - an absolutely amazing bassist and a great example of someone who plays Jazz on electric bass with total authenticity. You should watch the rest of this gig before judging him, he plays a fretless precision through an Ampeg and his tone and playing is incredible. He's still playing jazz and teaching in LA as far as I know. [/quote] Thanks for putting a name to the bass player. Now I am not criticising his playing when i said he didn`t have the stage presence of Jaco. It was more tongue in cheek as even Jaco would struggle to have any if he was on the same stage as Buddy Rich. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakester Posted September 11, 2015 Share Posted September 11, 2015 Hmm, as a drummer I'm a big admirer of Buddy's playing but I have to say that doesn't do it for me. It seems a bit like he's simply ignored Alex Acuna's original part which contributes so much to the WR original - the repetitive drum pattern is part of what makes the tune great as it builds through the phases. Buddy seems like he's just playing around it and dropping bombs when he feels like it. Band are fantastic though. Here's Maynard Ferguson's version - same dress sense though!: [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNbsnBZOwqE"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNbsnBZOwqE[/url] And a later version with some possibly injudicious slapping and popping: [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68-6O2mJhMw"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68-6O2mJhMw[/url] And of course, the original: [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH-WXR-Y2xs"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH-WXR-Y2xs[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toneknob Posted September 11, 2015 Share Posted September 11, 2015 [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]My band does the Weather Report "8.30" version. I've got a pretty good transcription if it's of interest. Kinda like this one[/font][/color] [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqashW66D7o"]http://www.youtube....h?v=pqashW66D7o[/url] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif](ps that's not a jumper Peter Erskine's wearing, he is actually that hairy) [/font][/color] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted September 11, 2015 Share Posted September 11, 2015 Yeeuch. I always found Rich's big band a bit thuggish. This is too fast (as a lot of Rich arrangements were) and doesn't groove as a result. Great players badly utilised. I love the '8.30' version toneknob mentions. THAT swings like a mofo. Buddy Rich, for all his chops, thought Jazz was arm-wrestling (to be fair, so did Zawinul after Weather Report) Warrington does not need to worry about barnets nowadays. If you want to look at barnets, look up the youtube version of the tune by Manhattan Transfer (the band features Wayne Johnson on guitar) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxIo6nrgVa4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted September 11, 2015 Share Posted September 11, 2015 [quote name='timmo' timestamp='1441919247' post='2863043'] The bass player doesn`t seem to have Jaco`s stage prescence [/quote] If he'd grabbed the attention of the audience to the same degree as Jaco, Buddy Rich would have fired him. 1st rule of being in a band: Remember who's band it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted September 11, 2015 Share Posted September 11, 2015 [quote name='timmo' timestamp='1441948650' post='2863137'] Thanks for putting a name to the bass player. Now I am not criticising his playing when i said he didn`t have the stage presence of Jaco. It was more tongue in cheek as even Jaco would struggle to have any if he was on the same stage as Buddy Rich. [/quote] 1st rule of posting on a forum: Read all responses before posting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peteb Posted September 11, 2015 Share Posted September 11, 2015 [quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1441970442' post='2863348'] Yeeuch. I always found Rich's big band a bit thuggish. This is too fast (as a lot of Rich arrangements were) and doesn't groove as a result. Great players badly utilised. I love the '8.30' version toneknob mentions. THAT swings like a mofo. Buddy Rich, for all his chops, thought Jazz was arm-wrestling (to be fair, so did Zawinul after Weather Report) Warrington does not need to worry about barnets nowadays. If you want to look at barnets, look up the youtube version of the tune by Manhattan Transfer (the band features Wayne Johnson on guitar) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxIo6nrgVa4 [/quote] I was mentally prepared to accuse you of some jazz snobbery here, preferring a more obscure version by some bebop outfit, but then I played the clip and you are, of course, quite right! He counts in way too fast, then the band bludgeon the tune half to death... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassace Posted September 11, 2015 Share Posted September 11, 2015 (edited) I seem to remember a youtube of Toto doing it live with Lee Sklar. Can't find it tho. Anyone? Edited September 11, 2015 by bassace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted September 11, 2015 Share Posted September 11, 2015 [quote name='peteb' timestamp='1441977817' post='2863471'] I was mentally prepared to accuse you of some jazz snobbery here, [/quote] It's still jazz snobbery. You just agree with it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drTStingray Posted September 11, 2015 Share Posted September 11, 2015 (edited) [quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1441970442' post='2863348'] Yeeuch. I always found Rich's big band a bit thuggish. This is too fast (as a lot of Rich arrangements were) and doesn't groove as a result. Great players badly utilised. I love the '8.30' version toneknob mentions. THAT swings like a mofo.[/quote] To be fair, the 830 version is the modified version Weather Report played live after a while. I saw them around the same time as Buddy Rich and they played the swing version then - at the time I was horrified as I really liked the funky version - I was also shocked how loud Jacos singing was in the mix - quite laid back in the album version. The Buddy Rich band is clearly covering the album version. My recollection was the bass player (of the Buddy Rich orchestra) did several solos when I saw them - and the other band members did flamboyant solos - Rich had nothing to worry about as he was an electrifying drummer. Although I always thought of Buddy as a bit in the flash camp my recollection was it was no less enjoyable than other acts I saw at the time (woody Herman, crusaders, herbie Hancock etc). Herbie Hancock did two sets - first one jazz second funk - at least 70% of the audience was in the bar until set 2!! Pops Popwell did a 20 minute odd slap solo with the Crusaders. It was a great time to watch music and be a bass player. Edited September 11, 2015 by drTStingray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevB Posted September 11, 2015 Share Posted September 11, 2015 (edited) The tune just doesn't suit his style of drumming. At times it comes across like the band aren't so much playing it as assaulting it with a blunt instrument., though to be fair the bass player comes out of it better than most. Edited September 11, 2015 by KevB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toneknob Posted September 11, 2015 Share Posted September 11, 2015 [quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1441970442' post='2863348'] Warrington does not need to worry about barnets nowadays. If you want to look at barnets, look up the youtube version of the tune by Manhattan Transfer (the band features Wayne Johnson on guitar) [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxIo6nrgVa4"]https://www.youtube....h?v=yxIo6nrgVa4[/url] [/quote] [quote name='bassace' timestamp='1441980478' post='2863511'] I seem to remember a youtube of Toto doing it live with Lee Sklar. Can't find it tho. Anyone? [/quote] That Man Tran version first appeared on their album "Extensions". Toto's David Hungate and Jeff Porcaro played on that version. Do I win today's bad jazz cover version trivia award? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted September 11, 2015 Share Posted September 11, 2015 [quote name='KevB' timestamp='1441982005' post='2863529'] though to be fair the bass player comes out of it better than most. [/quote] No better, no worse than the other players. They all do a fine job, there is some seriously tight section playing go on, especially at that tempo, plus some good arranging. It must have been hard to play that tune with BR crawling all over it. Seen BR a few times back yonder. Always had terrific musicians with him. To me, some of the arrangements worked great, some just didn't happen, usually because of the express train speeds he liked to play at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted September 11, 2015 Share Posted September 11, 2015 (edited) [quote name='bassace' timestamp='1441980478' post='2863511'] I seem to remember a youtube of Toto doing it live with Lee Sklar. Can't find it tho. Anyone? [/quote] Can't find "Birdland" but here's Toto with Mr Sklar... love the tone of his vibe. [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRH_OZbRvZ8"]https://www.youtube....h?v=lRH_OZbRvZ8[/url] Correction: Check it out at 5.40 [color=#BBBBBB][font=Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=2]https://youtu.be/lRH_OZbRvZ8?t=347[/size][/font][/color] Edited September 11, 2015 by Grangur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted September 11, 2015 Share Posted September 11, 2015 [quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1441984171' post='2863554'] I don't know of him, but I presume Mr.Ferguson is the one in the grey suit who splits one of the first handful of notes he plays in the first link and plays equally as irritatingly in the second one? Pretty much everyone in both his bands outshines him. [/quote] You have not heard of him, so a reasonable assumption from the above clips, But in all fairness, there was more about Maynard Ferguson than a couple of split notes and a Grey Suit. Did a bit in his long career, and quite respected amongst Musicians from that era. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maynard_Ferguson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blamelouis Posted September 11, 2015 Share Posted September 11, 2015 (edited) http://youtu.be/nqyqBwHrEOc Wasn't a great version I thought but I think I suffer from weather report over saturation . But I have seen that bass player Dave Carpenter before playing with this band and he was on fire ..great player. Edited September 11, 2015 by blamelouis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
project_c Posted September 11, 2015 Share Posted September 11, 2015 Here's something you'll all enjoy, the entire gig in high quality, alongside some previously unseen footage of Miles Davis, Jaco and many others. A goldmine if you're into jazz recordings, recently donated to the Quebec National Archives by the Montreal Jazz Festival: http://www.banq.qc.ca/collections/collection_numerique/fijm/index.html?language_id=1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted September 12, 2015 Share Posted September 12, 2015 Not so keen on the version but love the very natural tone of the bass drum (at 1:04). I wish all sound engineers knew how to mic them this way instead of turning them into a purely electronic sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted September 12, 2015 Share Posted September 12, 2015 Love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.