project_c Posted April 1, 2017 Posted April 1, 2017 [quote name='fftc' timestamp='1491034052' post='3269957'] I've no doubt the guy is incredibly talented, but it's not bass IMHO. If that is what it takes for bass to be relevant then I'll be happy with obscurity. And I'm 43, so no baby boomer. Obviously YMMV and all that. [/quote] Watch this video for an example of him playing a groove and a solo during a jam. Looks and sounds an awful lot like bass to me. [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wo7LCKpLZW4"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wo7LCKpLZW4[/url] He also happens to sing, compose and collaborate with other musicians as well, so his focus is on the music as a whole rather than just the bass in isolation. I see that as a good thing, because that is how he attracts a big following of 'normal' people who go to festivals etc, rather than just playing to a small room in Slough full of middle-aged bass players with GAS (and gas). Not that there's anything wrong with that, but the point I'm making is that for bass to continue to be popular, we need high profile players who have a different take on it, and still appeal to a young and fresh audience. Quote
blue Posted April 2, 2017 Posted April 2, 2017 [quote name='project_c' timestamp='1491049092' post='3270151'] Watch this video for an example of him playing a groove and a solo during a jam. Looks and sounds an awful lot like bass to me. He also happens to sing, compose and collaborate with other musicians as well, so his focus is on the music as a whole rather than just the bass in isolation. I see that as a good thing, because that is how he attracts a big following of 'normal' people who go to festivals etc, rather than just playing to a small room in Slough full of middle-aged bass players with GAS (and gas). Not that there's anything wrong with that, but the point I'm making is that for bass to continue to be popular, we need high profile players who have a different take on it, and still appeal to a young and fresh audience. [/quote] 64, I watched the YouTube clip. Sorry, if he's the new thing, I don't get it. Blue Quote
project_c Posted April 2, 2017 Posted April 2, 2017 [quote name='blue' timestamp='1491111594' post='3270527'] 64, I watched the YouTube clip. Sorry, if he's the new thing, I don't get it. Blue [/quote] It's a jam over a Stevie Wonder song, posted in response to someone saying something about him not being a proper bass player. Which bit don't you get? Quote
MonkeyTrick Posted April 2, 2017 Posted April 2, 2017 [quote name='project_c' timestamp='1491119875' post='3270550'] It's a jam over a Stevie Wonder song, posted in response to someone saying something about him not being a proper bass player. Which bit don't you get? [/quote] He addresses not being a 'bass players bass player' in this video. Pretty interesting https://youtu.be/EVmdh8Utdn0 Quote
gjones Posted April 2, 2017 Posted April 2, 2017 I tuned in while he was playing at tune that sounded a bit too much like freeform jazz for me. But after a while they calmed down and I quite liked the rest of the set I heard. Quote
skej21 Posted April 2, 2017 Posted April 2, 2017 Here's another modern bassist who divides opinion. http://youtu.be/IfNsVwPjcO4 Quote
project_c Posted April 2, 2017 Posted April 2, 2017 [quote name='MonkeyTrick' timestamp='1491124415' post='3270597'] He addresses not being a 'bass players bass player' in this video. Pretty interesting https://youtu.be/EVmdh8Utdn0 [/quote] Yeah, it's just not his thing and I completely get why. I know quite a few working bass players (with serious chops too) who couldn't care less about the 'bass community', they like the music in the bands they play in so their focus is on writing and playing songs. Quote
blue Posted April 2, 2017 Posted April 2, 2017 [quote name='project_c' timestamp='1491119875' post='3270550'] It's a jam over a Stevie Wonder song, posted in response to someone saying something about him not being a proper bass player. Which bit don't you get? [/quote] I guess it's not so much that I don't get it. It's just not the type of bass playing or singing that appeals to me. Blue Quote
blue Posted April 2, 2017 Posted April 2, 2017 [quote name='skej21' timestamp='1491131407' post='3270676'] Here's another modern bassist who divides opinion. [/quote] Yup, not my type of thing at all. To me, IMO this is taking bass playing several steps backwards. Blue Quote
blue Posted April 2, 2017 Posted April 2, 2017 [quote name='fftc' timestamp='1491034052' post='3269957'] I've no doubt the guy is incredibly talented, but it's not bass IMHO.[/quote] It's art. 😁 Blue Quote
TomRandles97 Posted April 2, 2017 Posted April 2, 2017 Saw him in Manchester a week or so ago, one of the best gigs I've been to in a long time. Great player in terms of technicality and musicality, fantastic performer and an impressive portfolio of work to boot. I'm not a fan of bass 'soloists' by any stretch (Wooten etc), but I think Thundercat is great. Even when he's not laying down basslines, his unique sound definitely contributes to the overall sound in a way another instrument couldn't. I'd consider it 'bass' but he does expand into different approaches to the instrument, but in a relevant and cohesive way. Quote
BassApprentice Posted June 9, 2017 Posted June 9, 2017 Thundercat, Michael McDonald and Kenny Logins on The Tonight Show - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8AgdI4eyFc Great to see bass players getting primetime slots! Quote
miles'tone Posted June 9, 2017 Posted June 9, 2017 [quote name='BassApprentice' timestamp='1497000083' post='3315165'] Thundercat, Michael McDonald and Kenny Logins on The Tonight Show - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8AgdI4eyFc Great to see bass players getting primetime slots! [/quote] WTF! It's like I just had a crazy dream. Amazing! Quote
grandad Posted June 10, 2017 Posted June 10, 2017 Just spent about 20 mins on Youtube watching a number of his videos. Tried to find something I could bare listening to all the way through but I'm afraid to say I failed. I did try! He is obviously very accomplished. I am 69 this year but I don't think it's an age thing, just not my cup of tea. I concur with Blue. Anyway here's something by way of contrast that I'm able to appreciate, best listened with a cup of tea and a rich tea finger biscuit whilst sitting in a comfy armchair. Lovely sax solo! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KLn9FqsDtw Quote
Dad3353 Posted June 10, 2017 Posted June 10, 2017 (edited) [quote name='grandad' timestamp='1497082736' post='3315682'] Just spent about 20 mins on Youtube... [/quote] I concur with my aged colleague. Underwhelmed, to say the least. Edited June 10, 2017 by Dad3353 Quote
Dad3353 Posted June 11, 2017 Posted June 11, 2017 (edited) [quote name='Rich' timestamp='1497178171' post='3316280'] You soulless old buggers... [/quote] Hey..! Less of the 'soulless', if you don't mind..! ... ... Edited June 11, 2017 by Dad3353 Quote
BassTractor Posted June 11, 2017 Posted June 11, 2017 [quote name='Rich' timestamp='1497178171' post='3316280'] You soulless old buggers [/quote] Hey..! Less of the 'You', if you don't mind..! ... ... Quote
blue Posted June 12, 2017 Posted June 12, 2017 (edited) [quote name='grandad' timestamp='1497082736' post='3315682'] Just spent about 20 mins on Youtube watching a number of his videos. Tried to find something I could bare listening to all the way through but I'm afraid to say I failed. I did try! He is obviously very accomplished. I am 69 this year but I don't think it's an age thing, just not my cup of tea. I concur with Blue. Anyway here's something by way of contrast that I'm able to appreciate, best listened with a cup of tea and a rich tea finger biscuit whilst sitting in a comfy armchair. Lovely sax solo![/quote] Yup, I'm with grandad. I'm not saying Thundercat isn't talented ,and I do believe he is more aligned with the new direction of bass. I'm saying , I don't get it, I don't even get what the appeal is. This guy in the clip below is more what I understand. It's old school and I hope it's not dead yet; https://youtu.be/KSgw2-Ei3e4 Blue Edited June 12, 2017 by blue Quote
GarethFlatlands Posted June 12, 2017 Posted June 12, 2017 I have to be in the right mood to listen to him and don't manage to make it through more than about half an album, but he's definitely got his own thing going in which I have a lot of respect for. I'll always give time to someone trying something interesting. Quote
Cato Posted June 13, 2017 Posted June 13, 2017 (edited) [quote name='blue' timestamp='1497305058' post='3317239'] Yup, I'm with grandad. I'm not saying Thundercat isn't talented ,and I do believe he is more aligned with the new direction of bass. I'm saying , I don't get it, I don't even get what the appeal is. This guy in the clip below is more what I understand. It's old school and I hope it's not dead yet; http://youtu.be/KSgw2-Ei3e4 Blue [/quote] Superb player, terrible tutorial. Edited June 13, 2017 by Cato Quote
BrunoBass Posted June 24, 2017 Posted June 24, 2017 Something for all you Thundercat fans... https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ec584f/play/p056f6ty/p056vfmk?ns_mchannel=social&ns_campaign=bbc_radio_6_music&ns_source=facebook&ns_linkname=radio_and_music Quote
bassace Posted June 25, 2017 Posted June 25, 2017 Great at Glastonbury yesterday. Also Royal Blood amazing. Year of the bass perhaps? Quote
blue Posted June 28, 2017 Posted June 28, 2017 [quote name='PaulGibsonBass' timestamp='1498342493' post='3324006'] Something for all you Thundercat fans... https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ec584f/play/p056f6ty/p056vfmk?ns_mchannel=social&ns_campaign=bbc_radio_6_music&ns_source=facebook&ns_linkname=radio_and_music [/quote] Cool stuff and talented young players. But still, couldn't get into it. Blue Quote
fftc Posted July 6, 2017 Posted July 6, 2017 [quote name='fftc' timestamp='1491034052' post='3269957'] I've no doubt the guy is incredibly talented, but it's not bass IMHO. If that is what it takes for bass to be relevant then I'll be happy with obscurity. And I'm 43, so no baby boomer. Obviously YMMV and all that. [/quote] While I still stand by what I said above, 6 Music have been playing this track a fair bit recently. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrQMIlJbgs8 And I'm loving it, but not from a bass perspective. Still, that doesn't matter when music makes you want to groove, and this music does. Quote
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