Ray Posted November 28, 2008 Share Posted November 28, 2008 My band are doing a support gig in January and I was thinking of asking if I could sit in on a couple of numbers with the headline band. Thing is, these guys are legends and it will be nerve wracking enough just talking to them let alone asking if I can play with them! They have no bassist as it's an organ trio. I'd be grateful for any advice on the best way to go about it. Cheers, Ray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted November 28, 2008 Share Posted November 28, 2008 Not cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crez5150 Posted November 28, 2008 Share Posted November 28, 2008 hehe....... I would ask and if they say yes then ask them if they know Mustang Sally...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutToPlayJazz Posted November 28, 2008 Share Posted November 28, 2008 Hmmm... As Bilbo says, it's an easy way to come unstuck. You need some playing experience first in the field. By all means get out there and do some playing, but I don't think they'll consent if they're top of the bill. After all, they're being paid as a known organ trio. QED? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakenewmanbass Posted November 28, 2008 Share Posted November 28, 2008 [quote name='Ray' post='339810' date='Nov 28 2008, 04:28 PM']My band are doing a support gig in January and I was thinking of asking if I could sit in on a couple of numbers with the headline band. Thing is, these guys are legends and it will be nerve wracking enough just talking to them let alone asking if I can play with them! They have no bassist as it's an organ trio. I'd be grateful for any advice on the best way to go about it. Cheers, Ray[/quote] You should wait to be invited really, which, tbh you are unlikely to be. Sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted November 28, 2008 Share Posted November 28, 2008 Sam Yahel trio.......? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Cooke Posted November 28, 2008 Share Posted November 28, 2008 [quote name='Ray' post='339810' date='Nov 28 2008, 04:28 PM']I'd be grateful for any advice on the best way to go about it.[/quote] Just stand in the wings and enjoy the show... let them know your enjoying it... to sit in would require you leaving your rig set up... and you're supposed to have removed it before they start anyway... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassMunkee Posted November 28, 2008 Share Posted November 28, 2008 Probably not a good idea. You would probably be way to nervous to give a good account of yourself anyway, and unless you have a reached a level of celebrity whereby you can legitimately walk up to an an established band and ask them, you'll have to wait until someone asks you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted November 28, 2008 Share Posted November 28, 2008 You could have a friendly chat with them, and give them your card. And ask if they are doing a Panto this year? Garry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassace Posted November 28, 2008 Share Posted November 28, 2008 It's most unlikely you'll be invited. So, do you play regularly in a band that plays the same sort of stuff and are you super-competent? Is the venue an 'intimate' and informal one? Have you sat in with bands before, sometimes at no notice? Do you know the guys in the trio - do they know you? Do you know their repertoire? If the answer is 'yes' to all these (or most) then if you're brave you may consider contacting the main man a week in advance and asking. We have a seven piece Chicago jazz band and would not generally permit a sit in, unless of course it's one of the 'greats' in which case we often ask them if they'd do us the honour of sitting in with us! Often if we're at a jazz festival the organisers might arrange in advance for a young musician to do a few tunes with us. There's a great young trumpet player who we found this way called Jamie Brownfield . Look out for him. I remember when I was in my teens and I went into a local club and there was a pickup band with Dill Jones on piano and Ronnie Ross on sax - probably means nothing to anyone except Bilbo - and was invited to sit in for two numbers. I didn't come back down to earth for several days and there wasn't anyone in the school, village, town, universe who I didn't tell about it. So to sit in can be inspiring - if you don't f**k up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted November 28, 2008 Share Posted November 28, 2008 [quote name='bassace' post='340074' date='Nov 28 2008, 09:20 PM']Ronnie Ross on sax - probably means nothing to anyone except Bilbo[/quote] What Ronnie Ross who played the fabo Baritone solo at the end of "Walk On The Wild Side?" Nah, never heard of him Meanwhile On Topic We have a general policy that if somene asks us nicely they can get up with us and play one number ... I have even handed my bass (and band) over to strangers and gone off to dance with their wife, on occasion However, for your own face saving reasons, you do have to be good enough to do it and have enough stage experince to manage the giging "workplace". By that I mean that jumping up with an established band is totally different to playing on stage with your own band. The dynamics are different, the cuing between a bunch of experienced players is subtle and well established and you can end up falling flat on your bum, rather than looking cool ... We always ensure the stepper up has the maximum support we can give them but some have ended up looking a bit daft. Oh and that trio probably has no bass player for a reason - like the organist does it with his feet or left hand, so there may be no sonic "room" anyway.. And you may find you get thrown a solo on a tune you don't know ,, That brings back memories of being a confident but inexperienced sax player (but long experienced gigging musician) and getting up with a band. First number was a blues, no problem, second number was a "standard" I'd never heard of in a key I'd never heard of and with a very strange arrangement. I looked cool for the first one and a total wally for the second .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Funk Posted November 29, 2008 Share Posted November 29, 2008 Don't ask to sit in. Invite them to an after hours jam instead. Don't forget to pick their brains as much as possible without being a knob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Funk Posted November 29, 2008 Share Posted November 29, 2008 [quote name='dlloyd' post='340196' date='Nov 29 2008, 12:50 AM']Or a drink/smoke, etc.[/quote] Aye. I normally prefer having a chat to heroes of mine and getting inspired that way. I'd feel a bit rude asking to sit in. My old bass mentor used to enjoy calling me out from the audience and dropping me in it though. Sometimes you just crash and burn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Posted November 29, 2008 Author Share Posted November 29, 2008 [quote name='Mike' post='339922' date='Nov 28 2008, 05:42 PM']Sam Yahel trio.......?[/quote] [url="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=NvZlTKIEW6Q"]Godfathers Of Groove[/url] [quote name='Paul Cooke' post='339934' date='Nov 28 2008, 05:56 PM']to sit in would require you leaving your rig set up... and you're supposed to have removed it before they start anyway...[/quote] I'll be using the house rig which is left on stage so that wouldn't be an issue. [quote name='bassace' post='340074' date='Nov 28 2008, 09:20 PM']It's most unlikely you'll be invited. So, do you play regularly in a band that plays the same sort of stuff and are you super-competent? Is the venue an 'intimate' and informal one? Have you sat in with bands before, sometimes at no notice? Do you know the guys in the trio - do they know you? Do you know their repertoire? If the answer is 'yes' to all these (or most) then if you're brave you may consider contacting the main man a week in advance and asking.[/quote] We play the same sort of stuff - funk & soul jazz. Super-competent? Competent, I'd say. It's at the Jazz Cafe in Camden so quite a prestigious venue. I have met the guys in the band before. We opened for them at the Jazz Cafe earlier this year and had the pleasure of having dinner with the drummer before the show. They're really really easy going, friendly guys which makes me think it wouldn't be a problem if someone asked to sit in with them. They had a sax player sit in last time they played. [quote name='OldGit' post='340094' date='Nov 28 2008, 09:59 PM']Oh and that trio probably has no bass player for a reason - like the organist does it with his feet or left hand, so there may be no sonic "room" anyway..[/quote] They do play with a bass player sometimes. [quote name='The Funk' post='340182' date='Nov 29 2008, 12:28 AM']Don't ask to sit in. Invite them to an after hours jam instead. Don't forget to pick their brains as much as possible without being a knob.[/quote] This is probably what I'll do. Thanks for the response everyone. Much appreciated. Ray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakenewmanbass Posted November 29, 2008 Share Posted November 29, 2008 [quote name='Ray' post='340312' date='Nov 29 2008, 10:01 AM'][url="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=NvZlTKIEW6Q"]Godfathers Of Groove[/url][/quote] On that video link you posted is none other than Bernard Purdie and I think Jerry Jemmott. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted November 29, 2008 Share Posted November 29, 2008 Tis JJ. And we all know that BP does enjoy a shuffle.. Great stuff. Garry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Funk Posted November 29, 2008 Share Posted November 29, 2008 [quote name='Ray' post='340312' date='Nov 29 2008, 10:01 AM']We opened for them at the Jazz Cafe earlier this year and had the pleasure of having dinner with the drummer before the show.[/quote] Bernard Purdie is my favourite drummer of all time! You lucky bastard. Well done! Guestlist me up, dude! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Posted November 29, 2008 Author Share Posted November 29, 2008 [quote name='The Funk' post='340430' date='Nov 29 2008, 01:08 PM'] Bernard Purdie is my favourite drummer of all time! You lucky bastard. Well done! Guestlist me up, dude![/quote] We usually get a guestlist of some kind when we play the JC. Normally half price entry or sometimes free entry if ticket sales are slow. We don't normally find out until 1-2 weeks before though. I'll let you know... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassace Posted November 29, 2008 Share Posted November 29, 2008 [quote name='OldGit' post='340094' date='Nov 28 2008, 09:59 PM']What Ronnie Ross who played the fabo Baritone solo at the end of "Walk On The Wild Side?"[/quote] I didn't know that, although I would have played with him a few years before WOTWS. Thanks, OG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Posted November 29, 2008 Author Share Posted November 29, 2008 [quote name='jakesbass' post='340320' date='Nov 29 2008, 10:10 AM']On that video link you posted is none other than Bernard Purdie and I think Jerry Jemmott.[/quote] Yep! Shame Jerry isn't playing with them in January. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted November 29, 2008 Share Posted November 29, 2008 (edited) [quote name='Ray' post='340312' date='Nov 29 2008, 10:01 AM'][url="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=NvZlTKIEW6Q"]Godfathers Of Groove[/url][/quote] I bought their CD only this morning! Absolutely knockout. And on sitting in ... I'd wait to be asked ... but then I'm probably not good enough to play with those guys anyway. Edited November 29, 2008 by EssentialTension Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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