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Trevor Barry - "Strictly" bassist.........


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Posted (edited)

A couple of years back I cut down on the gigging out of sheer exhaustion, and now actually spend the occasional Saturday night at home.     This means that I inevitably have to sit through Mrs Shaggy's favourite programme; "Strictly come dancing", which I don't mind too much as I can usually find something to like in a programme with musical content and lady dancers in tight costumes.     Say what you like about the cheesiness of the show, the way every bit of tension is milked to the nth degree,  and general inanity of the dialogue -  the professionalism and versatility of the band is absolutely top notch, especially when you consider what a diverse range of material they have to cover, and probably very limited time to arrange and rehearse.    Inevitably, I listen out out for the bass (which the BBC being the BBC tend to mix down, but I route the sound through a decent stereo sound system) and am always impressed by the solid and unfussy groove of the bassist, which always totally compliments the tune.  Also he wears a hat and always looks happy when the band is introduced, which is a big plus in my book.    Google search indicates he's a v experienced bassist called Trevor Barry who I wasn't aware of before.   Just thought I'd give him a bit of a big up, as Dave Swift of Jool's band gets a lot of good press on BC (NB: I own one of Dave's old basses...) and Trevor is every bit as good.

Any "guilty pleasure" Strictly watchers agree / disagree?

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Edited by Shaggy
  • Like 4
Posted

There are some monster players that appear on these kinds of shows. I remember an article on Trevor years ago in one of the bass magazines, top notch player.

Phil Mulford is another that springs to mind and my personal favourite is Ben Epstein who was in ‘The Voice’ house band. He and Ash Soan on drums were a phenomenal rhythm section.

Posted

Mrs CP watches Strictly regularly and I must admit ( if I’m not working ) I do too. Trevor Barry is a great player and I really enjoy listening to him and the rest of the band, although occasionally one of the female vocalists can be a bit err...’pitchy’ I believe is the modern term. That aside, Dave Arch does an amazing job with the band each week with such a wide variety of styles to tackle, and it is to the show’s credit that they continue to use a decent sized live band when recorded backing tracks seem to be so prevalent on TV and in the theatre these days. Long may it continue!

  • Like 1
Posted

(Now that Saffron's gone) the only reason I watch Strictly Come Dancing is for the music. Its amazing to see such professionalism and competence, even more so when you consider the pieces are arranged thru the week, then they have just one day of intensive rehearsal, then put on the show. I am guessing they have some decent resources behind the main musicians though - I know they have quite a big "address book" of eg woodwind players and other session musicians to call upon.

Past highlights include "Naughty Girl"* (Beyonce), "Scooby Doo Theme Tune", "When Doves Cry"

*This features Kimberley Walsh, in not much clothing, doing a very sexy dance. It is NSFW. It is also probably NSFH either, if your wife/girlfriend catches you watching it or goes through your browser history. No amount of saying "but its just for the music" will convince her. Trust me on that one.

  • Like 1
Posted

Great musicians on the show. Had the pleasure of working with Tommy Blaize when we were both much younger. Great singer and pianist and wonderful person to go with it.

Posted
7 hours ago, chris_b said:

Trevor Barry has one of the best sounding basses I've heard. The secret weapon TB and many of the West End players (like Ian King, also a member here) have is Overwater basses. Their sound is just world class.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_2HRxpRCD0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZDM9QLPaYo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=habje7Yl0Ug

 

 

 

Of course, nothing to do with mega amounts of post processing that are all present in the clips posted above.

Posted
12 minutes ago, EBS_freak said:

Of course, nothing to do with mega amounts of post processing that are all present in the clips posted above.

Well you beat me to it...

Good player - not sure about the hat - watched the Marcus Miller documentary recently and realised that the same hat is worn by Fozzie bear.

  • Haha 1
Posted
11 minutes ago, No lust in Jazz said:

....... the same hat is worn by Fozzie bear.

There you go!    An icon, and the coolest furry sentient being in music (Tom Jones excepted of course). :hi:

  • Haha 1
Posted
28 minutes ago, EBS_freak said:

Of course, nothing to do with mega amounts of post processing that are all present in the clips posted above.

As the FB clip shows TB has a great sound to start with.

I've heard Trevor Barry, Ian King, and Phil Mulford live on small local gigs and in the pit on a show, using their Overwater basses. All with no post processing and they are exceptional. Yes there is work done on the sound of those clips after the performance, but if you start off with something which sounds that good then post processing doesn't "make" the sound, it just enhances the already great sound already there.

Posted
7 minutes ago, gary mac said:

I thought Trevor regularly uses a G&L.

A very sparkly ASAT 5 string if I recall correctly...

Posted
26 minutes ago, chris_b said:

As the FB clip shows TB has a great sound to start with.

I've heard Trevor Barry, Ian King, and Phil Mulford live on small local gigs and in the pit on a show, using their Overwater basses. All with no post processing and they are exceptional. Yes there is work done on the sound of those clips after the performance, but if you start off with something which sounds that good then post processing doesn't "make" the sound, it just enhances the already great sound already there.

I'll have to take your word on the unprocessed sound being exceptional... but of course, you do realise that the sound of something being exceptional is all subjective anyway.

With regard to post, I would normally agree with you... but with bass, you can mangle the sound so much that it's nothing like the source material, I would say its more an advertisement for the processing rather than the bass itself.

Posted

My son’s school took part in Young Voices earlier this year so I travelled to the NEC to watch him sing, with many other school choirs from around the country. The band were awesome and I was particularly impressed with the bass player, a chap called Carl Stanbridge, who had a great tone and was absolutely spot on in the groove the whole night. Very good indeed. 

Posted

I like a bit of Strictly. I could look at Amy (the Welsh professional) all day.....

Oh, yeah! The band! Fantastic. They should get their own slot on the weekday extra show, definitely.

That Amy though... what a beauty...

:)

  • Thanks 1
Posted
2 hours ago, Grassie said:

I like a bit of Strictly. I could look at Amy (the Welsh professional) all day.....

Oh, yeah! The band! Fantastic. They should get their own slot on the weekday extra show, definitely.

That Amy though... what a beauty...

:)

*Googles ‘Amy from Strictly’...*

  • Like 1
Posted

One BC regular in the past (but doesnt post anymore) was in the touring band for strictly in its early days, don't think he was in the TV recording set up though.

Posted
On 02/12/2019 at 14:31, BrunoBass said:

My son’s school took part in Young Voices earlier this year so I travelled to the NEC to watch him sing, with many other school choirs from around the country. The band were awesome and I was particularly impressed with the bass player, a chap called Carl Stanbridge, who had a great tone and was absolutely spot on in the groove the whole night. Very good indeed. 

Carl is epic... heard him with Matt Schofield a few years ago, the album they did together is awesome!

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