Pete Academy Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 Just been watching an EWF concert from the 70s. This is the band that, along with AWB, got me into funk. The songs are amazing, the arrangements and vocals are immaculate. But how good are the bass parts? Do you agree Verdine is one of the best? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 Way, way, way up there with the very best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-soar Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 I totally love Verdine. I used to get slated in school for loving EWF. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doddy Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 They are dead good. I had to read 'September' on a gig the other week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crez5150 Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 Absolutely one of the very best... Just learning 'Groove tonight' for my disco covers act... Not much going on with the bass but the groove is esential... Their material is very vocally challenging Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-soar Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 Taste, for such a young man, I think he was 23-24 here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 Just wish I'd got to see them in their heyday - incredible musicianship all round - great songs, amazing arrangements - don't you just hate 'em? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Academy Posted April 10, 2010 Author Share Posted April 10, 2010 I discovered the 'That's The Way Of The World' album when it first came out. Changed my bass playing life. I saw them live in 76 supporting my favourite band, Santana, and they just stole the show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 Saw them way back with Fred White on drums and Verdine on bass..... totally underwhelmed at the time as I recall. Fred White played straight 4's all night and the bass was mush... but agree the mix at Wembley arena wouldn't have been helpful back then. Horns..?? amazing..!!! I do recall seeing Verdine on a bass Masterclass video... with the like of Ready Freddie, Byron MIller, Louis J, Neil Stubenhaus, Abe L, Larry G etc etc...and he was not good in that context all all... I mean why do a bass master class series and sound sh*te.... I never forget that... and I imagine it must have taken eons to get those studio grooves down if that was anything to go by... So... on the track...the end result sounds great but ....?????? I am sure I could dig out the VHS tapes .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBunny Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 (edited) [quote name='Pete Academy' post='802134' date='Apr 10 2010, 09:06 PM']I discovered the 'That's The Way Of The World' album when it first came out. Changed my bass playing life. I saw them live in 76 supporting my favourite band, Santana, and they just stole the show.[/quote] Pete, We saw that tour/concert as well. They absolutely buried Santana. I loved their stage show as well. They were members of the Magic Circle and some of the "tricks" were amazing. Oh, and Verdine White is up in the top division. Have seen them about 5 or 6 times. Talking about stealing shows, James Brown made Red Hot Chilli Peppers look 2nd rate when I caught them in Manchester. Edited April 11, 2010 by BassBunny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Academy Posted April 10, 2010 Author Share Posted April 10, 2010 [quote name='BassBunny' post='802162' date='Apr 10 2010, 09:29 PM']Pete, I saw that tour/concert as well. They absolutely buried Santana. I loved their stage show as well. They were members of the Magic Circle and some of the "tricks" were amazing. Oh, and Verdine White is up in the top division. Have seen them about 5 or 6 times. Talking about stealing shows, James Brown made Red Hot Chilli Peppers look 2nd rate when I caught them in Manchester.[/quote] Wow, didn't think anyone else had caught that!. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stingray5 Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 Verdine is an amazing player. For all the gigs I did see during the 70s, sadly, I didn't make it to an EWF gig. Nor Santana, come to that. How did that happen? And these were -- and still are -- among my all-time favourite bands. The album 'That's The Way Of The World' was my first taste of EWF too. Still sounds just as good today. (Not meaning to divert from the OP, but I can't forget Tower of Power, too! ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deathpanda Posted April 11, 2010 Share Posted April 11, 2010 When I'm in the mood to listen to some deep funk, EWF is the first band I look to, and quite often it's all I need. That's how good they are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZMech Posted April 11, 2010 Share Posted April 11, 2010 (edited) some of you may find this to be sacriledge, but this cover of september is bloody brilliant: it's also a great video, especially the fill done with face slapping and the dancing grandma. Edited April 11, 2010 by Zach Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted April 11, 2010 Share Posted April 11, 2010 (edited) [quote name='Pete Academy' post='802134' date='Apr 10 2010, 09:06 PM']I discovered the 'That's The Way Of The World' album when it first came out. Changed my bass playing life. I saw them live in 76 supporting my favourite band, Santana, and they just stole the show.[/quote] I REALLY must get my glasses updated - completely missed the t in this post and thought Pete had gone WAY off topic! Seriously, I'm so envious of those of you who saw them back then - I couldn't get tickets for one of the London shows then somehow missed them on subsequent visits. Did see Santana though - only gig I've ever left early!! Edited April 11, 2010 by Mykesbass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Academy Posted April 11, 2010 Author Share Posted April 11, 2010 The album and single, 'Shining Star', had made No1 in the US charts. Their sound was so unique. Carlos was touring a relatively small lineup (Leon 'Ndugu' Chancler was on drums), and although they sounded great, they just couldn't match the sound and energy from EWF. I saw the Manchester show first and then Liverpool the week after. At Manchester Carlos's Mesa Boogie combo was playing up, so he didn't have a good gig. When discussing his live solos at later gigs, which were massive arenas, Verdine said it was pointless playing anything clever, as it would be lost to such a massive crowd, so he did some kind of theatrics instead, like levitating etc. In other interviews, Verdine revealed that the meticulous groove and feel didn't come instantly in the studio, but was the result of maybe weeks of rehearsal. For me, they lost their way when they started using drum machines and bass synth. I've seen later live conderts on DVD and it's often doubtful Verdine is actually playing. I also can't bring myself to go and see them live nowadays, as the great Maurice White no longer tours. It's hard to name a favourite track but Getaway, and Africano stand out. Shining Star is also a masterclass of funk bass, with its unusual note choices in the choruses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanbass1 Posted April 11, 2010 Share Posted April 11, 2010 Top stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted April 11, 2010 Share Posted April 11, 2010 My elder brother & sister saw the Santana/EWF tour in Cardiff in 1976 & they both said that EWF completely blew Santana away that evening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stingray5 Posted April 11, 2010 Share Posted April 11, 2010 Still on the subject of EWF, this might also be of interest to some. Back in the 70s I bought an LP by Jazz singer Carmen McRae called 'Can't Hide Love' (Bluenote, 1976). It was her bid to put out more of a 'crossover' album at the time and I spotted it and subsequently bought it on the strength of the title track being an EWF cover. Also the fact that the album line-up of musicians included Joe Sample, Wilton Felder, Harvey Mason, Larry Carlton, Dave Grusin, Ernie Watkins and others (though not all of them were on the title track itself). I just dug out the album for a reminder as to who played bass. For most of the album it was Chuck Berghofer. I managed to catch Ms. McRae at a very memorable gig at Ronnie Scott's around 1976/77 when she was touring here with her own small Jazz group. It was nice to hear her do 'Can't Hide Love' live. (I've also never forgotten an amazing scat version of 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' she did with just the drummer). Thanks to the wonder of Youtube, someone else has already put this up... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted April 12, 2010 Share Posted April 12, 2010 Ernie watts, you mean... ?? He would have been about the top tenor player at that time.. along with Brecker and Scott. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stingray5 Posted April 12, 2010 Share Posted April 12, 2010 [quote name='JTUK' post='803338' date='Apr 12 2010, 07:25 AM']Ernie watts, you mean... ?? He would have been about the top tenor player at that time.. along with Brecker and Scott.[/quote] DOH! Quite right, sir. I wouldn't mind but, as mentioned in my previous post, I dug out the actual album to check other credits and although I read Ernie Watts, for some reason wrote Ernie Watkins. I really must stop posting in the early hours! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TPJ Posted April 12, 2010 Share Posted April 12, 2010 I grew up listening to EWF. I still practice to their greatest hits CD. Great music. You can really hear Verdine and Maurice pushing and pulling a lot in those recordings. It's what makes many of the grooves. I met the Phoenix Horns when I was a kid flying to Colorado and they where on our plane. They looked familiar and as I got closer I saw the EWF tour jackets and horn cases. I was star struck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stonecoldbass Posted April 12, 2010 Share Posted April 12, 2010 In the last coupla years I've REALLY got into EWF, mainly through their incredible live album, Rio After Dark. Anyone else got this? The horn section and drumming are killin!! c Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Low End Bee Posted April 12, 2010 Share Posted April 12, 2010 Not my genre. I think they're great though. Totally groovy. Love all that Egyptian nonsense too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted April 12, 2010 Share Posted April 12, 2010 Had a really bad thought this afternoon - I just know I'm going to get hounded off the forum for this, but anyone who can make a Lennon & McCartney song sound so good must be special Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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