Mickeyboro Posted October 10, 2012 Posted October 10, 2012 Just saw him playing (awesomely) with Joan Armatrading. Played an upright and two fretless five-strings in Precision shape with MM-type pickups. Any clues? Quote
mentalextra Posted October 10, 2012 Posted October 10, 2012 (edited) [quote name='Chris2112' timestamp='1281249575' post='918527'] For me, John is one the greats of fretless bass playing, alongside Jaco and Bakithi Kumalo. He just has such a wonderful vocal thing going on. Never before have I heard someone so able to make the bass sound like a human voice and he really can get right inside the instrument and make it touch your heart, which is incredible. His playing on Kate Bush's "Wuthering Heights" is my favourite of his. I only wish I liked the rest of Kate's stuff so I could hear more of him! He is cruelly underrated! The phrase in this at 02:24 is so powerful and perfect it is heartbreaking. Absolutely incredible. [/quote] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1DDndY0FLI"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1DDndY0FLI[/url] I think that we all secretly have our favourite Kate Bush track. Even though this could not be further from my usual musical taste I love the way this song is crafted. It is full of sexual inuendo and images but so tasteful. From the lyrics of a girl being led into womanhood. The way she is dressed and the way she moves through the woods, the song builds beautifully. She was and still is a very beautiful woman Edited October 10, 2012 by mentalextra Quote
Guest McBass Posted October 10, 2012 Posted October 10, 2012 [quote name='Mickeyboro' timestamp='1349856841' post='1831255'] Just saw him playing (awesomely) with Joan Armatrading. Played an upright and two fretless five-strings in Precision shape with MM-type pickups. Any clues? [/quote] Really? They are up here at the end of November.....i'll have to get tickets, John is one of my all time favourites. Quote
crez5150 Posted October 10, 2012 Posted October 10, 2012 I believe he's been part of her band for the last 5 years now.... The new Armatrading Album is brilliant too Quote
Bilbo Posted October 10, 2012 Posted October 10, 2012 I saw him playing with Jon Anderson on the 1980 tour that supported the Song Of Seven LP; the band were called the New Life Band and included some major UK session talent. Willie Morrisey, Barry DeSouza, Lee Davidson, Christopher Rainbow, Morris Pert, John Giblin, Ronnie Leahy, Jo Partridge. Stunning band. It was at Bristol Colston Hall in the days when a band's tour actually involved touring. I had already heard of Giblin through Brand X and really enjoyed his (Wal) bass playing that night (I didn't get my Wal until 1986 - I was 23 which means I have now had my Wal in my life longer than I hadn't when I got it). Quote
lowregisterhead Posted October 10, 2012 Posted October 10, 2012 [quote name='Mickeyboro' timestamp='1349856841' post='1831255'] Just saw him playing (awesomely) with Joan Armatrading. Played an upright and two fretless five-strings in Precision shape with MM-type pickups. Any clues? [/quote] He has used basses made by an American luthier called Don Grosh - a 5-string jazz bass of Jon's by the same maker was recently for sale in The Gallery. Might have been a couple of those. As well his phenomenal playing on the aforementioned John Martyn tracks, has anyone mentioned 'Wal to Wal', the bass duet with Percy Jones on Brand X's 1979 album Product? Fantastic! Quote
Guest McBass Posted October 17, 2012 Posted October 17, 2012 (edited) [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIIzmwzPqe0[/media] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78QbqoLlVkg"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78QbqoLlVkg[/url] Edited October 17, 2012 by McBass Quote
2pods Posted October 17, 2012 Posted October 17, 2012 Love it ! Both the bass playing and some real mic technique. Quote
RhysP Posted October 17, 2012 Posted October 17, 2012 Oh I do miss John Martyn - we shall ne'er see his like again. Quote
benthos Posted October 18, 2012 Posted October 18, 2012 [quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1350510017' post='1840008'] Oh I do miss John Martyn - we shall ne'er see his like again. [/quote] This. I feel I would be a lesser person for not having having heard his work. Would've loved to have seen him live. Quote
Guest McBass Posted October 18, 2012 Posted October 18, 2012 (edited) I was fortunate to have seen him live around 1988, he had Alan Thompson on bass....marvellous! Edited October 31, 2015 by McBass Quote
mart Posted October 18, 2012 Posted October 18, 2012 (edited) [quote name='McBass' timestamp='1350570732' post='1840673'] I was fortunate to have seen him live around 1988, he had Alan Thompson on bass....mavellous! [/quote] Ditto, although I think it was about 1990 for me. And that gig is the main reason I play fretless. Edit: In fact, since it was at Ritzy's in Aberdeen, maybe you were there? Edited October 18, 2012 by mart Quote
Guest McBass Posted October 18, 2012 Posted October 18, 2012 [quote name='mart' timestamp='1350575443' post='1840787'] Ditto, although I think it was about 1990 for me. And that gig is the main reason I play fretless. Edit: In fact, since it was at Ritzy's in Aberdeen, maybe you were there? [/quote] Definitely late 80's at he Ritzy for me....i moved away in 89/90. Can't stretch to £66 for me and the Mrs to go and see John Giblin with Joan Armatrading...gutted! Quote
dmz Posted October 18, 2012 Posted October 18, 2012 Joan Armitrading on Sky Arts NOW (10.45pm) with JG on bass - Cropredy Festival - look out for repeats !! Quote
crez5150 Posted October 19, 2012 Posted October 19, 2012 36:30 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmPGtojdsq0&feature=related Quote
leftyhook Posted October 19, 2012 Posted October 19, 2012 [quote name='Mateybass' timestamp='1281224361' post='918461'] At last, someone else who appreciates John Giblin, I thought I was the only one here. I've always been a big fan of John's playing ever since I came across it with Brand X. Percy Jones was technically brilliant but John always had that touch which seemed to enhance the track. Everything he's ever played on has been from the heart and thoughtful. He plays basslines like an artist paints detail on trees, you don't really notice the craft until you really look deeply into it. I had the privilege of sharing bass duties with Fred T Baker and John Giblin on an album in the 90's. Fred was a pyrotechnician on bass but a million notes where one will do doesn't do anything for a song except impress other bass players. John would be quite happy playing one note well. He is my ultimate bass hero and probably the biggest influence on my playing and approach to fretless bass lines. Nice one Molan [/quote] fantastic Quote
Conan Posted October 19, 2012 Posted October 19, 2012 [quote name='benthos' timestamp='1350567933' post='1840615'] This. I feel I would be a lesser person for not having having heard his work. Would've loved to have seen him live. [/quote] Me too! Here is a quote unashamedly copied and pasted from a Youtube user... [i]"I saw him perform in Brisbane, Australia in the '70s. He was brilliant - but he also drank two bottles of Brandy [I think] during the show, and at one point [the highlight in some ways] he jumped down off the stage and head-butted a heckler - knocked him clean out. Got straight back up and went on as if nothing had happened. Legend, and not a man to mess with."[/i] Definitely a character, and a true "rock and roller" in the classic sense! Quote
Guest McBass Posted February 9, 2013 Posted February 9, 2013 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5k_OjHUJcWc Quote
notable9 Posted April 16, 2014 Posted April 16, 2014 It was those sparse, gentle single notes he played on Phil Collins.. Cannot Believe Its True that got my attention. What an amazing touch..I still play it now just so I can study the way the notes fall....Incredible musician. Quote
UglyDog Posted March 11, 2015 Posted March 11, 2015 [quote name='Conan' timestamp='1281444853' post='920648'] Giblin is one of my favourites! He played on Fish's debut solo album released in 1989. Highlights include: [/quote] I've just listened to this album again for the first time in ages. I'd forgotten how good it was, and the bass... oh, the bass... just [i]sublime[/i]. This album belongs to Giblin. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoSOJhN7DMU[/media] The fills at 2.27, 2.43 and 3.03 are just perfect. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwdqF-23TO8[/media] Quote
Conan Posted March 11, 2015 Posted March 11, 2015 [quote name='UglyDog' timestamp='1426085459' post='2714184'] I've just listened to this album again for the first time in ages. I'd forgotten how good it was, and the bass... oh, the bass... just [i]sublime[/i]. This album belongs to Giblin. [/quote]No mention of Cliché? Quote
UglyDog Posted March 11, 2015 Posted March 11, 2015 It'd be easier if I just linked to this... [u][color=#800080][u][color=#800080][media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcDZHRHwBOM[/media][/color][/u][/color][/u] Quote
wombatboter Posted March 11, 2015 Posted March 11, 2015 (edited) One of my favourite Gilblin-songs....haunting fretless, beautiful [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uh9wIVZBhT0"]http://www.youtube....h?v=Uh9wIVZBhT0[/url] Edited March 11, 2015 by wombatboter Quote
toneknob Posted March 11, 2015 Posted March 11, 2015 [quote name='wombatboter' timestamp='1426095659' post='2714363'] One of my favourite Gilblin-songs....haunting fretless, beautiful [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uh9wIVZBhT0"]http://www.youtube....h?v=Uh9wIVZBhT0[/url] [/quote] Cor. I never knew that wasn't Tony Levin. Quote
crez5150 Posted March 11, 2015 Posted March 11, 2015 I hung out with John on several occasions when he had his gaff in Chessington. Really nice bloke, very generous. I was looking after Gallien Krueger at the time and he was a big fan of the MB combo. I helped him out with a replacement unit after the one he had fell off the back of his motorbike one evening on the way to Abbey Rd Studios... Quote
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