Permanent linkSummer NAMM is once again upon us. It's the show that people love to hate. Or hate to love. On one hand, there seem to be as many people here as in the Marriot bar on a Saturday night at Winter NAMM, on the other hand, the small size gives attendees a chance to hang out way more than they would in L.A. Regardless, I'm here, and I've already seem some cool bass stuff, particularly from new exhibitors. Check out our Flickr feed below for pix from the show floor. I'll be Tweeting as much as the overtaxed Twitter server lets me. Anyway, SNAMM!
Posted by Jonathan Herrera at 06/19/2010 11:19:09 AM |
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Posted by: Trujillo27CHERI ( Email: | Visit ) at 7/15/2010 9:34 PM
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Jonathan,
Your mag has been a constant companion through my formative years and continues to inspire and teach me today. Ive learned nearly as much about CONSIDERING and writing about the role of a bass player from BP as I have about placing ghost notes and Class D power amps. I live and breath music everyday through the perspective of a bass player. Like you, Im a gearhead. Have owned, do own and will own tons of odd gear (a 74 Hagstrom Swede is my latest pleasure). I could talk wood and wires all day.... Being a working (albeit the kind with a day gig, advertising) musician in various musical situations and a savant like mind for music history Ive got plenty rattling around in my head which might make for interesting copy. Im a funny guy I think....in an old Jewish Guy kinda way....Only Im a thirty old Italian/American "kid"...and most of my favorite writers are grisled old Boxing beat writers from the 40's and 50's. I've gotta bring something fresh to the table right? Plus as a soon-to-be first time dad Ill be doing less bar gigs and have much more time at the keyboard to contribute! Mostly I have deep appreciation for the the particular things each bass player brings to every group and every song. Heres a bit on that....
"Is he a good bass player"....Seems to be a question I often get when checking out live music with a non-musician friend. As a bass player I suppose I should be thrilled that my presence might have inpired this guy to at least listen FOR the bass! To this question I nearly always respond "sure". What makes a good player? Damn if I know...I know I've been TRYING to become one for many years. I suppose that 8 or 10 years ago if asked that same question while watching someone like Emory Gordy perfectly support a little country tune I might have said "I dont think so?". And at that time if he decided to slap and whack gymnastics during the turnarounds I would have likely yelled "Hell Yeah"! Whos a "good" bassist? Whos better than who? I know John Stiratt's wooly mammoth tone and tasteful melodies wrap perfectly around all the other sounds in his band. ...Nooone else id rather hear with Wilco. Seems Victor Wooten's psychotic-funkiness fits so well within the other psychotics in the Flecktones he makes you forget how difficult it all is. You dont think about it.... You just wanna dance! I cant imagine someone else other than Bruce Foxton pounding out clanky eighth notes with The Jam. Theres no other player that can do THAT for THAT band better than him. So after twelve years am I any "good"? I dont know. I know that I cant do for his band what the bass player in that kickass lil Bluegrass group I saw yesterday did. Although Im confident my bandmates would miss my feel and quirky sense of harmony if he sat in with them. And I dont think your bands would sound like your bands with anyone playing bass instead of you. Thats "good" isnt it?
Thanks so much for the opportunity. And thanks for the mag.
Matt Mandia
West Nyack, NY
845-304-6563
mattmandia@hotmail.com
Posted by: matt mandia ( Email: ) at 8/15/2010 11:04 PM
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This is me blogging…
It is imperative to understand that inspiration for us bass players should not only come from other bass players. Although Paul McCartney is one of the greatest bass players of all time (that’s right I said it), it was John Lennon’s conviction that inspired me to play the shit out of my Stingray until the pickups were coated in the freshest blood I’ve ever produced. Jaco is our Buddha, yet he hasn’t inspired me to write something anymore beautiful than the passionate brother playing nothing but Jimi tunes on his six string after every Yankee home game right on the streets of the Bronx through a little practice amp that should be collecting dust. Victor Wooten and Marcus Miller, indeed both wizards I’d fall asleep to on countless nights with the hope that osmosis would take its course, yet they never made me cry and reflect upon life like when I first heard Sam Cooke sing “A Change is Gonna Come”.
Ladies and germs, when it is time to practice, I dare you to disregard your chops and approach your axe as if you’ve never touched her before.
Let the mutiny begin.
At the end of the day, you can slap them silly and lay the funk down so thick James Brown just may come back for an encore. Hey, that’s all gravy…
…Just don’t forget the meat.
Posted by: nEko Soto ( Email: | Visit ) at 8/16/2010 11:07 PM
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Hi -
This probably isn't the forum for this question, but does anybody know who played bass on the Dirty Harry soundtrack? I thought it was Carol Kaye, but she just sent me an email that it wasn't her. What a great, greasy funky performance.
Posted by: Mike Mitchell ( Email: ) at 8/25/2010 5:10 PM
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