Cats Swing Band, Full Recital, November 13, 2015

We had a recital for our jazz/swing band last night.  You can listen to the entire recital at the link below.

My bass playing, IMHO, has improved greatly since I joined this band.  I have turned a corner.  I am not where I want to be just yet, but I am happy with my progress.

If you want to be a successful bass player:

• Learn music theory
• Learn bass techniques
• Learn SONGS.  The more songs you learn, the easier it is to learn new ones.  

Here's the link:

http://yourlisten.com/Stogiebass/catsrecital11132015

Superbowl Sunday, But Not For Me. Band Update.

I won't be watching much of the Super Bowl today, if any.  I must venture out to do taxes for some of my personal clients.  I don't really care much which team wins today -- they both represent very "progressive" areas.

At big band practice last Thursday, the band director was very encouraging, complimenting my bass playing and saying that "the bass is the most important instrument in the group."  Of course I always knew that.  However, I suspect he was exaggerating.  All those trumpets, trombones and saxophones count a little.  The drummer and guitar player add somewhat as well.

Of course, they were all giving me dirty looks after the director's comment.  I simply stuck my tongue out at them and turned up my volume.

Well one more cup of coffee and then I have to hit the door.  Have a great Sunday.

Zen and the Art of Playing Bass

My Big Band music class starts up again tomorrow.  This morning I began practicing the songs (on my string bass) that I learned in the last session.  I noticed how much easier it is to read notes this time around.  What once was torture is now an achievable task.  You do something many times over and it becomes easier to do.  Funny how that works.  I am not "there" yet, but I am further down the road.

Before I started this class, my two string basses sat in their stands, untouched, gathering dust.  No more.  Now they both get handled a lot, played, tuned, adjusted and repaired.   I am forever tweaking the setup of each one, always seeking the best playability (the "action") and sound possible.  I even ordered a well known book to teach me better how to do that:  Chuck Traeger's book, Setup And Repair of the Double Bass for Optimum Sound: A Manual for Players, Makers, And Repairers.

Mastering an instrument is similar to learning a new language.  It requires immersion, study, practice, contemplation and great patience.  Zen might help too, except that it is difficult to play bass while holding the full lotus position.  

Stick with it long enough and you may come up with something like "The Abe Train" (see video below).  The Abe Train is a jazz quartet of young musicians in their twenties.  They are from the San Francisco Bay Area and damn good.  The bass player really grooves.  Use headphones so you can hear every note of their rendition of "Autumn Leaves."

Batman Has His Bass, and I Have Mine

My new Rickenbacker 4003 bass guitar has arrived at my son's house in Washington state, and he has opened it and inspected it and has found it completely perfect and without blemish.

He is planning to deliver it to me this coming Thursday and I am planning to receive it.  BUT I WANT IT NOWWWW!

Patience, my puppy.  Patience.