Playing Bass: A Moment of Personal Satisfaction

I played well at my last big band practice of last Thursday.  I finally have my amplification problem solved, and I have plenty of volume, great tone, and no feedback.  I was the first one to arrive, and had my bass all tuned up and ready to go by the time the bandleader arrived.  Faris, the bandleader, started playing jazz standards on the piano while the rest of the band was arriving.  He played "Brother Can You Spare a Dime," a depression-era song.  The chord progression was easily discernible, and I joined in on bass.  I could tell he was pleased with the result.

Now that the band can actually hear the bass, they seem to like it.  After the practice, one of the trumpet players told me "I really like the bass!"

As I departed for home after practice, I felt I had turned a corner, that my musical goals were becoming a reality.  It was a great feeling.

Bananas for Big Band Bass

Lately I am obsessed with learning to play jazz on a double bass (also called string bass, stand-up bass or acoustic bass).  I give not a scatological expression for anything else.  I get on these kicks, where I want to learn as much as I can as quickly as I can, about a subject that interests me.  So I listen to jazz music, paying particular attention to the bass, I read articles on how to play jazz bass, I play exercises, I read musical scores, and I play along to backing tracks.  Lately I have even used a free musical notation program to write my own bass lines from the chord sequence of a song, e.g. "Blue Monk."

Today I finally understand what a 1-6-2-5 chord progression is.  There are many other chord progressions with similarly strange numeric descriptions.  The 1-6-2-5 is used in basic blues progressions known as "rhythm changes," in such songs as "I Got Rhythm."

In other words, when it comes to double bass, I am attacking on all fronts simultaneously.

Ultimately, after digesting a ton of music theory, you have to actually sound good.  So lately I have emphasized playing to backing tracks or the recordings of actual songs.  I don't want to just ad lib, I want to play the chord sequences in clever but accurate ways.  Sounding great on bass is the one overriding goal.  All the rest of it, i.e. the theory, just supports that goal.

I am in my second semester of Beginning Big Band class.  The band leader is a gigging jazz trombonist who really knows jazz and swing, and he is leaning on me to improve (he seems to like me, though).  He is always telling the brass section to "Listen to the bass!  Listen to the bass!"  The bass lays down the rhythm and chord changes that keeps the rest of the band on track.  If I screw up, the whole band can get lost, especially the soloists.  That's a lot of pressure on me not to screw up (i.e. losing my place in the song's bar sequence).

I have learned a lot in the past few months, but there is so much more to learn.

Rainy Day Musings: Big Band Music Class Tonight; The Glenn Miller Story

Glenn Miller, Band Leader

Rain!  In California
This morning when I went to let the dog out to do his business, I noticed the patio was all shiny.  The air smelled cool and fresh.  Then it dawned on me:  it is raining!

There isn't enough rain in this gentle precipitation to cure our drought, but it is nice to reminisce.  I love rain, passionate for all things pluvial.

Big Band Class
My second big band music class is tonight.  We will be practicing "Greensleeves" and "Pennsylvania 6-5000."  I have practiced all my songs faithfully, every day this week.  I should do okay.

"Greensleeves" is a traditional English folk song from the late 16th century.  The original lyrics are a bit strange, but new lyrics are often substituted.  The tune is also used as a Christmas song, and renamed "What Child Is This?"  I love Vince Guaraldi's version.

"Pennsylvania 6-5000" is a 1940's style telephone number, the number of the Pennsylvania Hotel in New York City, where Glenn Miller and many other bands performed.  It is a famous Glenn Miller hit song.  Hear the New Glenn Miller orchestra play it here.

The Glenn Miller Story

Glenn Miller, Officer,
U.S. Army

In 1954, James Stewart starred in the film "The Glenn Miller Story."  It's all about the life and career of Glenn Miller, trombonist, big band leader and music arranger extraordinaire.  You can watch this movie in its entirety on YouTube, for only 99 cents.  It's worth it.

During World War II, Glenn Miller was given a commission as a Captain in the U.S. Army (later promoted to Major), and applied his musical talents to army bands.  He organized his own swing band for entertaining troops at the front.  His band was scheduled to play for a Christmas radio program, broadcast from newly liberated Paris, France.  Miller decided to fly from England to France in advance of his band, to arrange quarters and other matters for the band.  On December 15, 1944, he boarded an army plane for the trip.  His plane disappeared over the English Channel in bad weather, and Miller was later listed as "missing in action."  His remains were never recovered.

Kate Davis: More Bass and Brass!

More bass and brass from the talented Kate Davis!  And when I say "brass," I'm not referring to the horn section, because there isn't any.


 

Kate Davis: an Angel With a String Bass

I just discovered this young talent tonight and became an instant fan.  As a double bass player myself (but not in her league by any means), she is truly an inspiration.

 

What Happiness Is! Really.

Happiness is two string basses.  And they are all mine!

My Final "Big Band" Music Class

Last night was the sixth and final session for my "Beginning Big Band" class.  After the class, the band went out together for beer and dinner at the Los Gatos Brewery.  We all enjoyed the beer, snacks and conversation.  Several people complimented me on my bass playing, and that was nice.  The lovely lady band leader gave me a big hug.  The guitar player tried to recruit me for another local big band.  I told him I would gladly consider it.

My biggest challenge in playing upright bass is the arthritis in my right shoulder and shoulder blade.  I must continue exercising with weights to overcome it.  My desire to be a serious bassist is also my greatest incentive to get and stay in shape.

Now that I don't have my weekly class meeting as a practice incentive, I must find new incentives, e.g. a new class, a new band.  I will think on it.

What I take away from this classroom experience:  (1) a much greater ability to read notes (2) an improving knowledge of the bass neck, and better intonation; (3) practical experience in the maintenance and transporting of my large double bass.

The Biggest Phallic Symbol In Music: Stogie's Bass

I have now completed five of the six classes assigned in my "Beginning Big Band" adult education course.  It
has been great for me, giving me an incentive to really learn my double bass (also called string bass, upright bass, bass fiddle and dog house).  Yes, I have the biggest fiddle in the room.  Well, the only fiddle, actually. Why did I choose to play the double bass?  Because it was the biggest phallic symbol I could find.   Thank you for asking.

Ever hear the old saying, "He couldn't hit a bull in the butt with a bass fiddle"?  Well my bass fiddle is taller than I am, wider than I am, but only weighs 22 pounds.  So it is possible, though I am yet to find a bull on which to test the theory.  This piece of irrelevant trivia is presented as a public service.

Our latest song to play is "In The Mood."  Scroll down to hear Glenn Miller's version, which is somewhat better than ours.

After five weeks in the class, my note reading ability is the best it has ever been.  That alone was worth the $72 registration fee.  The strength of my fingers has increased considerably, as well as my knowledge of the bass neck.  However, I still have much to learn.  I will continue practicing scales intently, until I can find any note anywhere on the neck, accurately and instantly.  Then I will continue practicing scales to be sure I don't lose the skill.  The songs we are practicing now include the following:  In The Mood, Sing Sing Sing, Pennsylvania 6-5000, A String of Pearls, and Greensleeves.  These are all big band songs from the 1940s, which is why you haven't heard of them.

My friend and attorney, the alto sax player, is very enthusiastic about forming a small jazz trio or quartet and playing some gigs.  That man is a wailing fool!

The bad news:  our band leader, a lovely lady Brit, is returning to the U.K. at the end of the month, and we will have to find another.


This is how they rocked out in '41

The shenanigans of the band are a bit corny by today's standards, but the music is great.  This song is still a popular jazz piece today.  The little blonde sitting at the table is Sonja Henie.  She was a Norwegian figure skater and film star, a three-time Olympic Champion in Ladies' Singles, a ten-time World Champion and a six-time European Champion.  She died of leukemia in 1969, at age 57.