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

Stogie's Band: A Couple of Jazz Tunes, Live Performance #Jazz

Here's a couple of songs my band is studying right now.  These recordings were made at our regular weekly practice.

All Right, Okay, You Win

L-O-V-E

If possible, listen with earphones, otherwise you can't hear the bass and get the full effect.

Update for Georgette:

I added some more songs.

Dreamsville (Practice Sesson)

Cute (Recital)

Corcovado (Practice Session)

Satin Doll (Recital)

Don't Get Around Much Anymore (Recital)

Embraceable You (Recital)

In a Mellow Tone (Recital)

Band Practice - Jazz: L-O-V-E!

It had been a depressing week for me, so I didn't want to go to band practice.  I did, though.  I felt obligated since I am the only bass player.  However, when I got there, I felt like playing when I heard the horns, piano and drums warming up.

This semester we are working on some new songs.  Tonight we practiced Dreamsville, Corcovado, and L-O-V-E.

I was able to sight read the music pretty well, and was pleased with my ability to do so.  I started reading music one year ago this month.  I am becoming, more and more, a "literate musician."

I really dig the song L-O-V-E.  It has been recorded by Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Michael Buble and many others.  Don't remember it?  Listen to Buble in the video embed below. (Please excuse the misspellings and such -- apparently the vid was made by someone for whom English is a second language).

My First Jazz Band Recital Goes Well

Last night my Big Band, now called "the Cats Swing Band," gave a recital to mark the end of the semester. The Apostolic Church on Parr Avenue in Campbell, CA were kind enough to make their church available for our performance, and the pews were filled with friends and family. 

I played my acoustic string bass, and all the band members loved it more than my bass guitar.  My friend and attorney, who plays alto sax in our band, said that there is "no comparison" between the sound of my stand-up bass and my bass guitar, and he favors the former.  I agree.

However, a string bass requires a lot more stamina, and I need to improve mine. I was pooped by the end of the performance.  Playing a stand-up bass is much more physically demanding than playing a bass guitar.

Everyone told me I played quite well, but being my best critic, I am far from satisfied. I was, however, blown away by the enthusiastic audience, who broke into raucous applause when our lead tenor sax player soloed.  They broke into applause several more times before the performance ended.  This was thrilling for me, as I have played in many bands, but have never experienced this before. 

Everyone in the audience was grinning, open-mouthed, from ear to ear, including my always grouchy little wife. Afterwards we had a pot luck dinner. The band was ecstatic over the successful performance.

Listen Here:  Link to Band Performance.

If you are able to listen, please use headphones in order to hear my bass!  

Bass and Big Band Class Update

Thursday evening my big band class had its final practice for the semester.  The next semester begins January 15.

My note reading skill continues to evolve, and my ear gets better too, as time goes by.  Songs we have been studying lately include Caravan, Blue Monk, Georgia On My Mind and Sing, Sing, Sing.  This is in addition to our songs carried over from last semester, e.g. In The Mood and Pennsylvania 6-5000.  Next semester we will study Corner Pocket, Killer Joe, The More I see You and Don't Get Around Much Anymore.  

If you haven't heard of some of these songs, neither had I.  They were popular songs in the 1930s and 1940s and are still used for jazz.  You can find all of them on YouTube, played by various musicians, including the original artists.

The last two songs interest me greatly -- they are called "standards" in musical parlance, which usually means love song ballads -- think Michael Buble or Harry Connick Jr.  Playing jazz versions is called playing "jazz standards."  Jazz standards is what I most aspire to.  These are some of my favorite standards (in addition to the two previously noted):

Fly Me To The Moon
Stardust
Moon Glow
My Funny Valentine
Taking a Chance on Love
Baby It's Cold Outside
Thanks For The Memory
All of Me
Besame Mucho
Quando, Quando, Quando
A Foggy Day In London Town
Fever
Autumn Leaves
Misty
I've Got You Under My Skin

Those are some that immediately come to mind.  There are many more.

After our last practice ended, some of the other musicians told me that "the bass sounds really good," and that made me happy.

During the Christmas break, I hope to continue studying and practicing the song list on my own.  I feel that I am on the verge of a break-through, i.e. that point at which one rises to a new level of performance.

Here's Frank Sinatra singing "Fly Me To The Moon."  He really nails it.

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.

My Next Project: Playing Bass With a Big Band

Lately I have greatly dispensed with my chronic depression through interesting projects.  The first was saving two baby birds, Robins, taking care of them until they could fly.  They grew, they flew.  I wish them well.

The second was restoring a 70 year old German army helmet.  This was fun because when I started the project, I had no idea what I was doing.  I googled.  I noodled.  I learned.  Amazingly enough, the project was a huge success.  I have never been "handy," so my success in this was an enormous high for me.

My next project is playing string bass with a big band, playing swing and jazz.  I have already begun, having my first practice last night.  The project is actually through an adult education class, with a band leader and various musicians.  There is a big brass section:  a baritone sax, an alto sax, a trombone and three trumpets.  We could use a drummer and a tenor sax.  A guitar is coming.  As for me, "I proudly took my place, as the one and only bass" (from the Music Man).

My attorney (and close friend) plays alto sax, and invited me to join this group.  We are having a ball doing it.  The challenge for me is reading notes.  I do read bass clef, but not nearly fast enough; I can't really "sight read," but this project will help me do that.  I found myself straining to read the notes, and it was challenging, but I am sure I can do it, with enough study and practice.

I used my Fender Jazz Bass guitar for this first meeting, but will bring my Calin Wultur Panormo string bass to the remaining sessions.  A big band must have a traditional string bass; bass guitars are just too rock and roll.   I splurged on a better pickup, a Fischer, at $200, for my string bass.  Yes, string basses do need amplification (all those horns are loud), but this pickup ostensibly does not alter the warm, woody twang of the bass.

Our first three songs to practice are (1) Sing, Sing, Sing (2) Greensleeves and (3) A String of Pearls, all from the American Songbook of great old standards, which make for excellent jazz pieces.

Bro and Stogie Jam Out to "Black Magic Woman" (Video)

Over the weekend I visited my older brother (Bro) in Fallon, Nevada. We jammed for two days straight! In a jam, you play many songs that you may not have played before. Bro and I haven't played music together for three and a half years, but had a great time and were pleased with the results. Because it's a jam, the renditions will not be as polished like they would be if previously rehearsed. That adds a bit of fun to the efforts, because improvization is required. In the vid below, Bro is playing a black Fender Stratocaster guitar, but you can't see it behind his keyboard. Too bad, it's a beautiful guitar -- but you can certainly hear it well. I am in the fedora playing my new Fender Jazz Bass. Bro does the singing.  (I am not coordinated enough to play bass and sing at the same time.) Have a listen.

 

Here's the guitar Bro is playing:

Black Fender Stratocaster

My New Fender Jazz Bass!

My New Fender Jazz Bass

Sorry for the lack of blogging (as if you cared), but for the past week I have been OBSESSED with one goal:  to buy the new "Modern Player Fender Jazz Bass."  The bass is made in China but is of excellent quality.  Read all about my quest at my other blog, "Playing Bass."

I figured out how to get one and bought it yesterday.  I also figured out better ways to record MP3 files, and here is an MP3 of me playing bass to "Cold Shot," a rock song by the legendary Stevie Ray Vaughn.  Rockin' Mama Lorraine does a good job of imitating Vaughn's incredible guitar playing, and Ashley does a fine job of singing the tune.  I play the bass and all I can say is that I didn't make many mistakes!

Here it is:

And Now For Something Completely Different....."Pipeline" and "Walk Don't Run" (Stogie Band Videos)

Too much negativity lately.  Time for a music video break!

My band played at a party over the weekend. Rockin' Mama Lorraine is one of the best guitar players I have ever played with, and she rocks out on these two old Ventures tunes, "Pipeline" and "Walk Don't Run."

Massive Virus Attack Wipes Out Blogger!

Actual Electron-Microscope
Photo of Cold Virus

Yesterday I was felled by a massive virus attack and couldn't work or blog.  The virus, of course, was that of the common cold.  I was flat on my back and spent the day in bed.  The virus, millions of tiny microbes wearing Guy Fawkes masks, has moved into my chest and I now sound like Barry White.  I am hoping for a very short-term recording contract.

Today is band practice day.  Though still recovering, I will attend.  There are some things you just can't miss, i.e., your own funeral, the collapse of the economy, and band practice, the latter being much more fun than the former two.

Update:
The microbes are now staging a wild party in my chest. Well it started out as a party and has now evolved into "spring break" for germs. I can put up with the litter, the graffiti, the traffic and even the pot smoke, but couldn't they at least turn down the loud music? Sheesh!

A Road Map to Learning to Play Bass

I have another blog devoted to playing bass, and just now posted an article "A Road Map to Learning Bass."

For my bass playing, blogging friends out there, take a look.  Here's the link.

My New Rickenbacker!

My son Stogie Jr. delivered my new red Rickenbacker 4003 yesterday afternoon, and a gorgeous work of art it truly is.  Paul McCartney has a 1965 version and lots of professional musicians use the Rickenbacker.  I have time off from work so plan to spend a lot of time practicing.

This bass left the factory only a month ago.  It's brand new.  Stogie Jr. bought it on E-Bay at a nice discount.  These babies aren't cheap.  The neck has these mother-of-pearl inlays (see the triangular shapes) that really help navigate the neck.  Thanks son!

Here's a video of Paul McCartney playing his blonde ("Mapleglo") finished Rickenbacker, left-handed version.  His is a 4001 model, identical except for the pearl inlays on the neck (mine is better!).

My New Rickenbacker Bass Guitar!

Paul McCartney's Left Handed Rickenbacker Bass

My oldest son, Stogie Jr, claims he has bought me a present:  a brand new, Rickenbacker bass guitar in "FireGlo" finish (a beautiful, cherry red color).  I love Rickenbackers, as my father (who was in the music business) sold them for years, and in fact sold two to the Creedence Clearwater Revival (back when they were still calling themselves "the Golliwogs.")  One of those was a Rickenbacker bass like the one I am going to get, also in FireGlo.  I even helped my brother "Bro" adjust the neck on that bass while Stu Cook, the new bass owner, and Tom Fogerty (John's younger brother) stood by watching.

Paul McCartney owns the same bass, which he sometimes plays instead of his familiar Hofner bass.  Paul was given his left-handed version by the head of Rickenbacker when the Beatles first came to New York in 1964.  (Actually, a local radio station, who was interviewing the Beatles at the time, bought it for him, as well as a new black Rickenbacker six string for John and a Fireglo 12 string guitar for George.)

With these bad economic times, I had given up hope of ever owning one myself, but my son wants to do something for his old man before the latter croaks, so he bought a brand new Rickenbacker 4003 bass off of E-Bay that he plans to give to me.  That is, unless he falls in love with it himself and decides to keep it, at which point I will take him out of the will (just kidding).

Anyway, here's the bass, in the embedded video.



If you so desire, you can see a demonstration of the options of the Rickenbacker 4003 here.

Moving On: Band Gig in San Jose

I sometimes wonder about certain blogs who ignore controversies and don't breathe a word about them.  The Geller/EDL flap of the past couple of days, for instance.   These events would appear to be important news stories that require analysis and commentary; however, in so commenting a blogger runs the risk of alienating one side or the other.  And, if that happens, your blog might lose some "linky-love" and your daily hits decline.  Oh my, we couldn't have that happen, now could we?  After all, it's not so much about actual reporting as it is forming blogger alliances of you-scratch-my-back, I'll-scratch-yours, you link to me and I'll link to you, and above all else, let's avoid any controversy that might damage our daily hit count as we talk about Snookie and cleavage and popular culture and Meghan McCain, while hoping and praying to God that the Southern Poverty Law Center won't choose us as "Racist of the Week."

Chicken-hearts.  You know who you are.

Now, moving on past this unpleasantness, my band is playing in San Jose today at a memorial party for my late mother-in-law.  It is a Filipino custom to have such a party on the first birthday following the death of the loved one.  One year ago, we played for my mother-in-law's 84th birthday party, while she was still alive to hear it.  She loved it!

The weather is great, my youngest son is in from Los Angeles and it should be fun.  Now I'm off to hit the shower and boogie forth.  Peace.  Or not.

Musical Interlude: Stogie Band Recordings

Below are some recordings our band has made for demo purposes.  We'll post more when we get them.

The sound is best when played through decent speakers; if you are listening on small computer speakers, use earphones instead.  I mean, if you can't hear the bass, is there any point?

Our male singer is getting better -- I steered him towards some lessons on how to increase your range and intonation and how to sing from your chest and "mask" rather than through your nose.

We aren't ready for Carnegie Hall or anything, but a few more demos like this and we should be able to land some gigs in local clubs, as long as they have the Blues Brothers protective screen to shield us from thrown beer bottles.

I supply the bass in these songs.


Spooky (male singer, female backup)


Memphis (male singer)


Rio de Janeiro Blue (female singer)

TEQUILA!

A reader liked this video, so I decided to post it here.  Our guitar playing grandma really rocks on this old classic, "Tequila!"

Stogie Band Blues Jam

The weakest point of our band is the vocals.  It's hard to find and to keep a decent singer.  Our singer didn't show up for practice so we played some intrumentals, including the blues jam posted below.  Our funky new lead guitar player could be someone's grandma, but if so, she's a rockin' grandma.  She broke into this blues jam and we all followed her.

We had never played this piece together before, but blues follows known chord progressions and we all knew them.  Listen with earphones to hear the bass.

NOTE:  The sound balance on this video isn't perfect by any means.  The video was shot on a small, hand-held digital camcorder with a single recording input.  In spite of that limitation, I think the sound recording quality is quite good.

Gigging Today

I have Wednesdays off from taxes, so today I am playing with my band at a luncheon.  We have a new, female lead guitar player and she is quite good.  This will be the first time we have played with her (besides in practice).

Looking forward to it!

Stogie the Bass Player, One Year Later (Video) Playing "Moondance"

I've been playing and practicing with this band for a year now and have learned a lot about playing bass.  Below we are playing Van Morrison's great song, "Moondance."  We were playing for a Christmas party and there is a lot of background chatter and noise; our singer is new and inexperienced; and we are not all that fantastic nor are we ready for prime time.  Nevertheless, I am pleased with my progress after a year and look forward to learning a lot more.

I am on the left in the video, in back, playing a red bass guitar.  If you listen with headphones you can hear my bass quite well.  Without the headphones you can't hear me at all, not on small computer speakers.