Wednesday, September 05, 2007
1) How long have you been playing bass?
I've been playing for 30 years (seriously), this year. I played drums before bass - beginning at age 10.
2) How did you get started?
Older friends in my neighborhood started a band and I wanted to be a part of it. I showed-up for a rehearsal with a cowbell, and they let me play! Their bass player was a drug addict and he kept forgetting about rehearsal. So, I started playing. I learned Toto's "Hold The Line", Heart's "Barracuda" and Sly & The Family Stone's "If You Want Me To Stay"... and I was hooked!
3) What was your first bass?
I got a Univox EB2 copy and an Ibanez J-Bass copy at the same time. I used the Ibanez most often, I think. I had those basses until I got a couple Fender Basses in 1981 or 1982.
4) What was your first amp?
Kustom amp and 2x15 set-up. Metal flake, padded... Blue! WOO! I also got a 2x15 Fender Bassman, a Sunn Colosium and finally an Ampeg SVT 8x10 by the time I was driving myself to gigs. I eventually put the 15's from the Bassman into custom-made cabs. Those were lost in a flood at my parents' house while I was at college, in the mid-80's.
5) What bass(es) do you currently own?
2 Pavel fretted, Aryel 6-string "sub-contrabass" guitar.
1 Mark Vinciguerra fretless 6-string "sub-contrabass" guitar.
1 Status Graphite fretted S2 6-string "sub-contrabass" guitar.
1 Fender fretted Jazz Bass 4-string
1 Warmouth fretted "J" 4-string
1 Streuna acoustic contrabass
6) Out of all the basses you own (or have owned), which is (was) your favorite?
'72 Fender Jazz Bass. I owned that instrument throughout Junior High School, High School and College. I played the frets off it... twice! I finally sold it (for a lot of money) as I was leaving Boston in the 80's. I truly regret that choice. I also owned an '87 Steinberger XL2 fretted that was stolen after I relocated to Boulder, CO.
7) If you had the money to buy any bass that you want, what would you get?
Besides the aforementioned '72 "J" and the Steinberger XL2? Actually, between the new Pavel and Vinciguerra instruments; the new tuning, and the relocation... I'm all set for the time-being. I've played Tobias', Foderas', Smiths', Pedullas' and Warwicks' in addition to the Fender J's and P's I grew-up playing. I am, obviously, a bass gear-head!
8) What is your current bass amp/rig?
For years, I've played whatever I'm endorsing. At this time, I have a great relationship with Michael Dimin and EA Amplification, and I was invited to endorse Ampeg last year while on tour with a guitarist. I currently have an Ampeg BA 2x10 combo, and a new 600 Series combo just arrived a few days ago. I also have an OLD Ampeg R-100 "Rocket Bass" combo I use for smaller gigs. I LOVE that R-100. When I tour, I request Ampeg... usually an SVT 8x10 rig. I would like to use EA on tours. But, you can't get them on the West Coast or in the South.
9) Do you use any effects? If so, which ones?
The only effect I use is either a Boss OC-3 Octaver or an Ashdown Octaver. I use a little compression now and again. Is that an effect? I've been adding a touch of reverb to my recorded tracks - after reading a piece Gary Willis wrote on the subject a few years ago. I may begin using reverb in a live context. But, I haven't made a final decision about that, yet.
10) If you had the money for any bass rig you wanted, what would you get?
I'm set, really. I might add a second Ampeg 8x10 cab and power it with one of the big, new SVT amps... and a particular pre-amp I really dig. But, honestly, that's probably a little excessive!
11) What signal do you send to the mix
DI before and after FX. I employ my new Radial DI's!! Radial is INCREDIBLE! In years past I used my old Countryman DI boxes. I put one before the octaver and compression and another after - before the desk.
12) If you had to choose ONE bass player that you model yourself after, who would it be?
I'm reeeeeeeeeeally me, no doubt about it. But, I admire Richard Bona, Matthew Garrison, and especially Michel Alibo. These 3 have been my favorite players for many years and their influence is ubiquitous and can always be found in my playing somewhere. I couldn't choose between these 3 great players, I guess.
13) Who are some of your other bass influences?
Besides the aformentioned I've deeply appreciated, transcribed and studied: Jaco Pastorius, Kai Eckhardt, Linley Marthe, Geddy Lee, Jimmy Haslip, and Gary Willis. I also admire Allan Holdsworth, Robin Ford, Phil Brown, Russ Ferrante, Bill Evans, Miles, Mingus, Monk...
Lately, I've been watching a new dvd by SIXUN on a near-daily basis! What a great band! Otherwise, I'm listening to and/or watching Karim Ziad, Joni Mitchell, and Jonatha Brooke... and the Allan Holdworth, Alan Pasqua, Jimmy Haslip, Chad Wackerman dvd. Karim's cd's have been life-changing!
14) How would you characterize your bass playing?
This is a difficult question! I tend to "lead" through the bass line and overal groove within the context of a tune. As a composing bassist, I build music from the bottom up in all circumstances. I really enjoy playing bass and fulfilling that responsibility in the band, much more than "soloing" or "show-boating". Most importantly, I appreciate drummers I can build a good playing relationship with. It's all about "the note", isn't it?
15) How would you characterize your TONE?
Pianistic depth and clarity - somewhere between Anthony Jackson's "open" tone and Chris Squires 70's era Yes tone. I'm not a "Rock Guy" by any stretch... But, I appreciate that type of tonescape more so than a typical R&B or Jazz bassist's palette of sounds. I'm reviewing my use of mid-range these days, instead of scooping the mids as severely as I have in the past.
The worst feeling I have is knowing I've outgrown (or grown away from) an instrument! The new basses by Pavel and Vinciguerra have arrived after an attempt to stay with 1 bass for as long as possible. I lasted almost 8 years of playing the Status Graphite fretted S2 and a fretless S1. Rob Green of Status Graphite makes wonderful basses! But, it was time for a change. I'm keeping the S2 - now that I've converted all my 6's to a "sub-contra" tuning. I look forward to digging into the S2 again after spending some time on the Pavel basses!
16) What genre(s) of music do you specialize in?
Throughout the years, I've spent time in folk, acoustic/straight-ahead jazz, and in Middle Eastern/North African music in addition to playing a number of singer-songwriter sessions and gigs. I've also played in a number of musical fusions similar to Dave Matthews' Band or Aquarium Rescue Unit. Finally, I've spent roughly 25 years playing with professional musicians and "church players" on worship teams at Christian churches.
I'm currently writing and playing a lot of "World Music". So, that means I'm spending a lot of time getting to the traditional roots of that fusion. I'm studying traditional Celtic, Zouk, and a couple traditional African music forms. My current study is creating it's own coadunation within the context of my "style". As a result, I'm really happy with where my playing is going these days.
17) Les Claypool...opinion?
HMMM... More "Stylist" than musician - as I feel musicianship is a more well-rounded moniker.
18) Victor Wooten...opinion?
I think Vic is more well-rounded than Les. But, that's just my humble (and unnecessary) opinion.
I tend to appreciate players who are either more musical (Kai Eckhardt) or differently unique and less stylistically obtrusive (Michel Alibo) than either Vic or Les. Though, in their individual contexts, both Victor Wooten and Les Claypool are great players!
Bela Fleck & The Flectones' "Live At The Quick" is a great dvd, and I own that one! Humorously, I just realized I also own Gov't Mule's "The Deepest End" dvd/double cd and both Victor and Les (along with several other bassists) perform tunes with Warren Haynes, Matt Abts, and Danny Louis!
I've heard too many clones of Victor's style, in particular. Victor is very musical in his approach, and I don't hear that in his clones. Ray Riendeau has taken Victor's thing and re-invented it for his use. That's different in my opinion. You know, where an influence touches the heart of an already creative musician...
"Style" is as much passion as approach, isn't it? I make this statement in relation to the fact I NEVER use a chorus - particularly when playing fretless. If my path is slower because I'm not attempting to sound like another person's existence... so be it. "Chorus with fretless" was another great man's contribution to the world of bass playing. You dig?
19) Playing bass with a pick...opinion?
I don't have an opinion against employing a plectrum. There are brilliant "Pick Players" like Anthony Jackson, Bobby Vega, Carles Benevente, Tiran Porter and Chris Squire. They sound great and each of these men play incredibly well!
20) Chapman Stick...opinion?
It's just an instrument - albeit innovative. It's not a bass, really, and I'm a bassist by choice. I dig Tony Levin's use of "the Stick as a bass instrument" especially with King Crimson and with Peter Gabriel. I was playing through Peter Gabriel's "That Voice Again" just a couple days ago. That's a great bass line! Studying things like Tony Levin's bass lines and Bobby McFerrin's vocal compositions really made a difference in my fretless playing! Bobby McFerrin's "BangZoom" is one of the most brilliant recordings I've ever heard!
21) 7-, 8-, 9-, 10-, 11-string basses (and so on)...opinion?
Great players sound great regardless of their chosen axe. Once again, some of those instruments are not basses per se. But, if it sounds good and it allows someone to explore their personal voice... DO IT!
22) Solo bass (and bass solos)...opinion?
HMMM... I know many great bassists who simply aren't good composers. So, I don't have a lot of "bass records" as a result. I like tunes. I love solo bass - if performed well. I simply don't like a lot of the music bassists write. By contrast I love Charles Mingus, John Patitucci, Otiel Burbridge and those composers who also happen to be bassists!
I've played solo bass gigs and I had a blast doing so! I've written a few tunes within that catagory, I guess, and I have several solo bass arrangements of other tunes. That said, I don't consider myself to be a "solo bassist"and there are others who have devoted themselves to that idea who I consider more passionate about doing and being a "solo bassist". I enjoy playing with dummers and percussionists too much to leave home without them too often! I think what we're seeing is an evolution of bass playing. We're in the middle of "growing-up out loud" on this instrument.
23) How often do you practice?
I practice daily and for as much time as I can... each time I practice. I have a regimen and I adhere to it as much as I can. At this writing, I'm working on a lot of "plucking hand" technical stuff. After that, I'll study better "fretting hand" options.
24) Did you take lessons? If so, from whom?
As I clinic and hang with a lot of great players like Adam Nitti, Anthony Wellington and Gerald Veasley. I try to get-in a lesson with anyone I'm hanging out with. In the past, I've studied with Kai Eckhardt, Kim Stone, Michael Fitzmaurice, and others I've clinic'd and played with. I'm currently seeking a teacher, as usual. Though, I'm content in sitting for hours in my music room - listening to the basses I've been blessed to own.
25) What kind of strings do you use?
I use a custom set of S.I.T. "sub-contrabass" 6-string sets on all my 6's, and a 100-40 S.I.T. set on the 4's. The "sub-contra" thing is Low F through High G. I've omitted the High C string of the standard contrabass guitar. It's not a new idea... But changing my tuning has constituted a paradigm shift that has been, and continues to be, most beneficial to my path.
26) Do you play upright?
Yes. I use D'Addario or Thomastik "Jazz" sets on my Streuna acoustic contra bass.
27) Do you play upright with a bow?
Yes. After years of playing German bow I've gone back to the French bow I used in High School! I'm enjoying playing arco again for the first time in years!
28) Can you read music?
Yes. I read on 45% of the gigs I play. Most of the reading is for either theater gigs or recording sessions. Until I relocated from Boulder, CO to Northwesern, IL, in November 2006, I had a wonderful reading gig at a church in Aurora, CO! I loved the fact it was a real reading environment and the music was usually happening! The worship pastor there writes great charts and there were cool unison lines and deep harmonies to deal with. Also, the worship pastor there writes much of the music we played. That's probably the coolest "church gig" I've ever had! I miss it!
To keep the blades sharp I've collected many wonderful bass, trombone, and cello books over the years! I also subscribe to all the bass-oriented magazines and I read whatever the featured piece those magazines offer each month.
29) Synth bass...opinion?
I feature synth bass on my recordings a lot since about 2002. I like bringing a different lower foundational voice into play during my solos, and the synth is different enough (and deep enough) to my ear. I like the timbre of those early MOOG and ARP patches I grew-up hearing on record, and I typically go for that sound. My current favorite synth is the KORG Karma, and there's a particular, softer sounding patch I've been using for the new recordings. The Karma is a great axe! I'm currently looking into the Roland synth pick-up Richard Bona has been using, so I can play synth patches on the bass guitar.
30) If you could be in a rhythm section with any DRUMMER, who would it be?
Aaron Spears, Marvin McQuitty, Paco Sery, Chad Wackerman... I think the list is too long to write! I LOVE playing with Denver-based drummer Joel MacCluskey. He's an undiscovered treasure! I'm currently touring and recording with Seattle-based drummer Sam Mathews, and he is my favorite drummer at this writing. We get along really well, and we have a seamless LOCK together. You can't buy that! I also love playing with Tom Van Daele, Kennedy James, and Denver-based session great Larry Thompson... Larry and I have done a lot of really good recordings together!
Thank you for taking time to ask my opinions! Thanks to anyone who will take the time to read this interview...
