Hang in there!!
Mine’s pretty much just starting, but I am already worried what’s in store 
2 Likes
Know the feeling. Have some hot chocolate and banana chips
1 Like
Hah, yes, after a little more catharsis going to Shonen Knife is a great idea. Thanks!
1 Like
Friday already? Well here’s a classic from Weather Report called Havona from the 1977 album Heavy Weather. Features some tasty chops from Jaco as well. Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEU-m_KVuYI
1 Like
Oh yeah!! Possibly my favorite WR tune and what a fantastic bass line. In fact, I am working on this one as a long-term side project (in a haze of grandeur and delusion) at a glacial pace and literally one bar at a time. Might add a new bar this month 
2 Likes
I’ll throw my favorite jazz recording ever into the mix for today: C-Jam Blues
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrEcT2Q51lw
3 Likes
Wow, that’s a big challenge! Mine is learning Allman Bros “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed (live)”. My grandkids will love it some day!
1 Like
It’s more about learning from this (note choices, phrasing, ghost notes, timing, …) than really being able to play this (at 100% speed) at some time - I don’t really think the latter is realistic for me 
1 Like
Man, I have tried so many times to get into Weather Report, and I keep wondering what is wrong with me, but I just cannot feel their vibe, ever.
Such a shame as I know they are great, but, no accounting for taste (puts KISS record on).
4 Likes
Not sure it has to do with your taste not being up to par or some such snooty stuff … it’s a stomach thing and that’s quite alright! In fact, I think it’s good that you say that (and not just float along with others because WR just HAS to be fantastic). I would even agree with you for a lot of their catalog… it IS a strange vibe.
WR was a ground-breaking group, but their main composers (Zawinul, Shorter, Pastorius) all had their very idiosyncratic, whimsical ways of composing - and that is an acquired taste.
I hear they could be absolutely amazing live, but they could also suck - all depending on how Zawinul and Pastorius were doing on any given night. (And, of course, it should be mentioned that WR also had a bunch of other great bass players in their line-ups!)
Anyway, I often find covers of WR tunes by other artists better than the originals.
I’m often embarrassed by my taste (and also not a Weather Report / modal or fusion fan). But art is art and you like what you like - you’ll know it when you hear it. I listen to a ton of low-brow stuff that just makes me happy (Huey Lewis, Bowling for Soup, They Might Be Giants, etc). One thing I used to do that I’m becoming more thoughtful about is completely disregarding entire genres like I did with hip hop and modern country. I really didn’t think I’d ever hear hip-hop to my taste - but then I found songs I connected with from Atmosphere and Brother Ali. And Tennessee Whiskey and Blue Ain’t Your Color made me think modern country has some hidden gems too.
Ya fusion is a hard pill for me to swallow.
Some Miles stuff is fantastic, some ain’t. But that’s about how far I go there.
Free jazz, Coleman, late Coltrane/Sanders (some Sun Ra)- love.
Been on a Colman kick for month now. Can’t get enough.
You just never know what resonates.
And it sure does change over time.
Free jazz stuff took me a long time, which is why I do go back to WR every so often to see if it sticks but still nope.
1 Like
Same. I did my duty trying to like their music due to Jaco and while I can appreciate the skill, it just doesn’t float my boat.
The funny thing is this is usually a positive for me, but I find their stuff strange in a way that isn’t super interesting for me.
Jaco’s basslines for sure!
2 Likes
4 Likes
A cool cover of an old country song.
3 Likes
Cool Stray Cats vibe!
Thanks to Josh for reminding me about Graham Central Station. Here’s a funky number from 1975 called “The Jam” with some awesome bass riffs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Is665CtmBUc
2 Likes
Babymetal are back. They’ve been on hiatus since 2001 but had a pair of shows this past weekend and did some quick video ediiting. This is their opening number. The cuteness is gone.
Su sounds great. Also there are 3 thrones, dropping a lot of hints of adding a third member again.
1 Like
A proper blast from the past… must have heard this song a million times back in the 80’s, but wasn’t so tuned into bass back then and thus had no idea until now how intricate and cool that bass is - Nick Beggs still pulling it off:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNVylTCe5MY
I became aware of this by watching this guy analyze those bass lines:
6 Likes
Yeah that one’s been in my “never gonna play this tune ever” file for a while. Incredible bassline.
3 Likes