Rhythm Sections

[Chebass88]

Today is a great time to be a musician - for GEAR. Amplifiers can produce decent power / tone so massive Ampeg 8x10s aren't needed. Assuming most other instruments are similar to basses - for a couple of hundred bucks, you can get a decent imported instrument. For $1000 to $2000 you can get some decent European or US-made basses that work & sound great, and for a few thousand, you can get an essentially custom made instrument, with your own choices of woods, electronics, etc. Not too shabby.

[Root]

I have mixed feelings about this. Im getting older and the more health conscious I am, and into hanging with my boys and gardening and going to the gym- the less interested I am in going to gigs. I have one tonight ( at IOTA in Arlington if any DC peeps are reading) and I get weary thinking of being up all night- I love my set etc- but there will be over 100 folks there and its always a ton of people- Im old and married and no longer getting laid after gigs so I just hang around missing my family. In terms of house music etc- Ive had gigs playing congas/bongos with DJs and it seems like people miss seeing people making real physical efforts. I play with one guy who works with Theivery Corporation- according to them, they often go out with musicians who aren't really even playing!! That says something- not sure what.
Musicians making live sets seem to be able to parlay that into sales of CDs/downloads- so I think that meme "no one pays for music" isnt quite accurate either. Its definitely a new paradigm- but its changing- not dying.
I think one reason I am excited about this is the idea that maybe- just maybe- Ill be able to move back to the woods and still produce music with people remotely.I used to marvel at my old guitarist getting up at 4am to work with his buddy in Barcelona - bouncing tracks back and forth and skyping. And I remember selling some tracks to a video game- in Brazil. Im just kind of relieved I dont have to ride all over town on my bike with that goddam staple gun.
Also - its genre dependent- Im playing in an ethnic pop band now. As an ethnic music nerd and jazz player I dont get how people run this business- as a jazzer we just get paid. Rockers have this whole star machine thing going- and the industry is in trouble so maybe that is part of it.

Where do you live Root? DC has exploded with venues since I moved here in 01- a huge influx of young people has done it.

I'm in Northern Michigan, and I'm talking mostly about the live-music-in-bars scene. I just think that most people don't understand the difference between a good band and a shitty one, don't understand what goes into making good (or shitty) music, and barely even notice anyone but the singer. It just sucks when one night there is an amazing band on stage, and no one cares, and the next night there is a "DJ" (A guy with a bunch of mp3s on a macbook) and people go nuts. I don't get it, and as a musician, it makes me angry.

[Red Finn]

Talking about rhythm, this is some of my very favorite music. It is like each guy pulls in a different direction yet the ensemble still meshes perfectly. The trombone (I think it's a trombone) part starting at 1:14 is seriously good. If I ever more or less master Clapton and Hendrix-esque blues-rock playing I think I will turn my attention to this, because I think it has some stylistic similarities to the blues and it would sound wicked to be in the middle of a long Spoonful-style jam and break out some swing for a few minutes. It would add a fantastic wrinkle to blues-rock guitar.

[bob g]

Talking about rhythm, this is some of my very favorite music. It is like each guy pulls in a different direction yet the ensemble still meshes perfectly. The trombone (I think it's a trombone) part starting at 1:14 is seriously good.

Those old timers could play, eh?

If I ever more or less master Clapton and Hendrix-esque blues-rock playing I think I will turn my attention to this, because I think it has some stylistic similarities to the blues and it would sound wicked to be in the middle of a long Spoonful-style jam and break out some swing for a few minutes. It would add a fantastic wrinkle to blues-rock guitar.

To your point about busting out some of the older jazz sounds in a modern setting, this is the one I brought up a while ago. It's 74 years old and was recorded live. You can listen all the way through for one of the signature performances in American music, but in your context listen to Goodman's break at 3:56, the hand off to James at 5:30, the return to Goodman at 7:32 and one of the sweetest phrases ever from 8:57 to 9:15. This five minute passage transcends time. Goodman and James were shit hot. I don't know which modern guitarists you would choose to try to bring this chunk of time back to life. Maybe Derek Trucks for the James section, I don't know. It's fun to place a current guy in the old masters' places in your head and imagine if they could pull it off.

Oh, by the way, all, this discussion had been fascinating.


Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Nigi...eature=related

[JM3]

not strictly a rhythm section- but a powerful musical performance nonetheless.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7P6QY...&feature=share

[Root]

On the subject of big band jazz: I love that arrangement of Sing Sing Sing. One of the best musical moments ever, I think. My favorite is Duke Ellington, who I consider one of the best composers and arrangers ever. I came across this the other day, if anyone is interested. http://1690wmlb.com/duke-ellingtons-train-songs/

[rumblefish]

not strictly a rhythm section- but a powerful musical performance nonetheless.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7P6QY...&feature=share

... Moved me to tears.

[JM3]

The validity was incredible

[Chebass88]

... Moved me to tears.

That is one way of saying it...

[JM3]

I like these guys- 3 drumbers . the sax break is loose- but they roll out with good sync. Youngblood Brass Band.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rz2rd6nuA5o