July 1996 Bassasaurus Newsletter
Volume 1 Issue 2
The Colorado Bass Newsletter
FUNKAHOLICS ANONYMOUS
Bootsy’s Back!
That’s right kids, just when you thought it was safe to venture back into the depths of the funk, Mr. Collins is back and as funkolicious as ever! The Star Child is currently gearing up to tour in support of the George Clinton/Parliment release "T.P.O.A.F.O.M.S." (The Power of a Fully Operational Mother Ship).
"Gearing-Up" is certainly the right way to put it! Bootsy’s road rig will consist of four 2x18" cabinets, four 8x10" cabs and eight 5x5" high frequency ‘bright boxes’. That’s about six hundred and forty inches (18 yards) of funk flappin’ fabric! The lows are powered by four Crown Power Base amps (4000 watts total), mids get it from four Crown Power Base 2 amps (1600 watts total) and the ‘bright boxes’ are the recipient of 1600 watts from four Ampeg 400’s.
He’ll also be hauling around a virtual ‘tap dancers nightmare’ of effects pedals, the star bass, a few P-basses and an Alembic Custom Bass.
So, gather ‘round little children, and go see him tour if you get the chance. I can guarantee you’ll feel the funk! "Have no fear ears, the funk is here!"
GLIB & DROLL SNIPPETS:.
Did ya see who got the cover on the latest Bass Player Magazine? Yup, that’s Gene Simmons of Kiss, (They said he all but demanded it). In the article he says "I may or may not want to kick your ass, but I want to look like I can." Or something to that effect, I can’t be sure, I was scared at the time. The article also contains tab/notation for a Kiss song that explains his thinking behind using the relative minor scale against the major scale to create that low down, backlash kinda groove. I think listening to Kiss is a requirement for learning this type of subtle harmonic expansion of the melody. And like the saying, it’s kept simple.
RIPPINGTON’S SHRED IN DENVER
I somehow managed to get up to Denver for the Rippington’s show at the Ogden Theater on May 20th. I’m sure glad I did, they didn’t come all the way up here to disappoint, they came to jam!
If you’ve never heard Kim Stone play bass, you need to check him out. One way to do that is to see him next time he’s in the area, another is to get a copy of The Rippingtons "Live in L.A." release. This cats’ playing is smooth and tight, his solos pull out all the percussive stops (even double stops & triple stops)!
Playing both fretted and fretless, 4, 5 and 6 string basses, his mastery of melody is truly tempered with the ability to contribute to the groove and lay back in the song structure, allowing the other fine players in this band the room to express themselves. A tough lesson in itself. Along with a keyboardist / horn player, a percussionist and a great drummer, as well as Russ Freeman on guitar, this show lasted almost two hours with solos for all.
One of the highlights, (& there were many) was the dual percussion / drum solo, with both switching kits and jamming on every piece of equipment on stage without missing a beat!
Well worth 25 bucks and a drive to Denver.
Note: I really like these shows where the audience is virtually silent during each songs’ performance, you kinda get the impression they are indeed listening.
Bela Fleck and The Flecktones Tour
Leadville, Co.
At a show they themselves described as "a warm-up" for the Teluride Bluegrass Festival, this band truly showed what it takes to be ‘on the leading edge’, ‘ground breaking’ and ‘innovative’. All these words apply to the performance witnessed by this bassist last Thursday, June 20, in Leadville, Co. at The Elks Lodge. In what could be described as ‘ A Really Big Basement With A Great Bar Above It’, the Flecktones moved seamlessly between bluegrass, jazz, funk and some improvisational instrumental creations that mesmerized the assembled crowed of about 300.
Occasionally wandering off into a type of call-and-answer, musical one-ups-manship of dueling banjo and bass that both astounded and inspired the musicians in the ‘Big Basement-o-Burning Riffs’.
The technical proficiency was evident, but also these players brought out a warmth and sheer joy of playing that cannot be described by merely pressing down these lettered keys. If this is being at the top of your musical form and craft, they are to be envied if only for the amount of enjoyment they seem to extract from their playing.
Bela Fleck, (founder and frontman) whose electric banjo (think Gibson SG with a banjo drilled into it) can come up with tones that sound not unlike a guitar to that of a clavinet being played inside a drum. Also a most unusual invention is the synthaxe drum controller played by Future Man, (think KX-5 with a lot of buttons & a flashy paint job), it’s strange watching him wail the drums on what looks like a keyboard midi controller, but wail he did.
As guest artist, Paul McCandless had double duty of sight reading and playing some super cool oboe solos to keep up with the guys. He also showed a refined sense of composition on the on song they played that was written by him, the main melody had such a delicate feel, yet such a strong hook. The impression I got was "Wow!".
Well now, what can you say about Victor Lemonte Wooten that hasn’t already been said? How about ‘a really nice guy that just happens to be a phenomenal bassist’? Seems like the kind of guy that would help you move, ya’ know what I mean. Yes, he’s a bassist extrordinaire, but he’s just a man, and in talking with him, he gave me the impression that the ability (for all us bassists) to achieve their goals of mastering the instrument to the degree they want and retaining a sense of self and life, is well within all our grasp. In other words, we each hold the key to our own future and we can do with it what we want.
(But between you & me, his playing was mind numbing. He’s got this technique, that, on the bass would be something like a thumb rake with pops, but it’s a banjo riff and its called a forward roll, ie; a down thumb strike followed by an index and middle finger pop one after the other. Extreme grooviness.) His solos included everything from percussive funk technique to four finger tap with this thing that sounded like a cross between Flight of the Bumble Bee and the Green Hornet theme! Impressive riffs!
BASS ADS
Yes, these here are some free ads, so if ya got bass related something's to sell, trade, borrow or buy, send a postcard to the address below with all the info and your phone # and it will appear here as if by magic, and yeah- we'll run it as long as you need us to.
Bass Repair, Set-ups and Technical Advice
All types of repair & assistance available at very reasonable rates. Trouble shooting, technical specifications and documentation available. Why let another day go by when you can get that instrument feelin' it's funkidoobiest! Page (719)385-1406 and enter your # plus " *88 ".
2 Basses For Sale:
Fodera "Monarch" 6 string, will consider partial trade for quality 5 string, O.B.O. Custom made Hill fretted 4 string, Pedulla MVP type body style, EMG pickups and more, all reasonable offers considered. Page Robert at (719)385-1406.
Published by Groove Zoo, Inc.
Questions & Comment?
E.mail:
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Or Write:
R. Lee
P.O. Box 235
Colorado Springs, CO. 80901-0235
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Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited without written permission.
Copyright 1996.
