JSngry Posted October 27, 2012 Report Share Posted October 27, 2012 We worship Trane, love Elvin, and venerate McCoy, but next time you go there, let the bass direct everything else and see where you end up. It's a veritably...regal place. A palatial expanse of freeness (let's not call it "freedom", because that word is just too damn cheap these days) built from the bottom up. Sometimes I take it for granted, but these days, taking anything for granted is an invitation to extermination. Let's not do that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ayers Posted October 27, 2012 Report Share Posted October 27, 2012 Can't help you there. Sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flat5 Posted October 27, 2012 Report Share Posted October 27, 2012 Takes muscle to play bass. To play a long fast tune with tone and good intonation takes lots of muscle. and that's not all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted October 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2012 It takes knowing, that's what it takes. If the bass player knows, everybody goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ayers Posted October 27, 2012 Report Share Posted October 27, 2012 Takes muscle to play bass. To play a long fast tune with tone and good intonation takes lots of muscle. and that's not all What else? A self effacing disposition? An ability to placate people on public transport who might otherwise be irritated by the size and positioning of your instrument in a full car? An ability to count to four? A thick skin? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted October 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2012 An ability to shut out irrelevant bullshit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ayers Posted October 27, 2012 Report Share Posted October 27, 2012 Do you have to be able to strum your instrument to make it sound vaguely like Spanish guitar? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted October 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2012 Do you have to be able to strum your instrument to make it sound vaguely like Spanish guitar? Oh. "Spanish". Now I get it.If that's all you hear, then hey...I'm glad I don't have you ears. Or whatever it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ayers Posted October 27, 2012 Report Share Posted October 27, 2012 In fairness, listening to Jimmy Garrison ought to be done. I've thought so many times, but I've never actually done it. There always seem to be other uh more interesting things going on... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted October 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2012 Oddly enough, a guy on America's Test Kitchen was just now cutting up a turkey with a chain saw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ayers Posted October 27, 2012 Report Share Posted October 27, 2012 Didn't that.... hurt? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted October 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2012 He seemed to be enjoying it. Can't see any reason not to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjzee Posted October 28, 2012 Report Share Posted October 28, 2012 I often can't hear Garrison - it's almost like he's way down in the mix, although it might be the way he plays. Gary Peacock's another one I have trouble hearing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clifford_thornton Posted October 28, 2012 Report Share Posted October 28, 2012 I have no trouble feeling Garrison, even if I can't always hear him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted October 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 28, 2012 Are we talking about hearing him or hearing him? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidewinder Posted October 28, 2012 Report Share Posted October 28, 2012 (edited) I have no trouble feeling Garrison, even if I can't always hear him. Totally agree. Listening to the Coltrane Quartet Implulse box end-to-end recently I was left marvelling at just how much his playing permeated everything. His bass solos (which always seem to have quite a ruminative quality) are always a standout for me too. Edited October 28, 2012 by sidewinder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medjuck Posted October 28, 2012 Report Share Posted October 28, 2012 I admit that the one time I saw the quartet live I could not hear him at all. But I was sitting on the Elvin side of the stage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Beat Steve Posted October 28, 2012 Report Share Posted October 28, 2012 I admit that the one time I saw the quartet live I could not hear him at all. But I was sitting on the Elvin side of the stage. "Where's the bass?" To paraphrase Jimmy Giuffre: "It is understood." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbo Posted October 28, 2012 Report Share Posted October 28, 2012 An amazing player. Owning a contrabass violin I have an idea of what mastery and vision he had to own and maintain to anchor that quartet. His playing has long impressed me, and I'm a huge fan of his musical "attitude." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted October 28, 2012 Report Share Posted October 28, 2012 I have heard three bass players in person whose sound has stayed in my ears: Garrison (at Slugs, years ago), Wilbur Ware (one night, with Monk) and Ronnie Boykin (the old Tin Palace). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul secor Posted October 28, 2012 Report Share Posted October 28, 2012 LOTS of love for Jimmy Garrison from this house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.:.impossible Posted October 28, 2012 Report Share Posted October 28, 2012 Big Love Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted October 28, 2012 Report Share Posted October 28, 2012 (edited) his son, btw, runs a performance space in Brooklyn; nice guy, also an excellent bassist. Edited October 28, 2012 by AllenLowe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.:.impossible Posted October 28, 2012 Report Share Posted October 28, 2012 (edited) Jimmy Garrison and son Matthew circa 1971 As Serious As Your Life Edited October 28, 2012 by .:.impossible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clifford_thornton Posted October 28, 2012 Report Share Posted October 28, 2012 Love that photo, and the book is fantastic even with its occasional errors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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