Influence of a Bassist – Tale of an Interesting Journey
I believe every musician at one time or another were influence by another musician. Perhaps this is how music a “language” is preserved. Music has survived and will continue to do so. One of the best bassists around these days “Victor Wooten” emphasizes music as an language. Victor says a language serves a purpose. A language helps to describe what’s inside. Music helps to communicate a feeling, thought and what to convey. I’ve been fortunate or “Blessed” for lack of a better word to have come across a really good teacher. Although at times I feel as if I’m swallowing more then I can handle in terms of information (musical). Doing my best is all I can do. I’ve listen to some great bass players recently and only can imagine playing at their level one day. Hard work and dedication blends well with discipline. The world’s greatest bass player is what he use to describe his playing when he was alive back in the 60s, 70s. His name is Jaco Pastorius. Not to long after I started learning how to play I came across Jaco’s music. He captured my interest by the way he expressed himself through the medium of his bass guitar. I’ve sinced learned many things from this journey into my instrument and music. Jaco was and is the best bass player ever in my opinion. Recently I brought his modern electric bass DVD. Those of you who aren’t familiar with Jaco’s interactive (lesson) DVD should buy it. Modern electric bass, Jaco presents his unique approach to countless musical topics. Mostly techniques, harmonies, scales, arpeggios, study concepts to list a few. Then I brought Joni Mitchell’s “Shadows of Light”. Jaco played in this concert as well and left me with a interest in Joni Mitchell’s work. I highly recommend this DVD.
I picked up a bass pedal yesterday “digital delay”. It’s an awesome addition to add to the kind of fusion music I wish to convey. My bass lesson on friday was about chords, harmonics and creativity. There seems to not be enough time in the day to explore the many possibilities of my bass. On saturday I visit guitar city and came across a fretless bass. After holding and playing with this bass I got this strange sensation from this bass that it belongs to me. Who knows!
Here is a video I wanted to post and share titles “A portrait of tracy” by Jaco Pastorius.
