Show
The Evolution Of Jazz Bass
About this show
Introduction
In this episode of Textures, Dominik hosts Vic Hobson, a bassist and jazz and blues historian, to discuss the history and evolution of the jazz bass. They examine technical developments in bass playing, the rarity of true composers in jazz, and the innovative use of harmonics by Jaco Pastorius.
Dominik hosts Vic Hobson, a bassist and jazz and blues historian from the UEA, for a discussion on the history and evolution of the jazz bass. They examine technical developments, such as Jimmy Blanton's finger technique for volume and sustain, and the influence of figures like Oscar Pettiford and Jaco Pastorius. The conversation covers the short lifespans of influential players, the distinction between jazz instrumentalists and composers like Charles Mingus, and the transition between electric and acoustic bass. The participants also touch upon the origins of the blues and the technical curiosity of a backwards-recorded bass part on Paul Simon's Graceland album.
Topics
- The history and evolution of the jazz bass
- The short lifespans of influential jazz bassists
- Technical developments in bass playing styles
- The history and lives of jazz bassists from the 1940s to the modern era.
- The distinction between jazz instrumentalists and jazz composers.
- Technical aspects of the bass guitar, including harmonics and damping.
- The transition of jazz bassists from electric to acoustic instruments.
- The technical and acoustic differences between electric and double bass in jazz.
- The historical origins of the blues and its relationship with jazz.
- The history and evolution of bass playing
- Notable bassists and their techniques
- Jazz and world music fusion
Participants
- Dominik
- Vic Hobson
Names are taken from the archive as written and may include spelling variants.
Listen · this show’s clips
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Passages from the broadcast
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Jimmy Blanton is is lack of longevity. They were dying quite young. Oscar Pettiford he died in in his early forties of polio. Jimmy Blanton died in his thirties as well from consumption or tuberculosis and.
Apologize if you were listening before. I forgot to turn his mic up, so you might have heard him in a slightly muted fashion. And it wasn't because he's timid, but because I am slightly not quite on top of my game tonight.
Base that's actually played backwards, where they sort of reverse the tape, as it were. Yeah, I think there is any number of bass players that are sort of broken their fingers trying to play that thing. It's impossible to play the right way round. Well, yeah, it's.
Selected music
- 1Body And Soul · Jimmy Blanton
Why it was chosen Guest believes he solves fundamental problems of the bass and brings it forward as a solo instrument.
- 2No N Ox Blues · Oscar Pettiford
Why it was chosen He developed the bass's harmonic language in the bebop period.
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Why it was chosen Example of Miles Davis simplifying things to focus on melody rather than complex harmonic changes.
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Why it was chosen Ties in with previous music and picks up on themes running through the show
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Why it was chosen The speaker notes that the playing was "very modern playing even that early on" and reflects on the fact that the musician "died the same year" he recorded it at age 25.
- 6Flared African · Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus
Why it was chosen Requested by Leon; shows Mingus at his best on the bass
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Why it was chosen Personal connection as the principal founders of the band were both Central Europeans
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Why it was chosen Demonstrates the use of harmonics and the difficulty of damping on bass guitar
- 9Teen Town · Marcus Miller
Why it was chosen Composition by Jaco Pastorius performed by a modern jazz bass guitar figure
- 10School Days · Stanley Clarke
Why it was chosen Requested by Leon
- 11La Canción De Sofía · Stanley Clarke, Jean-Luc Ponty, Aldemio La
Why it was chosen Demonstrates the transition from electric to acoustic bass and the artist's technique
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Why it was chosen To show the potential of the acoustic bass and link to a future show on the blues
- 13Amazing Grace · Victor Wooten
Why it was chosen Dominik highlights Wooten's amazing technique and improvisation
- 14Seven Beats · Richard Bona
Why it was chosen Dominik likes Bona's subtle style and the mix of African influences
- 16Summertime · Ray Brown Trio
Why it was chosen Dominik likes to end shows with this song as a lullaby