I’d forgotten just how good Jeff Berlin was. He really was one of the 70s innovators of bass along with Clarke, Jaco, and AJ, and you can hear the influence on guys like Gary Willis, Matt Garrison, Hadrian Feraud etc. Super tight playing.
Thanks for your comment. However, with such extended credit line up on discogs.com, Kenneth Gant is not even listed??? Check it out: www.discogs.com/release/302584-Shalamar-Friends
@charlesngtzm Actually, my original and previous comment was in reply to your video "Here I Am" by Dynasty. Unfortunately, it landed under the Shalamar "There It Is" vid while still writing and posting as it ended switching over to next clip.
Those lines at bars 83 and 91 are fantastic. This whole album is a low end workout, some nasty tricky lines all in the first 5-7 frets. Getting the articulation right on those low notes is very difficult but you nailed it. Also interesting to see when down tuned on a 4 that there’s a lot of open strings a la Jamerson. Makes them sound better and the fingering significantly easier as on a regular tuned 5 string these are HARD to play 😂
That’s correct. It’s a very hard work out and in my opinion undoable with a standard tuned 5 string. The muting on a detuned four string took a while to get to a certain kind of control, too, though. Thanks for your comment 🙏🏼
Leon Silvers the 3rd produced arranged and played the bass, drums and keys on those great records he was prolific for the Solar label. An amazing singular talent.
How on earth have I not seen this until now? Thank God the youtube algorithm finally did its job. Great effort man! This is one of the hardest basslines to play.
Thanks for your comment. Of course it would be hard to sightread the notes with a different tuning. However, I transposed the sheet to two whole steps up when I was reading. I’m not great with tabs reading so did it like that.
Thanks for your comment and the tip! I already have transcribed one Catalyst track: GOT TO BE THERE ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-I8eJ4SvCxQk.html I’ve done 55 AJ transcriptions… if and when I would do some more, I will look into the track you’re suggesting, too. Thanks!🙏🏼
Good Question. It’s not a cover band. The musicians are Larry Braggs (vocals), Dave Garibaldi (drums), Roger Smith (keyboards) and Jeff Tamelier (guitar). This is from the educational book “Sittin’ In with Rocco Prestia” www.halleonard.com/product/2500539/sittin-in-with-rocco-prestia-of-tower-of-power
Idk why but you remind me of what I liked about bass in the beginning or how it felt to learn bass…so inspiring, although tbh idk if that’s the right word for it
Charles, I became so enamored of your performance here and love the sound of this bass so much, I bought one! The tone is excellent, particular with both pickups on full. Excellent PJ tone. Buying basses is not something I do lightly, and I have a very good arsenal that gives me most of the sounds I need/want, but this has been one of my most satisfying purchases. Thankyou my friend. 🙂
Todd, I’m glad you’ve found one. Those old Ibanez basses are great. And there’s something about this PJ tone that’s unique. Thanks for your comment 🙏🏼🙏🏼
Very good question. To me, this is the way to separate the same notes more clearly. It just sounds different when you play them on the same string. If I would have played this bass part on a 6 string (like AJ did), I normally would use the open C string for the repetition of these notes. Because of the 5 string and lacking of the C string I tried to fret these notes on the G and D string in order to get the same effect. Which makes it a bit of a weird fingering, I agree. But it sounds better than playing these notes on the same string. At least, to me and MHO. I also transcribed it for 6 string, with the “easier to play” fingering.
