The Greatest Dance Bass Solo EVER

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#bass #funk #basshistory #transcription #analysis #paulthompson
Taking apart one of the greatest funk/dance tracks in history: "Stomp!" (1980) by the Brothers Johnson (produced by Quincy Jones) and the incredible bass playing by the late, great Louis Johnson (including that ICONIC bass solo!).
I'll talk about everything including how the song came to be, who were the legendary studio musicians that played on the track, and how exactly did "Thunder Thumbs" slap those rhythms?! Sit back, get a notepad, and get ready to dive deep into STOMP!
Website: www.paulthompson.us
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Twitter @pdbass74

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18 мар 2024

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Комментарии : 286

@darrylsims3242 3 месяца назад

Hello 👋! My name is Darryl Sims and I was in Louis's personal inner circle!!! And beside the fact that he personally taught me BASS !...An awesome &amazing experience I'll NEVER forget ! Enough can't be said about Louis ' Thunder Thumbs ' Johnson...even from the grave he still kickin ass!!! Every session he played on U can tell that's Louis! He had a certain sound....I KNOW THE SECRETS TO LOUIS'S TONE!!! HE SHOWED IT TO ME AND I'M NOT TELLING ANYONE 😮!!! He will ALWAYS be The BADDEST Funkiest Bassist!!! All the sessions he's played on ( REMEMBER) his parts WAS NOT WRITTEN DOWN!!! They would tell him here's a track play what U want!!! His bass lines made the song 🎵 a HIT 💯💣💥!

@vanillathunder3024 3 месяца назад

You’re a fortunate dude to have that experience

@cartmanrlsusall Месяц назад

If you know how he did it why would you keep it secret, share it and let someone else pick up the torch and improve on it

@benniesmith7511 Месяц назад

Darryl , didn’t know Louis well we went to Foshay jr high summer school in 1968. He and brother had started a group called the Johnson 3+1. The rest history!!

@darrylsims3242 Месяц назад

@@benniesmith7511 To Mr. Benniesmith ! This is Darryl Sims, I NEVER said anything about Jr. High School!!! I SPECIFICALLY SAID THEY ATTENDED CRENSHAW HIGH SCHOOL!!! George dated my cousin Diane and Louis dated her sister Laura! Laura still to this present day has Louis's 10th grade ID! This is looonnng before Quincy Jones got wind of them 😏😒😳😲!!! Louis and I started hangin tight in '1987' ! He didn't let many people in his life !!!! But when I reminded him of my cousin Laura his face LIT UP and that's when he took me under his wing!

@styner3 3 месяца назад

Louis Johnson is the sole reason I started playing bass at 14 in 1976. My style of play is less aggressive as his although I tried playing like him. 😂

@PaulaBean 3 месяца назад

Same here! And Weather Report.

@olledahlquist3784 3 месяца назад

I met and interviewed Brothers Johnson several times when they visited Sweden. A short story: We visited the Polar studio (ABBA's studio) and we listened to Super Trouper. Afterwards, in the cab, the brothers sat in the back seat and started to do an acapella funky version of Super Trouper. Wow, that sounded great. Then the cab driver asked me to tell the brothers to calm down and be quiet. That is a memory for life.

@petertrotman7708 3 месяца назад

I remember Louis talking enthusiastically about his love for ABBA and the interviewer being thrown by this statement from the funky boy.

@gemmeldrakes2758 Месяц назад

Wow. I can't imagine how cool a funk version of Super Trouper would have sounded. That cabbie must have tone deaf.

@rick.d 3 месяца назад

Strawberry Letter 23 is my fav, but this is an absolute next-level all-time banger - we ain't funkin' now without it.

@BassByTheBay 3 месяца назад

Agreed. I never get tired of that line and come back to it often. Louis was a true innovator.

@descantinginsalubrious 3 месяца назад

Agreed

@deansiracusa3966 3 месяца назад

Agreed! I’m a huge fan of that song too!

@michaeldavis6607 3 месяца назад

Agreed. Love it

@2009filmit 3 месяца назад

One of my favorite openings-is the opening for Strawberry Letter 23

@Roudaki677 3 месяца назад

This was a magical period when Rod, Toto, Q and his crew were dominating. Thanks !

@sirjer73 3 месяца назад

indeed

@soulburst 3 месяца назад

The string arrangement is off the charts

@Realigndadjmusic 3 месяца назад

Jerry Hey did both horns and strings and that vamp 🔥

@sandrasanders706 3 месяца назад

@@RealigndadjmusicA legend

@henrymartin4083 3 месяца назад

Literally! 😂

@heavydownn2962 3 месяца назад

I'm not a musician, but: I enjoy hearing actual musicians highlight the work of their peers. Very informative.

@asher6657 2 месяца назад

its like listening to an announcer narrate a MMA fight. I would 've missed half of the stuff that is going on.

@Skinner-w9 3 месяца назад

No way you're doing this song tonight! I heard this song just yesterday and was thinking: listen to that bass! Thank you. Love the Brothers Johnson.

@FallGuy467 3 месяца назад

RIP Louis "Thunder Thumbs"Johnson. Requesting a spotlight on the late great Mark Adams of Slave, criminally underrated and his murder is still unsolved as far as I know.😔🎸

@soulburst 3 месяца назад

And chic I want your love. Bernard Edwards was on fire

@shumaremi02 3 месяца назад

A video on Mark Adams would be great!

@ratherbe7 3 месяца назад

Yes Mark “Hansolar” Adams definitely deserves a spotlight!

@MasterZhao 3 месяца назад

@@ratherbe7 Agreed!

@davidwylde8426 3 месяца назад

I purchased ‘The Hardness Of The World’ back in 1980,( 77-78 album I know), and was blown away by them. Loved Mark’s playing and I know it got more flamboyant later. I’d heard on the internet about stuff relating to his death and it just made me feel sad. Selfishly, if I’m honest, I just just remember him as an early bass hero, and I’d love Paul to do a retrospective of his playing,( he’s probably done one already on an individual track).

@swingbass05 3 месяца назад

This is one of my favorites, but Louis Johnson's work on Q's "Ai No Corrida" is magnificent.

@praisemusic1016 3 месяца назад

Hush yo mouth...YESSSSS!❤❤❤❤

@strat0871 3 месяца назад

I love the inventiveness of Louis's bassline on "Don't stop 'till you get enough", it's a masterpiece bass job to me.

@strat0871 3 месяца назад

@_pdbass1Pleasure.

@correametal 3 месяца назад

Simply amazing!! Louis Johnson has always been one of my all-time favorites in the Bass realm!!!

@tomhansen59 3 месяца назад

Louis Johnson was an amazing bass player and his finger style does not get the attention it deserves. Give the Blam! Album a good listen and you will discover. His live slap solos are crazy. Right hand way off the strings so powerful and yet precise. One of my major inspirations when I started playing bass in the seventies.

@samsonwoods5448 3 месяца назад

Yes!!!!!!! may Louis Johnson "R.I.P!!!!!!!

@EllisThings 3 месяца назад

Wow you really can feel the overlap with this and Off The Wall and the George Benson stuff. Just brilliant work all round

@sylviamaua745 2 месяца назад

Rod Temperton, former Heatwave keyboard player, is the connection. Quincy Jones signed him to Qwest Records. Temperton wrote Off The Wall, Thriller, Stomp, Give Me The Night, Love x Love and Heatwave's hits: Boogie Nights, Groove Line, Always and Forever and Mind Blowing Decisions.

@BassByTheBay 3 месяца назад

I'll never forget hearing Stomp for the first time. That bass break blew my mind! Didn't know that overdubbing was a thing when I first heard it 😄. And the outro is like a surprise party - didn't expect it, and it elevates the song. There's so much to learn about bass technique from just this one song.

@Tylervrooman 3 месяца назад

I had a VHS with Louis Johnson on it it was called bass as a solo instrument and it melted my head

@poddel 3 месяца назад

"The human drummachine" strikes with unnatural precision and musical accuracy a forerunner for many many bassplayers and music loves!

@samuraiwarriorsunite 3 месяца назад

They were just as amazing live, in many ways more so. Even though Louis's thumb and hand would fly far away from the bass, it was still hard to see because he was so fast. RIP Louis Johnson, you truly were one-of-a-kind.

@heydreyes8369 3 месяца назад

Man you NAIL IT! What a great song and such an insane superstar lineup on there.

@aaronknight9759 3 месяца назад

I’ve said it many times… LJ had the vibe to bring heavy grooves, but not too fast for the average listener to get into. So funky!

@DaddyBooneDon 3 месяца назад

I love Stomp! Thanks for breakin' it down. The Brothers Johnson had such a great sound. Quincy Jones was like a 3rd brother. Strawberry Letter 23 was great, and on that same album I really loved their instrumental pieces Q and Brother Man.

@ChurchOfTheHolyMho 3 месяца назад

Wow. Watching you play this tune with such an economy of motion is just fabulous. I think you've inspired me to pull a bass out of the closet and see if I can get anywhere near that smooth and economical while still having some feel. Nice! And yes - the Brothers Johnson delivered some killer funky grooves. Glad to see them covered with examples and notation. Awesome.

@mattfoley6082 3 месяца назад

LJ played a Sabre (both pickups on) with flats on this track. I danced to this song at my high school prom in May 1980. I clearly remember the bass solo pounding in my chest. That's the only thing I remember from my prom! This song is one of the reasons I fell in love with bass.

@oma7698 3 месяца назад

I had my prom (we called it ‘Send Off’) at the same time. This was really one of the hit tunes of that era. Lovely memories!

@williampamblanco 3 месяца назад

First time I heard this song (about 10 years ago) it just floored me! Funky, musical, catchy, solid groove. Checking the personnel out later was a bit of an "of course" moment seeing the all-star crew. Superb bassline, Louis nailed it.

@latonyahemingway3752 3 месяца назад

My all time favorite bass player and bass. Thank you for showcasing Louis finger style , thumb work, and his left hand technique. He is so underrated because people just focus on his thumb .

@3019nene 3 месяца назад

Louis Johnson's work on Something Special by Q And Patti Austin was just as magical!!

@michaelanthony9068 3 месяца назад

Thank you pdbass for giving us the best analysis/documentary of the most important bass and bassists. You are awesome!

@Twobarpsi 3 месяца назад

What A GREAT bassline! Love his technique and you play so good 🤘!!

@OriginalOldSkoolFunk 3 месяца назад

Maestro, you just continue to kill it with your bullet proof analysis of these great bass players and great bass lines. This may be my favorite one of all time. Thanks for all that you do. Watching Lewis Johnson play live was like witnessing a felony assualt. He literally beat the hell out of the Music Man and Alembic. His right hand technique was absolutely precise but heavy handed and even violent at times. We've all heard of tennis elbow, but I think LJ had Bass elbow. What a legend!

@OriginalOldSkoolFunk 3 месяца назад

@_pdbass1 Wow, I'm really flattered and would love to chop it up with you sometimes. I'm just an OldSkool R&B, Funk, Soul music guitar guy who started playing back in the 70s. I own all these great guitars but rarely even play anymore...but I do a lot of mental reps thanks to RU-vid. I'm fortunate to have come up in a time (waaaay before the internet and RU-vid) where you could go to concerts and see all these great acts up close and personal and I went to countless events. I probably have some hearing loss to prove it, too. After these shows, we would sit up until sunrise trying to play what we saw and heard...before we forgot...because there was no video or tabs to refer back to. We developed our ears because we would hear a song on the radio, and we had to learn it before the song ended, because you never knew when you'd hear it again. You figured out the bass line first to get the roots and changes, and then you could figure out the chords. Seeing the artists live just reinforced that we were on the right track or corrected what we were doing wrong. That was the school of hard knocks for us. Fast forward to today, and we have so many great resources to learn from. Concepts that took me years to learn are often covered now in a 5 minute video. I get the best of both worlds, and your channel is absolutely required watching because of your command of theory, solid break downs and analysis. Just the history alone is worth watching for. You have an uncanny way of taking complex ideas and describing them in a very clear and understandable manner. You are a blessing to musicians of all levels and I don't hesitate to watch your videos as soon as a notification hits. I don't even play bass, but I never fail to learn something from your videos, and I often send links to my music loving friends and old band mates. Thanks for all that you do. Continued success to you and your channel. Keep this great content coming, Maestro...! lhjenkinsjr@aol.com

@stevencsmith7644 3 месяца назад

I hit like before the ads ended. Thunderthumbs is that dude! I still have my Light Up The Night vinyl.

@leroywilliams6380 3 месяца назад

Thank you, Paul, for another bassline sandwich......It continues to amaze me about the artistic talent that went into those basslines we may have taken for granted.

@Illstrator2 3 месяца назад

Always been one of my favorite songs of all time.

@simshill295 2 месяца назад

Oh my STOMP Brothers Johnson …clear the floor I am on the dance floor now. The BEST bass solo EVER! Thank you for your excellent analysis of what took place.

@protorhinocerator142 2 месяца назад

They also made Strawberry Letter #23, one of my favorite songs ever.

@simshill295 2 месяца назад

@@protorhinocerator142 Oh yes! … and Get the Funk Outta Ma Face…clear the way heading to the dance floor! Running For Your Love

@keithroberts4952 3 месяца назад

My favourite song since 1980! The keyboard intro always fills me with joy once i hear it and this is the first song i ever played air bass to! A true masterpiece!

@tracibillington8025 3 месяца назад

My favorite song in 9th grade. Had a bass player “boyfriend” that loved the Brothers Johnson. Strawberry Letter 23 was another.

@francescocarpene3770 3 месяца назад

Stomp is the song that made me decide to pick up the bass...still 20+ years later i've never attempted to seriously learn the slap solo part, like "i'm not worthy !"..! Thank you for breaking it down for us..!

@TheAtkinsoj 2 месяца назад

Another Rod Temperton masterpiece composition here, what a songwriter!

@gerrymccullogh665 2 месяца назад

Genius, the music master from Cleethorpes whose other songs were also mentioned on this video.

@TheHoojo 3 месяца назад

Song is the complete package. Infectious when you hear even a small piece of it.

@eliotmccann2589 3 месяца назад

YES!! I was hoping you'd get to do this track. I used to love playing this in a funk coverband.

@insidejazzguitar8112 3 месяца назад

The bass solo that turned me on to playing bass. Great video!

@pervisjohnson8599 21 день назад

Man I love your show! I think I’m a little bit older than you and I was on the circuit when Brothers Johnson first exploded onto that scene. I played backup for a group called Enchantment and we did a bunch of concerts with them and I have to tell you ,it was MAGIC! When they played he had two cerwin vegas and he ran through a bi-phase and the sound was out of this world! All the musicians would take over his side of the stage to try to figure out what he was doing ! After seeing Brothers Johnson every bass player I saw was trying to play that style.Trying to pop . Most bass players played finger style,nobody played with their thumb.he changed the whole music scene .Some times he would just spank the bass with a open hand like just whoppin it! I saw the whole bass world change in the matter of about two years! And I was lucky to see it .

@markspielman2929 3 месяца назад

My favorite.

@MomohAkhigbe 2 месяца назад

Much respect to Brother Johnson music.Stomp.Excellent track till now .

@danielpalmersofficial 2 месяца назад

What a bass player he was, definitely a big inspiration to me and many other bass players!! 😁👍

@goudagirl6095 14 дней назад

Yup, I remember dancing/disco'ing to this tune back in the day....geez was I ever that young???

@Realigndadjmusic 3 месяца назад

The Space in this song is Genius

@simonbowkett124 3 месяца назад

Love Louis, and on the other side of the pond, Mark King was doing very similar things. Burning finger style lines and left hand slapped dead notes. King’s background as a drummer did lead him a little into the realms of excess. But, oooh, it was fun! 😊

@Hank-ip8rl 3 месяца назад

Had never listened to Rene and Angela before and daaaaaamn! Got lost for a good 30 minutes before I remembered to come back and finish the video

@RockPolitics 3 месяца назад

I'm always happy to see one of your videos pop up. His hands always reminded me of birds' wings. And, yeah, he is such an iconic sound. I could be wrong, but I always thought that serving of disco was fun to listen to but probably didn't help their longevity as Brothers Johnson. There was never any shortage of session work for Louis, but The Brothers got sort of typecast. Thanks for putting this up. You know... this gives you a perfect opportunity to compare this "Stomp" with the song by the same name by Parliament. There's some bruising bass there. Give Boogie Mosson some love?

@teuilagracetualaulelei1609 3 месяца назад

I remember coming across a bro' on the street in 1980 carrying this album "you gotta listen to this...!!!" Strawberry Letter 23 was the followup..? Unbelievably FUNKY :~)

@stabiloboss 3 месяца назад

Great stuff!!! New Stingray I see.

@pubgexecutive7276 Месяц назад

As a non musician I am amazed at the skill and artistry involved, wow just wow! 👏🏾👍🏾

@heathertea2704 3 месяца назад

LOVE the Johnson Brothers music. 🎶🎶🎶

@fusionfan6883 2 месяца назад

I fondly recall seeing the BJ supporting Steve Hillage on his Motivation Radio tour. Whilst that may seem an odd pairing, Steve always employed a funky rhythm section. On that tour he had the formidably funky pairing of Curtis Robertson Jr on bass and Jo Blocker on drums (both later of Karma fame). Needless to say the BJ tore it up that night!

@fuzzytimes187 3 месяца назад

Great jam! Louis also did a great job on Michael Jackson's Get In The Floor

@sandrasanders706 3 месяца назад

My fav MJ song !!!

@ultramet 3 месяца назад

Fitting tribute to “Thunder Thumbs” ❤

@brunoooots 3 месяца назад

Good stuff... LJ's work on the George Duke album "Guardian Of The Light" is stellar!

@rinehardt6837 2 месяца назад

Sorry late to this. I'm 55 when this album came out it was one of my first albums I think I was in the seventh grade. And I got hooked on it cause I realize it Louis had played on Michael Jackson's off the wall. And the whole album is great. These guys and Ray Parker Jr. and radio were so good at the R&B the funk but with Pop sensibility. When I heard that Louis had passed away I teared up because he truly was a genius musician. You can hear people across soul funk rock rap who will talk about this man and what a legend he was.❤

@chetperry3384 3 месяца назад

"Get On The Floor" from Off The Wall (which he co-wrote with MJ) is my favorite. After seeing them live, and seeing how physically demanding his style was, I understood why he stopped touring with his brother lol. It was the Masterjam Tour 1980. Rufus, Brothers Johnson and Narada Michael Walden was the opening act. Bobby Watson (I think Paul is preparing a video on him) is more my style. I prefer less flashy but funky lol. Especially, my guy, RODNEY "SKEET" CURTIS

@videotechnique 3 месяца назад

We could hear what was coming down the line on '"Get the Funk Out Ma Face" , we just didn't realise how far Louis would take it to create a whole new style of playing bass. Sensational !

@ajadrew 3 месяца назад

Louis Johnson - what more can be said! Hoping Dream of Tomorrow by Lonnie Liston Smith will get a look in soon.... Mr Miller did some great stuff on there 😊

@guitarradioshow 3 месяца назад

This is the one I was waiting for!!!!!

@anthonythomasexperience 2 месяца назад

I love the Brother Johnson have all of their albums. I was studying Louis bass lines like crazy. And Stomp is one of their most popular songs. 😊

@paulcoverdale8312 3 месяца назад

Brings back so so many memories this song in particular ❤❤❤❤🙏🙏🙏🪬🪬💎💎🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🥃🥃

@stevelanemusic4463 3 месяца назад

I love your videos man. All of ‘em. 👏🏼

@oldskoolgroove 3 месяца назад

Excellent breakdown and demo…Louis Johnson was nothing short of brilliant 💯🎼🎵🎶

@bizlme 28 дней назад

Fab work man!! Thankyou for these!

@latonyahemingway3752 3 месяца назад

Louis also had a great solo Gospel album with his wife. He was a good vocalist & writer.

@anthonycook4297 3 месяца назад

Really great, Paul! Nice work and thanks for the stellar video🙌🏽

@Headhunter_212 3 месяца назад

Great job as ever! This would fill the rink when we heard that intro.

@wilsonbrazil1220 3 месяца назад

I Love your vídeo class, Yes it's school class for me, other point I 'm from Brazil my English it's not so God than I need, but all of your videos are perfect , I understand everything that u tell. Kajagogo for example was a great surprise. Thanks, you are the bass guy

@halcop 3 месяца назад

One of my favorite Louis Johnson fingerstyle bass lines is "Blam!" from the album of the same name. Another great groove on that album is "Street Wave."🔥🔥

@dagobertkrikelin1587 3 месяца назад

This is music that gives me goosebumps! And thank you for including the handclaps - I miss handclaps. I miss music...

@ronaldbrown4989 3 месяца назад

I've seen a few of your videos and man...as a musician I love how you dissect them. Keep up the awesome work brother!

@kenkarsh 2 месяца назад

Paul, I was so glad to witness you preparing for this video. This is simply excellent, one of the best videos I have seen PERIOD! I have much to learn from you!

@pdbass 2 месяца назад

Thanks, Ken. Still learning SO MUCH from you, Maestro!

@jakesensi5552 3 месяца назад

Crazy this pops up on my feed when I just brought a fresh 9v battery for my musicman bass. R.I.P LOUIS MY #3 BASS HERO.

@8AlisaInez 3 месяца назад

💚That’s Awesome!🌺

@joemomma7789 2 месяца назад

Superb stuff. Another top vid from you about a great bass man on a great track (Y)

@jerryburdick8051 3 месяца назад

Such an awesome video. Thank you! You did Mr. Johnson proud.

@Nclght 3 месяца назад

Because of Louis, one the the first two albums I bought with my own hard earned money was Brothers Johnsons' "Look out for No 1" ( along with Bootsy's Rubber band's " Stretching Out.") My mind was blown then and it hasn't recovered The choral background arrangrment was all Rod Temperton influenced. It's a distinguishing sound you hear across many of his songs, originating in his hits with Heatwave. Then, when Quincy got hold of him, their collaborative sound is unmistakable.

@wesleymarkmusic403 3 месяца назад

Great song!! And those bass solos!! You nailed it. George's rhythm guitar parts were always tasteful, clean and distinct.

@antonfokker4671 3 месяца назад

Stomp changed my life. Thank you Mr. pdbasss !

@CirTap 13 дней назад

one of my all time favourite dance tracks. still have the 12'' vinyl 🙂

@praisemusic1016 3 месяца назад

There is always something about that bass in any music. The song itself is a masterpiece. The drums and the bass line....WHOOO!🩷🩷🩷😁😁😁

@scotabot7826 3 месяца назад

Man, you make some of the most delicious videos out there. All my musical heros from my formative years. All the best music ever created, that will never be topped by anyone!! Thank You!

@markericburke5303 Месяц назад

Anything quincy had his hands on was awesome

@patrickcazeaux2874 2 месяца назад

1995 on Sunset bvd HOB I saw them playing live " stomp". Magic.

@davidwylde8426 3 месяца назад

Great video Paul !! I just got chance to watch this properly and it is so nostalgic for me. This goes right back to my childhood and I saw this tour when I was about 13 years old,( within a few weeks from this, from memory, I saw Jaco at the same venue in the U.K. on the Weather Report ‘Night Passage’ tour). I’m sure I remember Louis having a small keyboard on stage that he would play synth bass on,( which would make sense for the Light Up The Night album). My favourites when young from that album,( and on listening again over the last twenty years or whatnot, is still probably the case), were ‘Smilin On Ya’ and ‘Celebrations’ on side 2. Fabulous tracks that you remember forever 😊

@hollymauk8008 Месяц назад

I love this song! I was twelve when it came out.

@turbo7757 3 месяца назад

Man, what a solid assessment. Great job.

@rationalmuscle 3 месяца назад

Just love your channel. Thanks for the breakdown!

@enolan6962 2 месяца назад

IT STILL ROCKS EVEN TODAY?????? THANK YOU,"BROTHERS JOHNSON"❤❤❤❤❤

@Danny-fs1hk 3 месяца назад

Another excellent episode. You are an outstanding teacher!

@srtcsb 3 месяца назад

Amazing Paul, thank you, thank you. 😎

@zurkram 3 месяца назад

Excellent vid as usual. Love this song.

@lazarethneptune6969 2 месяца назад

DUDE!!! I JUST LOVE YOUR CHANNEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@omarks 3 месяца назад

Great analysis!

@AndyMcIntire 3 месяца назад

Another great choice! Love this song, thanks for breaking this down. If only this level of musicianship were happening in today's pop.

@lawrencetaylor4101 3 месяца назад

Merci. Quincy went to Paris to study with Nadia Boulanger, one of the last people to carry on the Partimento tradition from Italy. I gave up on the bass since I have shoulder problems and it wasn't a good fit. I'm using Nadias keyboard exercises on the piano to learn technique.