Adriaan,  
Thanks for the thread extraction and relocation service.  Having played the same strings for 34 years, I just had nothing further to add...
 
Doug,
Thanks for the note and welcome to the forum.  Glad you dug the BB's stuff.  I believe we sold a lot of stereo equipment with those uncompressed and widely dynamic CDs.  It's nice to know the audio passed through some high-end gear like Krell!
 
Jimmy J

Hi Jimmy,
just wanted to say...
We missed you yesterday night at the Blue Note Milan...
How to say...yes, Ernest is amazing, great technique, all the harmony knoweledge needed to play Allan music, everything.
But...the energy that flows around you and Chad and Allan is something that cannot be clearly understood...and something that cannot be recreated in few steps...
We missed you, really.
 
 
But anyway, I'm happy about the news that Chad and Allan told me so kindly  
A new recording with you and Jimmy Cox!!! You probably remember that the 1st Chad solo album brought me into all of your music?
My god, this is an amazing news!!!
And also, Allan told me he's going to record a new album of his own....you gonna be there?
 
This 2011 looks so promising, with all this news from you, Allan, Chad, and...let me say that I can't wait for the new Tribal Tech album too!
 
Gabriele.

Gabriele,
Thanks for the comments, I'm glad you got out to hear Allan, Chad and Ernest.  I know 40 Reasons was an important record for you and expect you will enjoy Chad's new project with the same cast of characters.  And we all hope Allan can get his new project off the ground as well, what he comes up with is always surprising.  One of the great things about music is that there is always something new coming.  Creative folks are working to make our ears happy!
Cheers,
Jimmy J

 yes, I'm sure they will both be surprising as always  I just ordered the new Gary Husband recording featuring you on bass  can't wait to hear it.
I remember you talking about this milan date some  months ago, you should have been here. What happened?

Jimmyyy!!! Wow!!!
Finally I got the new Gary Husband CD ))))
...and....wow.....
...and....Dreams in Blue.....I'm terrified!
Expecially because, as a joke with my friend, we like to talk about you as the Melodrome...meaning...well, I think you know what I mean!
Well....your solo in this Chaos Dream is still incredibly melodic!!!
You're incredible!
 
Thanx for the music again

Thanks Gabriele.  
It's an honor to be on a record with some of my musical heros!  
Melodrome?!  That's funny!  Not sure if you mean mellow, melodic, or melodramatic.  Ha!!
Jimmy J

Hi again  I was wondering if we can have a talk about your way of approaching music, harmony, melody and so forth  
I'm always transcribing Allan's music, and I'd love to have a pale view of your approach on his music. May I write down examples here to analyze with you?

Gabriele,
 
I don't think this is the place for a lengthy back and forth about my personal approach to music so let me summarize it for you:
 
Our individual voices on our instruments are the sum of all of our musical experiences.  I studied clarinet for several years so the literature written for that instrument certainly effected my sense of melody and how I approach soloing.  I have been exposed to a good mix of musical styles ever since I started playing bass so each has influenced how I approach playing in a rhythm section.  I have no formal musical education and so no ability (nor desire) to analyze anything.  I play by ear.  
 
That's my whole story, I hope you enjoyed it.
 
Now a question for you - how is it that you heard Gary's record before it was released?
 
Cheers,
Jimmy J
 
(Message edited by mica on November 23, 2010)

Hi, first the answer to your question.
The simple answer is that Gary's album was released in Europe at the beginning of November.
It will be released in January in USA.
More, Abstract Logix were so nice that for those who bought it before release (as I did from their site in the middle of october), they provided us a secret link to download mp3s before receiving the package. So I could pre-listen at the end of october.  
More, I also bought Ranjit Barot release together with Gary's one, as a special bundle provided by Abstract Logix.
I understand you didn't like some of my actions on this blog, but no need to be so suspicious.
I love music, that's all.
 
Back to my question, I was more interested in the way you may approach sheets, this time. I was not talking about your improvisation, but the way you solve some kind of Allan's chords.
But I understand you don't like to talk about it.
Pity.
 
Cheers,
Gabriele.

OK, thanks for explaining that.  I was confused because the record was released in the US on Nov.16 and according to Gary's website wasn't due to be released Worldwide until the following months.  Apparently it was available everywhere at the same time and with your secret link you were able to hear the completed record before I could.  Ha!.  Anyway, thank you for supporting it.
 
About Allan's chords - I can tell you that he thinks in scales and not in normal chord voicings.  The charts he makes for himself do not have standard chord notation but instead contain symbols referring to which scale fits at what moment.  Often he is not particular about the root or bass note as long as it fits with the tonality.  This is why sometimes, in a solo section for instance, there will be an alternate bass note for the same harmonic moment.
 
My way of approaching this?  I just play by ear.  As he shows us a new song I will listen to the chord, find a note and ask how about this one?  No?  Maybe this one? etc... until he likes the set of choices and then that becomes the bass part.  It's a very unusual situation but this extra participation in shaping the music is really a kick!
 
Thanks,
Jimmy J

Whatever the approach, it works REALLY well ;-)
 
Graeme
 
p.s. all the best bassists played clarinet first ;-)

Hey Jimmy.
I've just had a mail from the JT site saying he's touring with Ben next year. Any chance you could bend his ear and comvince him that the UK would be a cool trip? Somewhere north of Manchester would be great. Newcastle, Glasgow or Edinburgh for example. I can guarantee he'll fill at least 2 seats ;-)
 
Graeme

Jimmy,
 
Just received my copy of Gary Husband's CD in the mail. It's fantastic! Also great to hear how your playing style compliments the flow of the songs. It's something I regret to have missed during Allan Holdsworth's performance in Zoetermeer this month. Ernest is a fantastic bass player, who plays all the right notes, but the flow and overall sound of the music was so different from what I'm used to hearing/feeling. It was obvious to me and many others in the audience that your musical approach, playing style and bass tone(!!) largely contributes to the total sound and feel of Allan Holdsworth's music. It might be a matter of taste, but it seemed to be the general consensus in the audience. With just three people in the band, everything has to seemlessly connect and fall into place. To my taste, somehow Allen, Ernest and Chad missed this connection at some points. In that respect, Allan's 2009 performance in Zoetermeer, with Gary and you, was by far the best I've ever seen and heard. To me, that trio is magic.
 
Glad to have been there this year though. Allan just blows my mind every time and I wouldn't miss his live performances for the world.
 
Duncan

Hi Jimmy nice to hear your thoughts on this and I like your lack of desire for analysis, it makes for music coming from a musician which is such an obvious statement that it's potency can easily be missed. I have always struggled to do anything that doesn't just come from what I hear, so learning theory means nothing unless it's made part of what you can hear and execute.
I hope James and Ben decide to make it over here to the UK next year...!
 
All the best
 
Jake

Thanks Graeme. Yes, it seems many bassists have transferred in from the b-flat treble clef side...  As far as I know the Ben & JT tour is States only.  There have been murmurs of something in the UK/EU in summer but no details or even what band might be involved.  I'll try to warn you if I'm coming your way.
 
Duncan, thank you for the kind comments.  I'm glad you like Gary's record.  That was quite a major undertaking and I think he did a great job of making it happen.  It is as you say; changing one guy in a trio can have a big effect on the overall sound.  Add to that the fact that Allan never tells anybody what to play (might be the Miles technique, via Tony Williams) and one guy can send the music in a totally different direction.  Even with the different player combinations it's always a good idea to hear Allan whenever possible.  Thank's for supporting the team!
 
Jake, my sum of your parts idea should include any extended musical education experiences.  I sometimes wish I had a bit more legit training.  But ultimately after you learn scales, voicings, patterns, riffs, theory, transcribe and work out famous solos, then you must FORGET all that and play music.  When a piece of music sends a chill up your spine, it's not because your brain is enjoying the analysis. HA!
 
Thanks all,
Jimmy J