Alembic Guitars Club

Connecting => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: fmm on September 30, 2020, 05:01:17 AM

Title: Rocco Prestia
Post by: fmm on September 30, 2020, 05:01:17 AM
Rocco Prestia passed away last night.
Title: Re: Rocco Prestia
Post by: mario_farufyno on September 30, 2020, 06:31:41 AM
Oh, that's sad, what a loss!
Title: Re: Rocco Prestia
Post by: keith_h on September 30, 2020, 07:41:07 AM
This is sad news. Rocco in ToP was one of my more prominent influences.
Title: Re: Rocco Prestia
Post by: David Houck on September 30, 2020, 11:43:10 AM
There is a nice remembrance here:

https://www.soultracks.com/story-rocco-prestia-dies (https://www.soultracks.com/story-rocco-prestia-dies)
Title: Re: Rocco Prestia
Post by: funkyjazzjunky on September 30, 2020, 12:30:15 PM
His playing on "What Is Hip" is fantastic.
VMG
Title: Re: Rocco Prestia
Post by: JimmyJ on September 30, 2020, 01:40:52 PM
Yeah, this one is a painful loss.  He had such a distinct and amazing voice on the bass which is why his playing influenced so many of us.  What he and Garibaldi gave us is an absolute joy.

Jimmy J
Title: Re: Rocco Prestia
Post by: pauldo on September 30, 2020, 03:45:24 PM
ugh

Glad he has found peace.

Legend.  What Is Hip?  First heard it in High School at my friends house - his big brother was a trombonist and tossed the Tower of Power record at us...  and you know - BAM!
Title: Re: Rocco Prestia
Post by: soflbass on September 30, 2020, 08:08:09 PM
Sad news...rest in peace Rocco.
Title: Re: Rocco Prestia
Post by: mica on September 30, 2020, 08:20:54 PM
It's just too much with everything else. Will miss you, Rocco.
Title: Re: Rocco Prestia
Post by: bigredbass on September 30, 2020, 10:44:09 PM
In my many years listening, considering, witnessing, and thinking about bass, I've seen so much from the viewpoint of a mere mortal watching giants at work some time. Stanley Clarke. Anthony Jackson. Jaco. So many, playing eye-opening music or even re-inventing it.

And yet there are plenty of guys quietly doing the job in renowned bands that impressed me so much as well. Walter Becker and the studio greats on all the SteelyDan catalog, among so many others.  Jimmy's thoughtful work with JT.

And yet I'd be hard-pressed to imagine anyone more locked in and fearlessly playing charts timed out to the second and killing it the way FRP did. A huge beacon to anyone who thinks playing in a welded-tight band blowing on serious charts and playing for keeps is the way to do it, to become a part of a wonderful collective that's even stronger than the considerably talented separate parts. What a player.
Title: Re: Rocco Prestia
Post by: edwardofhuncote on October 01, 2020, 06:13:41 AM
Like so many other players, I might not have known about him but for this place. George Price put up a video of "Down To The Nightclub" a couple years ago with his Bubinga Series I, that made me go looking at T-O-P. What a sound! It was completely new and different to somebody who grew up pounding roots and fives in a string band. Between conversations here, I see once again how vast the musical world is beyond my somewhat limited exposure. RIP, and Thank You for the Grooves. 
Title: Re: Rocco Prestia
Post by: hankster on October 01, 2020, 09:51:42 AM
I've always treasured this photo - now more than ever.  I was at a TOP show in Toronto with my daughter.  At some point before the show started we saw Rocco pass by the door of the big tent venue.  A few minutes later she disappeared - and came back ten minutes later, and said, "follow me".  She had gone backstage, found Rocco, and arranged for a meeting and a photo.  It was a special moment for me - he was a hero.  Still the most unique voice in funk bass playing in my view - no one seems to be able to play Rocco except Rocco (without resorting to a pick, anyway).  Anyway farewell to Rocco, my hero of many years, and a friend for a couple of minutes, anyway.



Title: Re: Rocco Prestia
Post by: David Houck on October 01, 2020, 12:23:38 PM
Nice picture Richard!
Title: Re: Rocco Prestia
Post by: sonicus on October 05, 2020, 12:56:26 PM
This is so sad . I my self as well as many other bass players were influenced by him or admired his playing . In a  conversation that I had with Jaco in the early 1980s I mentioned Rocco's playing and Jaco liked him as well it seems :)
Title: Re: Rocco Prestia
Post by: jazzyvee on October 05, 2020, 05:36:24 PM
There is a zoom webinar with some top players discussing Rocco's influence.
You can register Here.
https://berklee.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2ZQ5RsI1S1qbPslulOK7hA (https://berklee.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2ZQ5RsI1S1qbPslulOK7hA)


Title: Re: Rocco Prestia
Post by: fmm on October 08, 2020, 01:25:23 PM
Berklee College of Music's Bass Department hosted a tribute to Rocco earlier today.  Some of the panel participants: Steve Bailey, Anthony Jackson, Emilio Castillio, Victor Wooten, John Patitucci, Will Lee, David Garabaldi, Billy Sheehan, Dave Ellefson, Bobby Vega, Jimmy Haslip, Nathan East, Lee Sklar, Darryl Jones, Ron Carter, Chuck Rainey, Robert Trujillo, and Nate Watts.
Title: Re: Rocco Prestia
Post by: xlrogue6 on October 08, 2020, 05:04:02 PM
The Berklee tribute was phenomenal--hopefully the recording will be readily available.
Title: Re: Rocco Prestia
Post by: Glynn on October 09, 2020, 03:30:56 PM
Just watched a video of Tower of Power's 40th Anniversary including "It's not The Crime" which is on my (vinyl) Urban Renewal album. So tight.
Glynn