Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Showcase => Artists and Their Alembics => Topic started by: Edwin Hurwitz (edwin) on December 24, 2002, 07:01:24 PM
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I found a CD copy of Moving Target, by Gil Scott-Heron, today. 20 years ago or so, this and other albums by this band with the Secretary of Entertainment (those of you who saw Gil in those days will know what I mean) Robert Gordon on the bass changed my musical and personal life. This album has some great Alembic tones on it, especially Black History/The World. Sadly this is the only picture I have of him, (from Reflections, also a great album),as I didn't bring my camera to the shows I saw. Everyone owes it to themselves to check out this music as it covers all the bases-groove, spirit and a message that can save the world!
Edwin
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/2811.jpg)
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Is That Jazz
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This is one to revive...
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Thought I would post this here, too. (I originally posted this under Famous Alembics in the misc. section.)
Robbie Gordon has been a tremendous influence on myself and others. He is a master of both slap and fretless bass. He is a fantastic musician and the link below is but the tip of the iceberg.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bc4LvadyXCc&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bc4LvadyXCc&feature=related)
(Message edited by musashi on June 04, 2009)
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Here's another one, a little more Alembic bass...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfy6ig4koPM (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfy6ig4koPM)
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Thank you for sharing this.
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My Privilege.
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Cool videos; thanks!
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Thanks for these! Brings back some memories, for sure. Are these from an available DVD? It looks like a pro shot video.
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Edwin,
The performance looks to be on the Black Wax DVD. I googled 'Black Wax DVD Heron' and got a ton of options for purchase.
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Yes, it's from Black Wax.
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Black Wax is a great DVD. Besides GSH's words and music there is lots of Alembic Bass sounds and views on there.
Robert Gorden is such a funky old school bassist. Whatever happened to him? Does anybody know? I only know him from Gil Scott Heron's music and always loved that stuff, even some years ago when I was around 15 and didnt have a clue at all about what GSH was saying. But hey that music was grooving!!
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I just remembered this is an alembics and their artistes thread so I will move my posting elsewhere.
(Message edited by Jazzyvee on August 24, 2009)
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Sup Jazzyvee!! This is a Robert Gordon Bass clip thats a bit more recent.. well its from 1990 I think.. so almost twenty years lol...dunno if you can call this recent.. anyway he is playing some sort of jazz style bass here, as opposed to the alembic.. but i still think that his jazz sounds very alembic-like..
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncgveCAlRnQ&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncgveCAlRnQ&feature=related)
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Robbie Gordon is, to me, THE seminal cat.
Everybody who slaps more than octaves is his son or daughter.
He released a solo album, Still Growin' (Hollywood Records), and he worked with several Brit Acid Jazz comglomerations: Brand New Heavies; James Taylor Quartet. Last I read, he is based in the UK, and still appears with Gil Scott-Heron, on occasion.
Rob is absolutely Badass. To me... MK got a lot of what he does from Robbie Gordon.
I consider Mark King and Jonas Hellborg my musical older brothers, but Robert Gordon is the father of us all.
I wanted to add, per this edit, that Rob was (and perhaps still is) playing a Jaydee bass that had a Fender jazz bass profile). This would account for the sound discrepancy. John Diggens at JayDee Supernatural basses really did have down the Alembic Series I bridge pick-up sound (with the right sound engineer)...
(Message edited by musashi on August 25, 2009)
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Thanks for the info Musashi. Good to know that Robert Gordon is still out playing. Lets get him to join the club here and chat!
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I bought the Black Wax dvd last week and was watching Robert intently. I love his style and was interesting to see him way back then using that double thumb plucking technique.
Musashi, I live very close to where Jaydee basses are made and have a guitar to take to John Diggins in a few weeks time when he gets back off holiday so I will ask him a little about that connection with Robert Gordon and that bass.
jazzyvee
Jazzyvee
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Hello Jazzyvee,
I'd be interested in hearing (reading) the details. Thanks. I'm pretty sure the bass pictured on Robbie's solo album, Still Growin', is a Jaydee.
Also, is the song, The Bottle, included on the Black Wax DVD?
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Can you email me a pic of the cover as I can't find anything on-line with the album pic.
Yes The Bottle is on the dvd
Jazzyve
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Jazzyvee; here (http://www.geocities.co.jp/Hollywood-Cinema/6890/bass6/rg316.jpg) is one.
[edit] And here (http://image.yes24.com/momo/TopCate62/MidCate10/6195601.jpg) is a slightly different one.
(Message edited by davehouck on September 15, 2009)
(Message edited by davehouck on September 15, 2009)
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Dave,
FYI...your first link takes me to Yahoo ,japan
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Wow! Me too!
Ok; here's (http://www.808records.jp/photo/robbie_gordon_lp.jpg) another one like the first.
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Great, Dave, that you have it. My CD is in storage, but I think there is a reference to Jaydee basses in the liner notes.
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I'll have to check his newer stuff out. My first introduction to him was standing about 10 feet away at the Rusty Nail in Sunderland in 1981 at a GSH show after getting Reflections shortly before. Later on, I saw him playing a P bass at shows in Boston. I missed the Alembic, but it still sounded great.
Danny Bowens, who preceded Rob in the GSH band and is heard on some fantastic recordings, was also an Alembic player, although with a very different tone. Great player as well.
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More of the Secretary...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLElKbR-njg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLElKbR-njg)
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Good video musashi aint nothing like seeing & hearing an alembic being featured!(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/84382.gif)
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Nice clip there. Does his bass have a chorus or something like that on it?
Jazzyvee
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Sounds like a chorus and, at points, some kind of envelope or auto-wah thing to me. Great stuff.
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Guys, I'm so thankful for you'd introduced me Gil Scott Heron's work. Can't believe that I've never heard about him, this man is amazing...
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Nice clip Musashi! Cool horn break along with the great bass.
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The BBC showed a compilation of 70's Old Grey Whistle Test clips on friday, one of which was Gil Scott Heron with Robert Gordon on bass. Excellent stuff. the programme (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b014vzy3) is still available on BBCi player - there's some pretty cool music on this show..
Graeme