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Alembic products => Showcase => Signature Basses => Topic started by: karl on November 15, 2010, 04:00:48 PM

Title: Alembic in Ireland
Post by: karl on November 15, 2010, 04:00:48 PM
Here's a clip of my fusion band, Earthship, playing a version of Billy Cobham's Stratus, out in a tiny little pub on the west coast of Ireland. The clientele was in two minds - 50% locals, 50% blow-in hippies. The locals didn't know what they were hearing, and the hippies couldn't believe their luck. Great night all round! :-) Don't know where I thought my bass solo was going though - I'd had a few too many whiskeys by that point of the show ...
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GreKZmAIxyo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GreKZmAIxyo)
Title: Alembic in Ireland
Post by: David Houck on November 15, 2010, 04:34:07 PM
That was great!  Stratus is a cool tune!
Title: Alembic in Ireland
Post by: sonicus on November 15, 2010, 04:42:53 PM
YES !  I like the way that you guys groove on this !  Cool !
Title: Alembic in Ireland
Post by: tbrannon on November 15, 2010, 08:51:42 PM
Killer groove.... I loved it!
Title: Alembic in Ireland
Post by: alemboid on November 15, 2010, 09:51:21 PM
Love it! Nice pocket! Sorry I wasn't there!
Title: Alembic in Ireland
Post by: jazzyvee on November 15, 2010, 11:35:30 PM
Good track Karl, it's one I also do in my band. I've only heard the version on the Stanley Clarke & Friends Live at the greek album  so that's the version we base ours on. Which Billy Cobham album is that track from originally?
 
let me know when you guys are gigging up near the midlands.
jazzyvee
Title: Alembic in Ireland
Post by: karl on November 16, 2010, 03:48:01 AM
Thanks for the nice comments, guys! Much appreciated!
 
And to jazzyvee - heh, the 'Live At The Greek' version is the only one I've heard, too! Our keyboard player is the real Cobham freak, so I'll have to find out from him which album the track is originally from. Not that it matters much to the way we play it - once we've played the head a couple of times, anything can happen, and it's different every time, depending on how the room is reacting. We like to keep it spontaneous!
 
And I don't suppose we'll be over in the midlands anytime soon, I'm afraid. I live out here in Ireland now - but if you know of any jazz festivals over near you that might be willing to take a punt on a bunch of Irish jazz-funkers, let me know! :-)
Title: Alembic in Ireland
Post by: David Houck on November 16, 2010, 06:52:50 AM
Jazzyvee; it's on Spectrum, Cobham's first solo album.
Title: Alembic in Ireland
Post by: mikedm on November 17, 2010, 08:55:25 AM
The whole album is worth a listen; great music performed by noteworthy musicians. Stratus has an infectious groove. Loved the performance.
Title: Alembic in Ireland
Post by: pierreyves on November 17, 2010, 01:12:48 PM
great grove, thank for sharing, nice, nice !!!
Title: Alembic in Ireland
Post by: slawie on November 17, 2010, 01:35:36 PM
Congrats Karl.
Great groove I like your playing
Really nice sound
It is pretty amazing sound/mix for a videorecorder mic!!!!
The band is tight.
 
I enjoyed the whole 10 minutes.
 
slawie
Title: Alembic in Ireland
Post by: karl on March 08, 2012, 11:09:00 AM
I've already posted this as an audio file over in the 'Miscellaneous' section, but thought I'd also post the video here, for those who like to look at basses (which is pretty much all of us here, I'd imagine!). Here's my solo funk bass arrangement of the Beatles' 'Come Together', played on my '93 Stanley Clarke Deluxe:
 
http://youtu.be/i9NNfDbxjP4 (http://youtu.be/i9NNfDbxjP4)
 
Hope you enjoy - as ever, feel free to share it if you like it.
Title: Alembic in Ireland
Post by: tncaveman on March 09, 2012, 07:06:44 PM
WOW Karl - I was listening to Earthship in my truck today - I'm so glad you posted up the EP and the video.  Love it - it would be so cool to meet up if you guys ever came to the states.  Keep recording and playing.
 
Stephen (a fan from the states)
Title: Alembic in Ireland
Post by: pierreyves on March 10, 2012, 07:36:41 AM
WAAAWWW put on my favorites !! great playing and sensitivity and creativity and... and... Congratulations !
What is your drum machine ?
Title: Alembic in Ireland
Post by: karl on March 21, 2012, 10:47:14 AM
Here's another little vid, for those that are interested ... not an Alembic this time, though, I'm afraid. I did this with my Status Kingbass, and it's a solo bass arrangement of The Average White Band's 'Put It Where You Want It': http://youtu.be/zrp88fOgqF8 (http://youtu.be/zrp88fOgqF8)
 
Enjoy!
 
K.
Title: Alembic in Ireland
Post by: jazzyvee on March 21, 2012, 01:05:49 PM
Nice Playing as usual Karl. I thought that song was written by Joe Sample. I'm sure I have a version with the Crusaders Playing it from way back.  
 
Jazzyvee
Title: Alembic in Ireland
Post by: karl on March 21, 2012, 01:12:53 PM
You're right, Jazzy - it was co-written by Alan Gorrie and Joe Sample. I first heard it on AWB's Show Your Hand album, so for me it's always been an AWB tune! But while I was working out how I would play this last week I saw a youtube vid of the Crusaders playing it - trouble is, the song got hijacked halfway through by Stanley and Larry Graham, who turned it into a bass slapathon (albeit a very enjoyable one!) :-).
Title: Alembic in Ireland
Post by: pierreyves on March 21, 2012, 01:51:04 PM
BRAVO j'aime !!!
Title: Alembic in Ireland
Post by: karl on April 18, 2012, 04:08:21 PM
A bit more Beatles now - Hey Jude - and it's the Alembic again - I wanted to use this song to showcase a few different playing techniques, and the Alembic is just so responsive to different styles, it makes it a real joy to mess around with techniques like this.
 
Hope you like it!
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHt1wlzjYnY (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHt1wlzjYnY)
Title: Alembic in Ireland
Post by: pierreyves on April 18, 2012, 05:46:12 PM
wawwww, you are a great interpret of the Beatles.
Congrats, sincerly....
Do you know Andr? Ceccarelli, french drummer ? He did with his trio, the nicest interpretation of some Beatles tracks:
http://www.andrececcarelli.com/discographie.htm (http://www.andrececcarelli.com/discographie.htm)
1994, 3 around the 4, I think you can find it on Itunes.
Title: Alembic in Ireland
Post by: karl on April 20, 2012, 07:28:09 AM
Thanks, pierreyves! The irony is that I've never been a big fan of The Beatles - I've always found their music a bit lacking in groove and soul for me - though I realise these are very subjective terms. So these solo arrangements are my attempts to see what others see in their music. And it's working already - in deconstructing the songs like that, I'm gradually coming round to seeing how well-written these songs are, essentially. In effect, I'm realising that it's not the Beatles' songs that I have a problem with, but the band's execution of the songs!
 
Incidentally, that's the same problem I have with Bob Dylan: great songs, but I sometimes wish it wasn't him singing them!
Title: Alembic in Ireland
Post by: tbrannon on April 20, 2012, 08:56:35 AM
Karl- how you feel about Bob Dylan is how I am with Meatloaf.  I can't say I've ever even finished listening to a meatloaf song.  It hurts me, deeply and profoundly ;)
Title: Alembic in Ireland
Post by: funkyjazzjunky on April 20, 2012, 09:21:37 AM
Karl, very impressive.
 
VMG
Title: Alembic in Ireland
Post by: pauldo on April 20, 2012, 11:34:30 AM
Karl - You make it look so easy . .   :-D
 
Not to hi-jack, but I recently heard Seal and Jeff Beck do Like a Rolling Stone absolutely loved it! Very fresh! Shared it with some friends and one of them said - I still like Bob's version better . . . different strokes for different folks. :-/
Title: Alembic in Ireland
Post by: hydrargyrum on April 20, 2012, 12:13:29 PM
I guess I'm from the other end of the spectrum.  I love Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Tom Waits and any number of people who supposedly don't have good singing voices (I still dislike Meatloaf though).  On the other hand, I don't much care for Jeff Beck, Bela Fleck, Joe Satriani, etc.  I think I tend to prefer music that is more gutsy than cerebral, even though I can appreciate the incredible technique that the other side of the fence displays.  I'd still rather listen to the Ramones than Return to Forever, but I can respect why other people appreciate those artists.
 
I wouldn't have categorized the Beatles with either of these groups though.  They were competent if not stellar musicians, and they could consistently write a catchy hook.  They seem to have the best of both worlds, as reflected by the diverse array of musicians who claim them as an influence.
Title: Alembic in Ireland
Post by: karl on April 27, 2012, 05:14:25 AM
Another one - didn't use the Alembic this time, felt I needed that crunchy Jazz bass tone. But never fear, the Alembic will be back for another one soon! Michael Jackson's 'Beat It' - mind your speakers - it's big and dirty!:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rYdSka4afw (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rYdSka4afw)
 
K.