Hi Jimmy!
 
Thanks again. What I respect in a Bass Player (or actually any musicians) is the sound one gets and the feel that is put into the music. I do not care about how many notes are played or if it?s played with thumb, pick, fingers or something else as long as it sounds good?.
The first time I did hear you play was at Pori Jazz Festival in 1985 with Lee Ritenour. I did not know what to expect?a thumb player like Louis Johnson or someone like Nathan East maybe? But when you did hit the first note I was so impressed by your playing the sound was sooooo good and the things you did play was so musical. You were actually the first bass player after Jaco that really did touch me, by sound and overall performance. After that I did look for every record I could find with your name on it.  
I also think that all great players stick with their sound (and the equipment) when they find it. It becomes a trademark by nature. I think the main thing is to know what you want and then find the tools for that.  
Great instruments make the journey easier and more fun but are not the whole thing. There are so many great African players with poor instruments but still making great music.  
It?s just nice to know what great players like you are using, but of course, it?s always the man behind the instrument in the end that makes the noise?? and the same instrument really sounds different in different peoples hands. In that way these questions are nonsense? But still nice to know as some kind of sharing thoughts and ideas.    
I really love your playing, you are a great musician?. Thank you for the answers.

Danno, that is some funny stuff!  I think my tv show would be more about the glamourous lifestyle of touring.  Episodes like Doing Laundry In Your Room or How To Sleep In A Van...  Thanks for your support.
 
Jan-Olof, that's amazing that you were there in Pori, thank you for that story.  I am continually amazed at the power of music.  Every gig we play is meaningful to somebody listening.  This is a great thing!!  
 
I'm cool with gear talk too.  There is always something to learn from the experience and recommendations of others.  I'm just saying, take it all with a grain of salt and then find what's right for you.
 
I have a lot of respect for bass players who have many different sounds in their palette and are continually discovering more.  I know some studio guys who have trunks full of instruments.  They usually end up playing the same one or two on everything ... but if they run into a situation that calls for an unusual sound they can whip it right out.  That's pretty cool.  My only experience along these lines was when some pals called me to play on some 60's & 70's library music.  They started asking me about what basses and amps I could bring and I offered to play whatever instruments THEY brought.  I ended up playing a few tracks on a beat up Hofner through an Ampeg B-15.  Hilarious!  Sure glad that's not my everyday axe though...
 
Thanks again for all the kind words fellas.
Jimmy J

Hi Jimmy!
 
Yes that is another story if someone who calls you for a session wants you to use something specific like the Hofner and Ampeg B-15. Take the money and run?.
But seriously that is the other side of being professional to be able to work with what is needed for the situation even if it?s not exactly what you would like to have as the first choice.  
You are however one of the guys who have been able to keep your own sound and identity on the sessions you done. When I listen to a record where there are 2-3 different bass players mentioned on the album cover, I could immediately tell what tunes you are playing on!!  
There is also another guy I have a lot of respect for called Armand Sabal-Lecco. Whatever instrument he plays he always sounds like him and he has also a very nice approach on the instrument, different from yours but also very good. Of course there is a lot of great players out there but for me it?s a question of great sound, identity, emotions and being able to keep your thing in whatever musical situation there is in a musical way. Your sound is your signature and identity. I love Stanley Clarke as well; he still finds new ways to talk with his instrument?

Jimmy and jan-Olof.
It's interesting that you should both pick up on the fact that most of the time a bassist will usually sound like himself and of course it's absolutely true. in fact, no matter how I tweak the EQ on my navigator, it always ends up sounding like me ;-)
A very good example of this is the finale to Stanley's 'Night School' DVD where around 10 'name' bassists each take a chorus of School Days. If you close your eyes you can almost instantly tell who each player is from Flea through to Marcus. Of course, Jimmy, you're in there, and Armand too. must have been a great gig! In fact Jimmy, it looks like you almost missed your turn, having problems with your cable?
Naturally, the rest of the DVD is well worth watching too. There are stellar performances from the likes of Stewart Copeland, sheila E and Karen Briggs. At times I feel pretty jealous that I'm not living in the US as we rarely get a chance to see these Artistes over here (and almost never beyond London). Still, only two and a half months till JT ;-)
 
Graeme
 
edit: On the subject of the Hofner, I tried to get to grips with one early in my 'career' and seeing how unmanageable I found it brought a whole new respect for McCartney.
 
(Message edited by jacko on April 15, 2009)

He he, how to sleep in a van. I learned at the tender age of 22 in a frozen east Germany, it was sleep or die (I had been fussy up till then) now I can sleep anywhere. Jimmy it's funny the things you learn on the road. Whenever I fly with bands I always have the smallest bag, never take anything I don't need, always pack tight.
Two great tips I have learned along the way:
I always stuff my socks and underwear into my shoes, keeps the shoes in shape and saves space.
 
When doing laundry in a room, place wet clothing on a laid flat towel then roll it up into a sausage, stand on one end and twist the other end as tight as you can go (without breaking your wrist) it's a great head start on drying your clothes (and no laundry bill from the hotel :-))
 
Another van trick for hot weather:
in the digs at night ask the host to freeze a bottle of water for you, wrap a flannel around it and place in a cool box, the flannel is very refreshing for neck and face wipes all day on long hot journeys, and as the water melts you have a cool drink.
 
I have enjoyed making the hardships of the road as pleasurable as possible over the years, small luxuries can really make the difference, although these days I tend to have a little better standard than the early days, which is lucky as the glamour soon fades past 40!!
 
Also fascinating stuff about the gear and individual sound from everybody. For me I have found that the basses I have played down the years have always just not quite delivered on what I'm putting in to the instrument, until I found Alembic that is, so I found when I played one that yep, thats how I should sound.
I do like my old Fender Jazz for certain things but I always feel a little like an imitator on it. I play upright also so I'm familiar with the concept of really working an instrument to get the best out of it, Alembic to me are the only electric bass that require the same kind of input from me as a player, and despite there being an 'Alembic sound' I have found them to be very versatile dependent on how you play 'em.
 
Finally, Jimmy I will hopefully make JTs London show. Really looking forward to hearing you guys, that is one helluva band :-)

HI Graeme!
 
Yes the Stanley DVD Night School is fun to watch! But for the School Days jam in the end I think besides of Stanley?s solo Jimmy?s solo is the only solo that make sense?I love all the bass players there but the performances reminds me more of some kind of tradeshow demo playing?. but then, that was probably the idea? just to fool around and not think so much. Nice DVD anyway. I know there was a great performance with Stanley, Armand and Stewart Copeland but unfortunately that was not included in the commercial DVD, I wonder why?  
Its also great that there are some Jimmy Johnson DVD?s out there like the James Taylor concerts, so many musicians on the stage but still so much space!! Also the old Lee Ritenour DVD is fun (1984 or 1985) even if it?s from the -80\s. Jimmy still sounds fresh and plays great like always..

To all,
 
Greetings from New Orleans! I am glad to have found this community of Flim fans.
 
Jimmy,
 
I wasn't in town for your recent Jazz Fest gig with JT, unfortunately. I hope that you had some time to sample some of our great local music and food while you were here. Were there any artists that left an impression with you?  
 
I have been a fan since the Wayne Johnson days, and was fortunate to have met you many years ago at a NAMM show (playing with Will Kennedy, Alex Acuna and Dave Garfield at the Paiste booth...Steve Lukather even got in on the action). if I remember correctly, you showed me two versions of the cover art for the upcoming BB's New Pants CD. I also remember catching you with Holdsworth a couple of years later at Jimmy's Music Club; what a show!
 
Many thanks for the inspired (and inspirational)
playing. I look forward to hearing your upcoming projects.

Hey Ed,
 
Thanks, I appreciate that.  Sorry you weren't at Jazz Fest but funny that you saw us in the Paiste box at NAMM so many years ago.  Good stuff.
 
Sure is a lot of music in Nawlin's, gotta be at least two bands per block.  And the Festival with all 5 stages and 3 music tents going at the same time is just like a larger version of walking around the city.  Glad to see so much of the town recovering and hope it continues.
 
Take care, see you around here...
Jimmy J

Well, I made it. 35 years after my brother gave me his copies of 'sweet baby james' and 'mud slide slim', I finally got to see James Taylor in concert and boy! was it worth the wait. The entire show was superb - I couldn't fault anyone's performance - and James took the band through just about every style imaginable. His between songs anecdotes and observations were very funny and he came across as a genuinely nice guy. Of course, no posting here would be complete without mention to our bass hero, Jimmy Johnson. His tone throughout the night was sublime, especially when Steve Gadd wasn't bashing his bass drum. I was especially impressed that even when playing fills well above the 12th fret, there was no 'nasal' harshness, just a nice fat buttery series 2 sound. Jimmy makes his playing look effortless (and so he should - he's been doing it so long) and he really looked like he was enjoying himself. I only took my new compact digital to the show so didn't get the quality of zoom shots I would have with my SLR but towards the end of the show we were allowed to get closer to dance near the stage. However, as you'd expect from such a genuinely modest guy, jimmy is very difficult to photograph, preferring to lurk in the background. These few are the best I could manage..  

 

 

  I can only say it was a priviledge to have been there and I'll be sure to go along next time. Hopefully they'll bring the show to scotland, or failing that, I'll be sure to catch the next Holdsworth tour.  Graeme (still buzzing)

Thanks for the great revue Graeme!

Excellent, Graeme!
I('m very jealous, and yet happy for your good fortune being this close. I just watched Pull Over again 2 days ago.
Mike

Hey Graeme,
 
Glad you could make it down to the gig and thanks for posting those pics (so THAT'S what the stage looks like...).  The sound man is in charge of the tone so I'll pass along your positive comments.  It is a fantastic bunch of players and singers so I am truly enjoying it and feel fortunate to be along for the ride.
 
I do hope to get back to the UK with Holdsworth at some point, including Edinburgh.  Then maybe we could get a chance to hang out and talk shop for a while..
 
Cheers to all,
Jimmy J

Nice review Graeme, I'm going to the 02 Show on Monday and am really looking forward to the show, I have seen James twice before once with Jimmy and band and once with just Larry Goldings. Both definitely in my top ten gigs, James is a very special artist in my view.
Can't wait.
Jimmy, hope you're enjoying your time in the UK.
Jake

Wow... what a gig! I am genuinely knocked out and have not felt so excited about music since I was a kid. I could talk about the details of why James and his band (led by you Jimmy?) made such an impact but that would miss the point, they are great songs performed by a great artist backed by a great band. And I mean great in the global, historical sense. It makes me doubly excited being an Alembic owner to know that my comments may be read by a member of that 'great great' band. From pin drop poignance to roaring riotousness in a breath, and as far as I can see without fail for every second of the gig every member put the music first.
Bravo.
If you haven't yet seen this band you are missing one of the best live acts in history.
 
Jimmy, one thing I would like to ask if you could bear the question, do you have a mental approach to that standard of consistency? to my mind you are making an album quality performance each night, does it feel that way to you? or is it as simple as, 'you do what you do'?
 
Thanks
 
Jake
 
(Message edited by jakebass on July 07, 2009)

For Jimmy J., You passsed through the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. That's my facility. I was unable to meet up with you. If you have the time on the return leg of your journey I would love to meet up and grab lunch in the area. Contact me at bkravitz@panynj.gov look forward to your reply.