Author Topic: Alain Caron "Live at the Cabaret de Montreal" (Read 279 times)

rami · « **on:** July 10, 2006, 08:05:24 PM »

WOW. Simply the greatest Bass player in the world - by far. Is there anything this guy can't do?

I don't know if there's any distribution in the U.S., but you've got to have this DVD.

(Message edited by rami on July 10, 2006)

David Houck · « **Reply #1 on:** July 11, 2006, 07:41:09 AM »

Thanks Rami!

DeepDiscount does not appear to have it.
Audiophile Imports does not appear to have it.

Amazon has it here as an import. Pretty steep at $40. The region code is listed as Unknown and it usually ships 4 to 6 weeks.

CDUniverse has it listed here. $35, listed as region 1; backordered since 7/4/2006, which was the original release date.

A review is here.

At Alain's site you can buy it for $23US. There are some video samples here too.

flaxattack · « **Reply #2 on:** July 11, 2006, 03:04:40 PM »

very impressive and i am not a big slap fan...
dvd for me

bigredbass · « **Reply #3 on:** July 11, 2006, 05:27:12 PM »

Seriously fine player (why does it somehow make sense that French and fretless go together . . ),
and the FBass AC model is an extraordinary axe, a dedicated fretless design (NO fretted version of this monster), one of the few I can think of, along with the Manne Acoustibass, another very interesting (and Italian!!) bass.

Is there some Mediterranean predilection to fretless?

J o e y

rami · « **Reply #4 on:** July 11, 2006, 07:48:14 PM »

Hey Joey,

On this DVD he plays both fretless and fretted F Basses. I can honestly say I have NEVER seen anyone play to his level on either.
I've actually met him on several occasions and was lucky enough to chat with him. Perhaps the next time I'll have Evil Twin with me for him to try out. He really should be playing Alembics.

David Houck · « **Reply #5 on:** July 11, 2006, 09:00:36 PM »

One thing that kinda bothers me is that some of the reviews have mentioned that he uses a lot of loops; and I've never really cared for live bands playing to a static rhythm. I went to see John Scofield when he was doing his Uberjam tour, and I didn't like it at all; left early. So I'm wondering if I would have the same reaction to this DVD. I've also never been attracted to electronica. The review I cited above actually makes the DVD sound like something I wouldn't like. But I did like all the sample vids on Alain's site.

darkstar01 · « **Reply #6 on:** July 12, 2006, 01:18:54 AM »

Man, I know it's kind of off the original subject.. but I loved the Scofield uberjam band when I saw them at the handlebar in Greenville (Relatively close to your stomping grounds, iirc, Dave).. I wouldnt really say loops constitute 'electronica'... like with Bill Frisell.. he's figured out how to work loops sporatically into his improv.. very different, and very cool....
Just a random $.02 for everyone to share :]
Oh.. and I've never heard Alain Caron until this thread inspired me. Cool stuff. Ever listen to Matt Garrison, Rami?

Austin
Edit: I forgot to mention something Scofield said to me upon meeting him after the show.. Hey, you can always play a chromatic scale and be a half step away from a right note. words to live by. heh.

(Message edited by darkstar01 on July 12, 2006)

811952 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 12, 2006, 05:28:28 AM »

' Hey, you can always play a chromatic scale and be a half step away from a right note. words to live by. '

That's the only way I get through jazz gigs! If I'm not right there already, then it's a device to create tension until I do eventually get there.

If you try hard enough you can put a moving line in anything..

John

adriaan · « **Reply #8 on:** July 12, 2006, 05:45:44 AM »

In jazz, the trick is usually to add a half step - I think it's the one between the 6th and 7th of the scale.

In other words, when your walking line doesn't end up on the right note on the one, you've missed that half step.

Still you gotta love that quote ...

rami · « **Reply #9 on:** July 12, 2006, 07:16:00 AM »

Hey Dave,

There is quite a bit of Electronica but it's Alain using his MIDI processor. But this is something he's always done and is well known for. I didn't notice any looping though. One thing (among many) I've always loved about Alain Caron's playing is that it's very stylistic and very tasteful without the mindless flash and display of chops that some others are known for. His playing is always an integral part of the music.
I think you'll love it.

Rami

David Houck · « **Reply #10 on:** July 12, 2006, 04:08:12 PM »

Thanks!

hankster · « **Reply #11 on:** July 12, 2006, 07:41:56 PM »

Alain is truly a great bassist. I first heard of him when he was bassist for a band call Uzeb, a cooking electric jazz outfit.

There is a lovely recording of him playing his electric basses in duets with Michel Donato playing upright. I don't know whether we can blame it on their ethnicity, but it speaks volumes for Montreal that there are bassists of this fine caliber that hail from there.

Rick

rami · « **Reply #12 on:** July 12, 2006, 08:23:34 PM »

Hey Rick,

That album is called Basse Contre Basse. It's one of the most amazing recordings I've ever heard. With the exception of percussion, they're the only musicians on the album. Alain plays several instruments on his Bass through his MIDI system - just incredible. I highly recommend it.

Rami

hankster · « **Reply #13 on:** July 14, 2006, 06:49:06 PM »

Rami,

That's the one. It is really a great recording.

Rick

eos35mm · « **Reply #14 on:** July 18, 2006, 08:56:09 PM »

I have seen Alain in concert many time when he was in the band UZEB. This guy was the talk when I was studying Jazz at college. I saw the band in 81. He blew everyone away at that Toronto concert. I would go home and practice for hours after one of their concerts, just couldn't sleep. When he first came on the seen he wasn't even playing the F bass, he was playing some cheapo fretless bass similar looking to a fender with Dimarzio pickups. I do not believe it was an F bass. I think it was a modified bass. The fret board was extended to 3 octaves. For slap/funk, he also used a cheapo bass. For the piccolo sound he used a headless bass can't remember the name of it. He also used i think the Roland synth bass. The guy would solo for days never running out of ideas, never tiring. Uzeb was a hot band, Michel Cusson on guitar was also incredible you should give hom a listen. Alain style for funk/slap is a double thumbing stlyle the difference with him is that he preforms the down and up strokes with such precision that you can't tell which direction his thumb is moving in. Listen to Brass Licks. For finger style as far as I remember he uses 3 fingers of his right hand with great dexterity and accuracy. Honestly I have not heard anyone out there trying to cop his licks and style as many have done with Jaco.
Alain has great licks, motifs and grooves that work in my opinion better that Jaco because Alain has more range and depth and is more practical. Don't forget he also played dance, disco, in his early days.
Alain is an alround bass player, an alround musician.