Jimmy "Flim" Johnson

[jakebass]

Hi Jimmy, I'm with you on Randy Newman, really love his writing, his work on the pixar films is brilliant. And I remember seeing him in the late 70s singing a song about tall/short people on a music show that used to run on the BBC called 'the old grey whistle test' he is a great wit as well as a damn fine tunesmith.
Jake

[muller1007]

Hi Jimmy,
 
Thanks for that insight. Actually, the reason I asked is that I heard the song and thought I'd recognized your playing style, especially in those few high register notes, ha! So I guess despite the reworking of the bass part, your signature style is still definable. That's a pretty good thing isn't it?  
 
Indeed Randy Newman is brilliant. About 23 years ago I tagged along with a friend and his dad to a solo perfomance of Randy. It made such a deep impression on me that I still remember it clearly. I remember the song Short People, it was hilarious. Thanks for mentioning that, Jake!
 
Duncan

[jacko]

Another huge fan of Randy's over here (waves). 'Short People' is the opening track of his 'Little Criminals' album which is probably one of my most played LP's (yes, many of us still prefer to spin 12 inches of vinyl). It's a remarkable album, having some excellent song titles like Sigmund Freud's Impersonation of Albert Einstein in America and 'Kathleen (catholosism made easier)'. There's alot of humour running through this album. Randy accumulated some superb musicians for this album too, including Willie Weeks and Klaus Voorman on bass, Jim keltner on drums, Ry cooder on guitar and also the eagles on various instruments and backing vocals. If you only ever buy one Randy Newman album, this one should be it. Coincidentally, Randy will be performing in Glasgow this May. I'll be there.
 
Graeme

[jakebass]

Thanks for that recommendation Graeme, another vinyl spinning household here (although we do indulge up to the minute technology too) My ten year old is checking out all my old Led Zep, Beatles and Hendrix vinyl at the moment...

[djbass]

Jimmy,
Thanks for answering my questions about how/when you work out bass parts. Yes we can learn a lot about good bass playing just from your generous comments in this forum!
 
You said you never studied bass. Wow, how did you learn? Was your dad an influence? I understand he played classical upright bass.
 
Thanks--

[JimmyJ]

Hey Doc,
 
My pleasure.  
 
And to answer your next question here's my whole boring story...  Mom taught piano, dad played upright (orchestral and no-amp big band amazingly loud pizz.). My older brother and I started piano lessons quite young, not from mom.  Didn't much enjoy that experience but sure wish I had kept it up...  Around age 11 or 12 we were encouraged to choose orchestral instruments to study.  Brother Gord chose flute, I chose clarinet.  Legit study on those instruments through jr. high and high school (and college for Gord) taught us both how to read, exposed us to some great music, and filled our heads with melodies.
 
On the side we were allowed to play whatever instruments we wanted for fun.  Gord started with electric bass in HS jazz band (my first exposure - a Fender P) then he went on to organ, elec. guitar, and ended up back on bass later.  I got into electric bass and just stayed there.
 
Some of that solo clarinet music is complicated reading so that really helped when it came time to learn to read bass music.  Growing up with all that music around, encouragement from my folks and musical influences from my brother made for a very lucky atmosphere for me.
 
There you have it, much more than you needed to know.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz ... wha?  oh yeah, click the post button...
Jimmy J

[jacko]

I sometimes wonder how many of us started off on clarinet. I'm sure from previous threads there have been quite a few. I played in the school orchestra until I was about 15 when I took up the bass and haven't played one since; something I deeply regret and something I've been planning to pick up again for about 20 years ;-)
 
Graeme

[edwin]

I went through a similar upbringing. Recorder at 4 years old (when I started to learn to read music), then clarinet, piano and finally 10 years of oboe. I started fooling around with the bass at age 13, but didn't buy one until I was 16 or 17.
 
 I'd love to play the oboe again, but I can't face dealing with the reeds and physically it requires the dedication of a marathon runner.

[JimmyJ]

Hey my fellow ex-woodwind players!  That's an interesting coincidence.  Our experience on these other instruments certainly has an effect on our bass playing.  And that unique range of personal experience is what makes everybody play differently ... and the World go around for that matter.
Edwin, I know what you mean about the reed battle, my sax player buddies are always moaning.  And DOUBLE reeds must be impossible.  I also think the back pressure of playing oboe makes people crazy - at least all the oboe players I've known - so you're probably better off leaving it in the closet.  Ha!
Jimmy J
 
(Message edited by jimmyj on March 18, 2010)

[edwin]

Ah, the oboe: the ill wind nobody blows good!
 
At this point, I think the damage is done!
 
Sax reeds are some work to keep going, but oboe reeds all have to be made from scratch (buying them is problematic because the reed making style that you develop becomes a huge part of your personal tone) and the success rate is somewhere around 30% for a real player, which doesn't become obvious until you are at least an hour into it. Then  you get a great reed, which doesn't stay stable throughout its short life, and a few weeks later, it's done. There's some pleasure in making a great reed, but that gets old pretty quickly. The oboe stays in the closet. Probably more than you wanted to know!

[David Houck]

I think that this may be my favorite Randy Newman song.

[lbpesq]

This is one of my favorite Randy Newman tunes.
 
Bill, tgo

[gbulfon]

Hi Jimmy, nice to finally find you on the Internet.
I'm an italian keyboard player but I love your bass playing since my first time listening to Chad's Forty Reasons, almost 20 years ago!
This led me to all of Allan's music, and to me you and Chad are the perfect combination for him.
After 20 years of listening, and hoping to see you live with Allan, I could finally see that perfect trio last year at Innsbruck! And you were totally awesome.
Well, it's some time I hope to find you at facebook, where I can follow many musicians daily, but not you  
Don't you have it? I have some pics there with you at Innsbruck, and I'd like to tag you and share them with you and your fans.
Thanx for all the music,
Gabriele

[JimmyJ]

Hi Gabriele,
 
Thanks for the kind comments.  It's always interesting to hear the path people take to discovering unusual artists and music like Allan's.  I'm glad you got to the Treibhaus gig, next time say hello.
 
You have indeed found one of the few places I appear on the 'net.  The social networks don't really appeal to me for a few reasons:  
#1. I'm a private guy  
#2. Self-promotion has never been my forte  
#3. I have no product of my own to sell (like solo CDs) so I see no reason to have that kind of web presence.  
I prefer to keep a low profile, or maybe NO profile.
 
Thanks for listening!
Jimmy J

[gbulfon]

We actually have met at the Treibhaus  that was an opportunity to see you live, so I came to you (and you were on the stage helping to pick up stuff) and asked for some pic, and we did )) That pic with you and me is my profile pic at facebook at the moment ))) Let me try to post some pics of Innsbruck here:
 
http://www.sonicle.com/gbulfon/Flim/CIMG0640.JPG - Allan
http://www.sonicle.com/gbulfon/Flim/CIMG0641.JPG - Jimmy
http://www.sonicle.com/gbulfon/Flim/CIMG0642.JPG - Chad
http://www.sonicle.com/gbulfon/Flim/CIMG0645.JPG - Me and friends with Jimmy
http://www.sonicle.com/gbulfon/Flim/CIMG0646.JPG - Me and Maria with Jimmy
http://www.sonicle.com/gbulfon/Flim/CIMG0647.JPG - Me and friends with Allan
http://www.sonicle.com/gbulfon/Flim/CIMG0648.JPG - Me and Maria with Allan
http://www.sonicle.com/gbulfon/Flim/CIMG0652.JPG - Me and friends with Chad
 
Well, actually we also gave Chad 3 T-shirts for all of you, hand made just for you all. I hope Chad did not forget to give you your one!  
Anyway, my opinion is that you don't need to have something to sell or promote yourself to find facebook useful: for me is a very nice tool to keep in touch with many great musicians (Scott Kinsey, Leon Gaer, Chad, Otmaro Ruiz to name a few) and have the opportunity to know what are they doing and where they're gonna play next, other than find many pics they often upload themselves.
You can give it a try, with no risk
Anyway, I just remembered I've been in L.A. in July 2009. The last night I was at the Baked Potato to see Otmaro Ruiz, and you were stated as the bass player. Then, I found Jimmy Haslip instead  well, I love his playing too but...you know...do you remember what happened? Maybe you were around with Mr. Taylor  
Well, I've seen you're going to have another European tour at the end of the year, with Chad and Allan. Hope you're coming around Milan/Italy, or I'll have to travel again! (Yes! I came to Treibhaus from Milan just because of you 3!).