From BenWaB3@aol.com Sat Jan 12 06:44:43 2002
Subject:Re: Organ bass

To add my $0.02:

I've been playing lt. hand bass since about `67 also. Started w/ the Rhodes
piano bass & then went on to a Moog & now use whatever bass sounds are in my
synth unit (Roland XP-80 at this point). I like having a really good bass
player for the rock/blues/funk/etc., but have found that after so many years
of playing lt. hand I keep thinking "I wish he would play it this way" when I
hear a lot of lines (not that anyone would ever call any of us anal-retentive
control freaks.....). When it comes to the jazz trio format - the Hammond
trio format, that is - it just doesn't sound right to hear anything but the
organist's lt. hand/pedals. An electric or accoustic bass has more
definition, but theres something about the organ bass that comes across as so
much more solid in the sound. It's almost like the recordings of organ w/
bass player sound like they are built on as solid a foundation. Of course
this is a very subjective matter - many people would believe the opposite.
Whenever I'm doing a jazz type of job & there is a bass player, I guess the
spoiled brat in me cops an attitude & I just play piano sounds because it
just doesn't sound right for my tastes playing organ w/ a bass player. As for
the people who posted about what to do w/ the lt. hand when there is a bass
player on the job (more usually in the rock/blues/funk/etc. format - we
hope), it seems like it's a matter of adjustment w/ your own energies. You're
used to putting x amount of energy into the lt. hand & now that level has to
be readjusted & reassigned. It can be done but it definitely is a different
feeling until you get used to it & compensate.

Ben Ninmann