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Alec Fraser
http://www.biggiolarecords.com/alecfraser.htm
l
I played bass in The Jeff Healey Band for his
last eight years. He was a great friend and
bandleader.If you have something nice to
comment on Jeff, feel free.I'm also a part of
an acoustic trio called Brokenjoe.
http://www.brokenjoe.com/music
http://www.myspace.com/brokenjoemusic Here`s
a wacky little contraption that I put
together that allows me to play a beat while
playing the stand up bass using a snare brush
through my fingers. Lightning Chance and
Ernie Newton amongst others used to use
something similar back in the 40`s & 50`s on
the Grand Old Opry shows when they wouldn`t
allow drummers there. Theirs was a big old
skin with a frame permanently screwed right
to the belly of the bass, I didn`t want to do
that because it would obstruct me from going
up the neck if need be. My addition to this
was to come up with a quick removable one
that had more tension to it like a real snare
and to also put in a condenser mic/pre amp
that I can send to the P.A at festival
gigs.It takes a while to get the hang of the
brush being through the fingers but it`s
worth it. At first I used it all night on duo
and trio gigs playing every kind of music
just to get the hang of it but now I`ll just
pull it out for two or three songs a set for
effect. It`s volume is turned up higher on
this video so you can hear its tone. Normally
it would be a bit lower in level.Also you
MUST roll of all of the bass and mid-range on
the Gazinkey's mic and increase the the
treble to almost maximun on the mixer
channel. This will give you a snare brush
sound with no thud.
Unfortunately there isn`t much literature on
these old pioneer bass players of Nashville
and very few still doing this technique. If
you know of anyone that does this brushbass
style please put me in contact with them.
I don`t use this in the Jeff Healey Band
because we have Al "baby" Webster behind the
kit but a trio like Brokenjoe has the perfect
instrumentation with banjo, harmonica and
bass where the chop comes in handy at times.
Here are some friends and influences of
Brokenjoe worth checking out. Dock Boggs,
Charlie Poole, Charlie Angus and the Grievous
Angels, Bill Munroe, Lester Flatt,Willie
Nelson, Earl Scruggs, Uncle Dave Macon,
Robert Johnson, Morgan Davis, Hank Williams,
Hank Snow, Jack de Keyzer, Danny Marks, Rick
Fines, Fruteland Jackson, Roscoe Holcomb,
Fred Eaglesmith, The Weber Brothers, Jeff
Healey, Mark Haines and Tom Leighton, Junior
Brown, Matt Masters, Bob Wills, Wendell
Ferguson, Billy Connolly, George Carlin,
James Jamerson, Paul McCartney, Pinetop
Perkins, Jimmy Rodgers, Murray McLaughlin,
Gordon Lightfoot, Stomping Tom Connors, The
Carter Family, Chubby Wise, Lightning Chance,
Webb Pierce, Ray Price, Julian Fauth, Julian
Fauth, Taj Mahal, Keb Mo, Grandpa Jones, The
Chieftains, Merle Haggard, Dale Watson, Danny
Brooks, Asleep At The Wheel, Ray Benson, Dan
Whiteley, Jenny Whiteley, Cris Whiteley,
Jimmy Bowskill, Steve Strongman, Finis Tasby,
David Rotundo, Loretta Lynn, Tom Waits, Mo'
Kauffey, Harry Manx, Doc MacLean, Long John
Baldry, Mose Scarlett, Rick and the Biscuits,
Matt Minglewood, Trouble and Strife, Ken
Whiteley,Tim Williams, Johnny Cash, Marty
Robbins, Harrison Kennedy, Steve Earle, one
man bands and especially Electro-fi records.
Do a google search, you won`t be
disappointed.
The Brokenjoe CD " LONG WALK TO NOWHERE" is
available for download at iTunes,
Rhapsody
http://www.rhapsody.com/brokenjoe/longwalkton
owhere,
emusic
http://www.emusic.com/album/Brokenjoe-Long-Wa
lk-To-Nowhere-MP3-Download/10980927.html,
Audio Lunchbox
http://www.audiolunchbox.com/album?a=77659,
Yotta music
http://www.yottamusic.com/albums/Brokenjoe/Lo
ng-Walk-To-Nowhere/
musicload
http://www.musicload.de/item.ml?releaseid=187
8032_2 and other fine on-line stores.
Tags : drum at the same time bluegrass blues rock country reggae brokenjoe alec fraser one man band Jeff Healey bassplayer |
