Every once in a while (due to this/that/the other), I end up playing trombone (instead of tuba or bass) on some little jazz combo gig.
It's almost always with a really good bass player, and (particularly when it's a good bass player) I'm reminded how much easier it is to play a solo (over the chords) with someone putting down a really good bass line - to keep the soloist on track (vs. playing a "bare-nekid" tuba solo with no bass line - for obvious reasons).
It also reminds me to strive to play good bass lines myself, and to attempt to anticipate where someone might "go" next in their solo - but without shoving them somewhere in particular (so as to trying to keep more of the melody/bass harmonies in line with Bach's chorale harmonization practices...not that those rules need to be honored 100% of the time, but - if referenced MUCH of the time - the product sounds more like "music" and less like "noise").
...I got nothin' else on this.
trying to avoid playing crappy bass lines for my colleagues
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Re: trying to avoid playing crappy bass lines for my colleagues
I’m a bass/tuba player, and lack of a bass line (or anything!) under that 16-measures of terror-stricken, obligatory awful bass solo is the worst part of the tune.
2013 J Packer 379 Bbb
1905 York Helicon
1960 Reynolds Contempora Sousaphone
2022 Wessex fiberglass sousaphone
1905 York Helicon
1960 Reynolds Contempora Sousaphone
2022 Wessex fiberglass sousaphone