The Fender Jazz Bass with player connections - and a side of Honey

The classic Fender Jazz Bass.  We will get back to this group shortly - but for now - let's discuss the Fender Jazz Bass.  My pal Dan (in a local band called the Bad Dads) owns both but prefers the tone of the Fender Precision or P Bass.  The Jazz Bass (or J Bass) was the second model of electric bass guitars created by Leo Fender.  According to available sources (and my pal Dan!) the Jazz bass is distinct from the Precision Bass in that its tone is brighter and richer in the mid-range and treble with less emphasis on the fundamental harmonic.  Because of this, many bass players who want to be more "forward" in the mix (such as smaller bands such as power trios - think Rush, Triumph, and ZZ Top) prefer the Jazz Bass.  I think do recall seeing Geddy Lee of Rush use mainly the Jazz Bass when we saw them in concert a few months ago.  The sound of the Fender Jazz Bass has been fundamental in the development of signature sounds in certain musical genres, such as funk, disco, reggae, blues, heavy metal and jazz fusion.  On the above photo - of Taste of Honey, on the right is Hazel P. Payne – Guitar and Lead Vocals and over on the left is Janice M. Johnson – Bass and Lead Vocals.  To me, TOH are like the distaff equivalent of Chic's Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards.  Speaking of Bernard Edwards - I read that he played: the Music Man StingRay (that was bequeathed to Duran Duran's John Taylor after his death), a Fender Precision Bass, and a B.C. Rich "Eagle" bass during the prime of Chic. Later he would also use a Spector NS. He also was known to play a G&L L-1000 and a Sadowsky standard.

Smokey Robinson and The Miracles 1957 - 1972, live

Smokey Robinson.  Pure genius  -  Mr. William Robinson.  And the Miracles.  Add him to my Genius List please.  This is another in the long line of great Double Live Albums.  And also check out the great Brittish vocalist and iconoclast from a bygone era - Bryan Ferry doing Smokey's song The Tracks of My Tears.  Bryan Ferry is coming to Chicago next month - sans Roxy Music.  Not sure who will be in his touring band and also not sure if he will do any songs from the Roxy canon.  Try this one too:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DF9xfx-W_xA  And also: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9Hs-otJMic&feature=related  1957-1972 is two-record set as the group's final series of live concerts with original lead singer Smokey Robinson, recorded over a period of three days, July 14–16, during the 1972 National Parks Centennial, at the Carter Barron Amphitheater in Washington, D.C.

Hank Crawford - After Hours; on Atlantic, with Tom Dowd and Nesuhi Ertegun

Hank Crawford - After Hours.  I have it on good authority that some of you out there who read this blog are jazz music fans.  If you have been reading here, lurking around, or have formally followed this blog - you may have stumbled upon a few posts about jazz records.  I inherited the bulk of those records from my dad.  While reading the Lieber & Stoller book (Hound Dog, it's great!), we also learned a great deal more about Atlantic Records and Ahmet's brother Nesuhi Ertegun, during that formative era of music - the fifties.  I landed this record by paying paying more than what I normally pay, for two ninety nine.  Yes - it is on Atlantic (of course) # SD 1455 - whatever that means.  It was produced by Atlantic house producer from back then - the late, great Tom Dowd.  Shamefully, I don't know a thing about Hank Crawford.  Please allow me to tie him and this record into modern rock and roll.  Apparently Hank Crawford was asked to play (and did) on Eric Clapton's late eighties come back lp called Journeyman, which I do not own on vinyl.  That album has a too-polished techno sound from that era - but it is anchored in blues rock.  So Eric has Hank sit in on at least one song on the album.  I guess I will have to get Joureyman to find out which one/s.  But the jazz expert won't need me to explain Hank was the pillar of the Ray Charles experience as altoist, arranger, and songwriter.

National One Hit Wonder Day was Yesterday, A-ha with Take on Me

Yesterday was National One-hit Wonder Day.  A-ha's Take on Me topped the list this year.  And guess what?  I have their record without there One Hit.  This one is called Scoundrel Days.  Have never played it - likely never will, unless someone comes over and asks to hear it.  But the song you know is called Take on Me.  That one-hit was on their debut album called Hunting High and Low.