Latest from Marcelo:
Bass Transcription: Bass Arrangement of Victor Jara’s “El Derecho de Vivir en Paz”
The recent protests in Chile inspired Marcelo Cordova to take on “El Derecho de Vivir en Paz” (“The Right to Live in Peace”), a hymn composed by Víctor Jara that Marcelo says “unites all Chileans.” Marcelo turned it into a solo bass piece. Here’s his transcription.
Bass Transcription: Anthony Jackson’s Bass Line on Michel Camilo’s “We Three”
Anthony Jackson is one of the most versatile bass players in the music scene and a real innovator in the 6-string bass (or contrabass guitar) that he developed in the seventies. He is known as a session musician working with artists like Diane Ross, Chaka Khan, Steely Dan, and Steve Khan, but he made a very important body of work...
Bass Transcription: Finn Guttormsen’s Bass Line on Farmers Market’s “Dusty Traditions”
The other day I was watching Michael Brecker’s version of ¨Nothing Personal” in 9/8 meter. I really liked this version and the group that played it. After some research, I found a Norwegian band called Farmers Market. I then contacted bassist Finn Guttormsen, who during the chat explained to me why they play in irregular meters. In his university, the...
Bass Transcription: Jimmy Johnson’s Bass Line on Alan Holdsworth’s “Tokyo Dream”
I was sad to learn of the news of Allan Holdsworth’s passing. He left a great legacy to all guitarists and musicians in general, and his playing in the 70’s had a great impact on guitarists such as Frank Gambale, Bill Connors, Scott Henderson and even Eddie Van Halen. His way of playing the guitar was revolutionary, his legato style,...
Bass Transcription: A Little Piece for Jaco
It’s been a long time since my last transcription because it’s summer here in South America, and I’ve been very busy working and playing. Recently I played with my latest project, , at the Lebu Jazz Festival. It’s a bass-drum duo with a lot of electronica. I also wrote “A Little Piece for Jaco,” for a review of Willcox basses,...
Bass Transcription: Walter Becker’s Bass Line on Steely Dan’s “Gaucho”
This month I chose the self-titled track from Steely Dan’s 1981 record, as a focus of study. I had never heard this group before, though my friends told me all the time there are a lot of good studio musicians on the band’s records. I never was interested in their music until recently when I found this record at a...
Bass Transcription: Dominique di Piazza’s Bass Solo on John McLaughlin’s “Belo Horizonte”
This month, the transcription is dedicated to French bass virtuoso Dominique di Piazza. I think Dominique deserves more recognition in the bass world. Ask any bassist today – Hadrien Feraud, Matthew Garrison, Adam Nitti, and many more – and they will swear that di Piazza has had a profound influence on their bass playing. His solo piece “Marie,” has opened...
Bass Transcription: Jimmy Johnson’s Bass Line on Allan Holdsworth’s “Spokes”
Today I’ll pay tribute to one of my bass heroes: Jimmy Johnson. His versatility always amazes me. He plays smooth jazz with his band Flim & the BB’s, he holds down the groove with James Taylor, and he always keeps the group together under complex harmonies with Allan Holdsworth. Johnson has a unique voice on the instrument, with very melodic...
Bass Transcription: Jaco Pastorius’s Bass Line on Weather Report’s “Night Passage”
Today we will be tackling Jaco Pastorius’s bass line on the title track from Weather Report’s 1980 album, Night Passage. This is one of the best Weather Report albums. To me, it always sounds fresh and modern, like a timeless record. The group also includes drummer Peter Erskine and percussionist Robert Thomas Jr, who sound very tight together. In this...