Longtime internet Yesfriend Steven Sullivan of Forgotten Yesterdays suggested to me a very nice idea – to make a collaboration video among all of us playing “The Fish”. After some thought, I begin to imagine (Can You?;)) a long version of “The Fish” (expanded from the album one) in which you can play separately one or more of the parts, even if you play other instruments, or improvise along. It would basically be played along a backing track I would provide. Each one would then make a video with your performances and I would compile everything for a final “Mega-Fish” ensemble. That could be actually “Play For Chris 6”! – What do you think of the idea? Would you be willing to join it? See some instructions below:
1-Please let me know (by email miguel@miguelbass.com) which instrument(s) are you thinking of playing, and/or if you want to sing.
2-If you can, add info on which the bass part(s) of the original recording you would like to play, that would help managing all parts so I can have a bit of everything for the final mix. UPDATE – upon several requests, you may use soloing bits from live shows (e.g. versions of “whitefish”, Yessongs, Live at Lugano/Montreux, etc, but preferably the parts that fit in the main 7/4 pattern (the continuous harmonics)
3-I will provide you a backing track, with a click or guide, that will allow you to play along with it so all players will have matching tempos.
4-Ideally the backing track would not sound in the recording. You can do this by recording the bass direct, or recording while listening to the backing track in headphones. However, if you do not have the means to do any of the two alternatives, you can record whilst the backing track is sounding in your room, just make sure your bass is predominant in the recording (e.g. place microphone of camera closer to the bass amp and play the backing track not too loud and not too close to the mic).
5-Record one video (or one per each part you will play/sing). The duration of each shall be between 30 seconds and 90 seconds, so I may edit freely according to the length of the video, number of entries, etc.
6-Send your file(s) to my email, along with information about Name/Location and a text message dedicated to Chris, which will be displayed in the final mix. WeTransfer, Dropbox, Google Drive are some of the preferred ways to send the files.
Here is the video I have made to celebrate the 72nd birthday of Chris Squire. It’s “And You and I” and I have tried to go through the various possible overdubs in the recording, while also adding some of the live features, such as the inclusion of bass pedals.
Last December I had the pleasure to perform a free improvisation session with Marcelo dos Reis, on the occasion of the anniversary of Marcelo’s own label Cipsela Records.
Free improvisation is a completely musical ground for me, although I have been regularly participating in some improvised music events, but the challenge is always renewed, especially because this was the first time I ever played with Marcelo – hopefully there will be more!
I announce to my dear friends in the channel that this year I leave my regular job, and dedicate myself to Music in full-time. Therefore I am at your disposal for musical services and of course continuing with the online lessons.
In 2020, the fee for online lessons will drop from 20 Euro (one hour). This will also apply to the current students, of course! Please do check all information at the Online Lessons page. I will be glad to answer your questions by email and help you to accomplish your goals learning the bass.
Thank you and Happy New Year “Hopefully, Eventually”.
Earlier this month, I guested at a live performance with Manouchka, a gipsy jazz/manouche band composed by my old friend Nuno Marinho (Guitar) and Marian Yanchyk (Violin), also guesting Bruno Neves (Guitar).
It was the second time we played together as a quartet and there was a great atmosphere at the venue, a bar named Liquidâmbar, right in the center of my city, Coimbra.
A very special occasion also to play my grandfather’s double-bass, which is now in great shape thanks to the work of luthier Catarina Torres at Torres & Dase Luthiers. The instrument plays now very comfortably, and has completely opened its sound.
I made a small montage of some parts of the show – hope you like it!
This week I received news from our friend Simon Gilman, who contributed 9 years ago (tempus fugit!) with his own bass transcriptions of Yes and Chris’ songs, in which I had played the (audio) bassline.
This time, Simon has written another set of transcriptions using my videos as reference, and was kind enough to share them again with us, this time in pdf format! So, without further ado, here they are!
This summer, at Plovdiv’s Ancient Theatre, I attended Ensemble Trakia‘s 45th anniversary concert. Once again, a fabulous show with Bulgarian traditional dances and music. In my recording you will have the chance to hear very well the double-bass of my good friend Stela Petrova, who has featured on a special video generously recorded for me, demonstrating some applications of the double-bass in Bulgarian folk. One great opportunity to know how the bass works in this unique kind of music, with several meter changes and complex arrangements, but always with a genuine essential soul.
