Cover
Bass Musician Magazine: Oct/Nov 2009 Issue Featuring Richard Bona
Jake: Gerald Veasley, who worked with Joe for quite awhile, had a lot of the same things to say about Joe as you did— macho exterior, but actually a great human being.
Richard: Actually, the first time I saw Joe live in Europe was with Gerald Veasley on bass and Scott Henderson on guitar. I saw them at the New Morning. It was a beautiful concert.
Jake: Let’s talk about your new release “Ten Shades of Blues”. Your tracks blend a variety of genres. Was that a conscious effort, which would obviously tie into the title, or is this simply where you live as a musician?
Richard: You know, I see music as colors. And this ties in; when you hear people talking about the blues they always see it in the most traditional way, the early blues. Blues for me is actually a scale. You’ll hear it in Africa, you’ll hear it in India, and you will hear it in Ireland, you know, Irish music. And in America, when people think of the blues, it’s different. It’s like country, when I hear people playing country music, it’s the blues. When you listen to jazz, you have to understand that the roots of jazz are the blues. So I look at the blues as a very universal music. I was listening to Miles Davis one day, the album that was the biggest selling jazz album at that time (Kinda Blue) it was interesting. At certain points, all you could hear was trumpet, no changes, and Miles was actually playing the blues. If you listen to the record quietly, Miles is definitely playing the blues. Miles was simply showing us how sophisticated the blues could be, even within very sophisticated music. I’m just trying to make the point that when one thinks of blues in strictly a traditional sense, we have to realize that the blues has the potential to be much more sophisticated than that. The thing is if you have a quote unquote scale in Africa, people understand it, and if you have a scale in India, people understand it. So I think the blues is representative of many sounds in the world…everyone understands the blues. This is what I had in mind when I made this record.
Jake: I hear many voices within your playing, and you’re singing. How in your opinion does one reach that kind of level of expression?
Richard: I grew up with so many different interests, and I was surrounded with a lot of musicians. My grandfather, my mother, and my uncles were all musicians. Everyone had their own voice, and I was always very curious about that. My perception of life in general is; I know that I don’t know. So that puts me in a position where I’m always a student, and I want to be a student of music till the end. The day I stop learning, well, that’s it. It will be a time for me to hang up the gloves. That’s why I’m traveling all the time and trying to learn everything I can. I want to understand everything that I can understand out there. And maybe that’s what you hear in my music, because I’m trying to incorporate everything from my background, and that’s what comes out.
Jake: You’re improvisational skills are quite extraordinary, and with your kind of non-schooled background, I’m curious to know how you developed and obtained the improvisational voice that you have?
Richard: What got me there is just simply listening to music all the time. Just today, I got a record from John Scofield, and I listened to one of his solos and went wow, what an amazing solo. So I listen to the solo and then I’ll play it by ear ten or fifteen times until I’ve got the solo. One thing that works for me is that I sing everything I play. When I’m practicing, I’m always singing everything I’m playing. That helps me even when I don’t have my bass in my hands, because if I can sing it, I know I can play it. My voice is actually my guide. If I sing it, it’s easy for me to play it because I know all my intervals by heart. (He sings a bop line) After singing that, I know I can play it. So that’s what I’ve always done. I just listen to a solo and go, man, I love that solo, and then I sing it, and then sit down and just kind of play it. And that’s the basis for my improvisation.
Jake: What happens when you’re in a setting where you’re just given a chord chart, and you have to improvise from that construct?
Richard: When I look at a chart, I look at the chords, and then I look at the melody, and I’m already singing it. I’m always singing with whatever I’m playing. I’m not a great reader, I read slow. But as I’m reading, I’m singing it and already playing the song. So normally I ask people to send the charts to me two or three days beforehand, and then I’m able to learn them. I hate looking at a chart on stage, so I tell them to send me the charts ahead of time, and I just sing them like I’m a singer, because I know that if I can sing it, I can play it. I also have a very good memory, and that’s my asset. So you always want to use the strongest parts of what you have to work with, and my ability to memorize so well helps me. I’m already a G11 in my brain–I think a computer is G5, right? I have a good memory for music, but that doesn’t mean that I have a good memory in life—it’s a very selective memory. My wife is always telling me that I have a very selective memory because sometimes I seem to forget everything else, and I don’t know how to explain that.
Cover
Leland Sklar, Over Half a Century of Bass, March 2024
We all have enjoyed Leland Sklar’s Bass lines for over half a century.
You might remember that we had him on our cover back in 2017 and did an update when he launched his book “Everybody Loves Me” in 2020. It was exciting to hear that The Immediate Family had got back together in the studio to work on their own music in 2019 and are now up to two albums.
Just last December, Magnolia Pictures released a documentary titled “Immediate Family” where we got a behind-the-scenes look at the massive contributions Danny Kortchmar, Waddy Wachtel, Ross Kunckle, Leland Sklar and Steve Postell have made in countless songs that are the very essence of our daily personal musical soundtracks. Seeing the astronomical roster of performers they have supported over many years is very eye-opening. It is a must-see for any music lover!
Now, I am thrilled to bring you a special chat with Leland Sklar where we go more in-depth into the bass side of his musical journey.
Photos: Header, Rob Shanahan – Cover Photo, Jay Gilbert/Chris Schmitt
Featured Videos:
Skin In the Game – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhbnzIrdjJ8
from new album Skin In The Game
The Toughest Girl In Town – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVQLZIRfLjU
from new album Skin In The Game
Fair Warning – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DN18DYwLsU –
from the self-titled album The Immediate Family
Visit Online
www.immediatefamilyband.com/
www.facebook.com/TheImmedFamily
www.instagram.com/theimmedfamily/
Bass Videos
Ricky Phillips, STYX Bass And More – February 2024
Ricky Phillips, STYX Bass And More…
I have always been a huge Styx fan. Their music kept me awake during countless nights studying and gave my imagination a place to escape when I had a moment to take a break.
I had the immense opportunity to chat with STYX bassist Ricky Phillips for our August Cover in 2017 and follow his projects as time passed. Now, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to catch up with Ricky as he has been super-busy over the past six years.
Join me as we take a deep dive into the band’s most recent album “Crash the Crown” and EP “The Same Stardust”. Ricky shares some insights into the herculean team effort behind the scenes and the musical process that keeps them ever so busy and how he has updated his sound.
Without further ado… Here is Ricky Phillips!
Photo: Jason Powell
Featured Videos:
“Crash of the Crown” lyric video
“Reveries” lyric video
“Save Us From Ourselves” lyric video
“Sound the Alarm” lyric video
“Too Much Time On My Hands” Zoom video 2020
Visit online:
www.Styxworld.com
FB & IG @styxtheband
Bass Videos
Jeff Pilson, Foreigner Low End – January 2024
Jeff Pilson, Foreigner Low End – January 2024…
Those of us who were around back in the 70’s remember how certain songs on the radio resonated with us. It turns out that many of these iconic melodies came from Foreigner and they were part of our personal soundtracks!
After all these years, the band is going as strong as ever with Jeff Pilson firing away on bass midstream into a 2-year farewell tour.
I am excited to be able to bring you all the details about Jeff’s musical Journey, the farewell tour in progress, how he gets his sound and his plans for the future.
Cover Photo: Krishta Abruzziini / Video Photos: Krishta Abruzzini, Karsten Staiger, Gina Hyams
Featured Videos
For more news on FOREIGNER and upcoming Farewell Tour dates, fans can visit:
foreigneronline.com
facebook.com/Foreigner
twitter.com/ForeignerMusic
instagram.com/foreignerlive
youtube.com/user/FWebTeam
Also on FB @officialjeffpilson
Bass Videos
Rodney O’Quinn, Rockin’ Hard Through the Years – December 2023
Interview With Foghat Bassist Rodney O’Quinn…
Many rock fans have enjoyed music by Foghat, who originally formed in London back in 1971.
Over the many decades of playing, the band members have changed, leaving behind only Roger Earl as the only original member. Bassist Rodney O’Quinn left the Pat Travers Band and joined the group in 2015 and has been laying down the low end for this iconic quartet keeping the Foghat legacy alive. With a new album titled “Sonic Mojo” which dropped on November 10th, the band is as busy as ever and there is lots of very tasty music to come.
Join me as we learn of Rodney O’Quinn’s musical journey, how he gets his sound, and his plans for the future.
Photos:
Cover, Jake Coughlin
Video Thumbnail, Tom Apathy
Photos used in the video: Kerry Quinn, Chuck Lanza, Kim Granger, Kenneth Strohm, Jake Coughlin, Jay Jylika
Featured Videos:
1st Single from Sonic Mojo – Official “Drivin’ On”
2nd Single from Sonic Mojo – “She’s a Little Bit of Everything Official Video
“Road Fever”- California Mid State Fair – Paso Robles, CA – 7-27-22
“Stone Blue” – Rodney O’Quinn Bass/Lead Vocals – Don Odell’s Legends – Woonsocket, R.I – 10/15/22 – The Stadium Theater
The Earl’s Court – Season 2, Episode 7: Funny Guys
“I Just Want to Make Love to You” – CasinoRama – 6-9-23
FOGHAT “Somebody’s Been Sleepin’ in My Bed” – Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, CT – 1/28/22
“I Just Want to Make Love to You” – California Mid State Fair – Paso Robles, CA – 7-27-22
Visit Online:
www.foghat.com
www.facebook.com/Foghat
www.twitter.com/FOGHAT
www.instagram.com/foghat_official
www.youtube.com/user/FOGHATMUSIC
Bass Videos
Suzi Quatro, Eternal Powerhouse – November 2023
Interview With Bassist Suzi Quatro…
It is always exciting to have the opportunity to talk to an artist who has been prolific for decades.
Suzi Quatro has been rocking our world since the sixties and has been super-creative as a bassist, musician, actress, singer, songwriter, author, radio show host and so much more. Most recently, Suzi released a new album titled “Face to Face” where she joined forces with KT Tunstall and together they are a force of nature. (See our video with Suzi about the album release)
Join me as we hear about Suzi’s musical journey, her many projects, how she gets her sound and her plans for the future.
Here is Suzi Quatro…
Featured Videos:
Suzi Quatro & KT Tunstall – “Truth As My Weapon” (Official Music Video)
“Shine A Light” music video (from the upcoming album)
“Bad Moon Rising” music video (from 2022):
Bass-Solo / Live in Prah? 1979
Glyserine Queen / Bass solo – Tampere Finland
Follow Online:
suziquatro.com
IG @suziquatroreal
FB @Suziquatrorocks
TW @Suzi_Quatro
Photos:
Video – Andrew Whitton
Cover and Header Photo – Courtesy of Suzi Quatro
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