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Meet Lucas Pickford –
Originally called Steps when it was formed in 1979 by vibraphonist Mike Mainieri, this group at various times has included tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker; keyboardists Don Grolnick, Eliane Elias, and Rachel Z; guitarist Mike Stern; bassists Eddie Gomez and Darryl Jones; and drummers Peter Erskine and Steve Smith, among others. Its music combines advanced jazz, R&B, rock, and fusion and this song ‘Pools’ by pianist Don Grolnick is a tour de force solos by Eddie Gomez and Michael Brecker. I’ve chosen Gomez’ solo for several reasons.
First, it’s an acoustic bass solo but Eddie’s command of the upper register is so complete that it almost sounds like he’s playing a fretless electric bass! I have stolen many a lick from this solo and I highly suggest you do the same. Gomez’ phrases are concise and clear. He uses modal ideas mixed in with be-bop phrases, pentatonic phrases, it’s all in there. As usual I’ve chosen to write the solo in treble clef as to avoid excessive ledger lines in bass clef. Study this solo, memorize the licks you like.
And without a doubt be sure to buy the CD simply called ‘Steps Ahead’ at Amazon. It’s the one released in 1982. You won’t be disappointed. Here is a link to a free MP3 of ‘Pools’.
So until next time be well, do good work, and stay in touch.
I can always be reached at www.lucaspickford.com
and at www.myspace.com/picksband
Lucas Pickford has written 26 articles in BMM.
I grew up in both Southern and Northern California and started playing the bass at age 13 after hearing and falling in love with the sound of Jaco Pastorius and Weather Report. My father Loren Pickford is a tremendous jazz musician and pretty much taught me everything I know about harmony, theory, and chord scales. He threw me in the deep end so to speak and I started gigging professionally with him at age 14. My dad dropped me off in Boston in 1988 at age 17 to attend Berklee College of Music on a scholarship. I graduated in three years with honors in 1991.
After Berklee I spent time in New Orleans and New York City. I returned to school and received my Masters Degree in 1996 from the Boston Conservatory. Along the way I've had the good fortune to travel around the globe and play with some great musicians like Mike Clark and the Headhunters, Charles Haynes, Aaron Goldberg, Matt Garrison, Robert Randolph, Brian Blade, Steve Hass, Jorge Rossy, Erik Jekebson, Will Boulware, Kurt Rosenwinkle, Dr. John, Scott Kinsey, Vinx, Kai Eckhardt, Bruce Flowers, Mino Cinelu, Susan Tedeschi, Steve Houghton, George Garzone, Dow Brain, Kei Akagi, Tiger's Baku, Greg Tardy, Antonio Sanchez, Steve Hunt, Bob Moses, and many others. I taught college for a couple of years in Massachusetts but recently my wife Kristin and I have returned to living on the West Coast and now live in the Bay Area where we enjoy it very much.
My debut CD with Steve Hunt called "Blown Fuse" has become a "post-fusion classic" of sorts and has recieved some great reviews from some really special musicians. Be sure to pick up a copy while you're here!
Visit Online:
www.myspace.com/picksbandRelated posts:
- Pick’s Transcription Workshop: Eddie Gomez’ Bass Solo on a Chick Corea Song, “Waltse For Dave”
- Pick’s Transcription Workshop: Bass Solo Transcription of Jimmy Johnson on a Tune Called “Panic Station”
- Eddie Gomez: Know the History
- Eddie Gomez: Leave Behind the Idea…
- Picks Transcription Workshop: The Art of Transcription
