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Welcome back to Bass Lines! Here it is, Part II.
Thanks a lot for your comments and for the appreciation of Part I. This time I will show you an example of one of my all-time favorites, John Coltrane’s Mr. PC. This famous jazz standard has a very interesting melody that works great as a groove.
Between us, this is where I started the concept of grooving with the melody. Coltrane is a great school!
When I play live this jazz standard, I play the melody in the low register while the backing up band is playing a shuffle reggae style. It sounds very cool. I like the way the melody interacts with the groove. Try it!
Click to view John Coltrane’s Mr PC
Also, for your knowledge, Mr. Paul Chambers was playing the double bass in the original recording of Mr. PC in 1959. Keep Grooving!
Jaime Vazquez has written 25 articles in BMM.
Jaime David Vazquez was born in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico and started with classical guitar and music theory lessons at age 16. He entered the Interamerican University to study music education and bought a bass and started gigging with lots of bands, artists and performing in studio sessions. With such a busy schedule, Jaime had to put his studies on hold for a while; when the time was right, he returned to the university but he changed his main instrument from classical guitar to double bass and electric bass.
Jaime loves the low frequencies in music. He believes that the bass is still a young instrument with lots of possibilities that have not been explored enough. He likes everything that grooves but he thinks that the bass is a great lead voice with a great register too. His playing is influenced not only by bass players, but also by other instrumentalists such as guitarists, pianists, woodwind players, etc.
For Jaime, innovation is the key. He is a pioneer, an enthusiastic who loves music and his instrument. He's also a multi-instrumentalist, clinician, composer, arranger, transcriber, studio musician, music educator, freelance and solo artist. He has played in several TV shows, concerts and festivals with artists such as David Bisbal, Gloria Trevi, Rawy, Luis Fonsi, Olga Tañon, Lourdes Robles, Wilkins, Noelia, Shalim, Obey Bermudez, Samuel Hernandez, Tony Vega, Blest; Sheila Romero and Humberto Ramirez and others. Also, he has recorded jingles for TV shows, commercials, etc. An overall bass player currently playing in several musical projects from rock to jazz, studio sessions, clinics, workshops, etc.
Jaime David Vazquez is endorsed by Radial Engineering, SIT strings, DeLano pickups, Ashdown amps, Eventide, Eminence speakers, Analysis Plus Inc. cables, Italia Leather straps, MTD Basses, Scratch Pad Guitar Finish Protectors, Hipshot Products Inc. & iGig gig bags/cases.
Thank you Bass Musician Magazine! At last! What a great article! Maestro Jaime! You’re the BEST!
BASS LINES RULES! I told you…
I agree! BASS LINES RULES!
You have to hear him live. He is a fabulous performer.
Mr. PC? Sounds very familiar
Yes, you made it sounds differently.
I like your arrangement, and can’t wait to put some more in it
Keep up your good work. I’m so proud of you!!
Jaime ,this is cool man..Good read and also enjoyed the read on the cover also! All the best my friend!
Basslines: Grooving with the melody!
SUPER MEGA ROCK ON, THE NEWS! And I see people love your column! Keep it going
A performer, a composer, a studio musician, an instructor, a bass clinician, a columnist, etc. What a BASS DUDE! A BUSY MUSICIAN…
I agree with you Jonathan…Jaime is a busy musician with a lot music knowledge…I’ve been reading the last articles and they’re so complete!
Good approach! An interesting idea for making something different while playing…I like the way the melody keeps the groove. Your version of Cottontail it’s great too!
Aquí apoyando a nuestro amigo Jaime en otro de sus artículos para Bass Musician Magazine!
Nice lesson! Thank you for the additional information about Paul Chambers. Coltrane is one of my favorites! Let’s play!
Coltrane is one of my favorites too and Paul Chambers is a great jazz bassist, an icon! A multi instrumentalist!
Coltrane’s music is so cool to play. Thanks Jaime for this outstanding lesson!