The Bassist's Picks #2!
Better late than never!
The second edition of The Bassist’s Picks playlist features a little more bluegrass/modern americana and singer songwriter material than the first pick, but with a heavy handed emphasis on great arranging. Hope you enjoy these tracks as much as I have been!
STranded - Sierra Hull
Virtuoso mandolin player and one of modern Americana’s greatest talents Sierra Hull’s 2016 album Weighted Mind is a compilation of incredible songwriting and arranging, but this track, Stranded, is a standout for me because of the bare bass + mandolin instrumentation with Hull’s great singing. The bowed bass accompaniment fits perfectly in both a supportive and counter-melody role.
Last one on the line - Hawktail
Bassist Paul Kowert’s playing in all of Hawktail’s music is outstanding. This upbeat track features just a little taste of the band’s arranging chops. It’s a great lesson in using instrumental virtuosity to serve the song without letting any given player’s technique become the focus.
Every Note a Pearl - Goat Rodeo
Goat Rodeo - or the Goat Rodeo Sessions - is the metric against which I tend to judge other groups in this modern Americana/Bluegrass style (for better or worse). This super group with Edgar Meyer, Yo Yo Ma, Stuart Dunca, Aofie O’Donnovan, and Chris Thile takes their already high bar of musicality to a completely new height with this track. Just… have a listen.
Astrovan - mt Joy
This feel-good groovy track’s chorus and hook are stickier than the carpet in the back of even the most road-worn touring Astrovans.
King Song - Lonely Choir
I had the pleasure to listen to Lonely Choir at a SoFar Sounds - Denver gig recently. They played 2nd of 3 bands (I was in the third!) and opened with this brand new release. Rachel is one of Colorado’s great singers and songwriters - keep an eye out for her career to skyrocket. And just listen to the lyrics…!
Petalos - Carolina Sena
Carolina was the 1st act in the aforementioned SoFar Denver gig. Her guitar playing and singing was beautifully florid. Unfortunately my Spanish language is still pretty basic, so I can’t speak to her lyrics - but I was taken aback by the pure musicality this Argentinian songwriter emanates.
Christmas time is here - vince guaraldi
My favorite jingle jazz standard - sorry not sorry! The melody and harmonic motion have had an undue amount of influence on everything I write. I only wish it was OK to play this song on jazz gigs outside of the month of December. Maybe a Christmas in July gig is due up soon?
The Christmas song - nat king cole
Number 2 of best jingle jazz standards, and Nat King Cole’s arrangement is a perfectly luscious setting for this indulgent melody.
In the wee small hours of the morning - Frank Sinatra
Okay, Frank didn’t write this song. It was Frank Mann and Bob Hilliard no matter what google says. This is the way of most of “Frank Sinatra’s Songs” - they’re mostly just popular songs from the era that he sang and his arrangements have a staying power. However - this arrangement of In the Wee Small Hours is another perfectly luscious setting for one of my favorite tunes.
Undu - Brooklyn rider & Magos Herrera
This group is coming to Fort Collins in early 2023 and I am SO excited to go see them. This arrangement of Undiu by Joao Gilberto…. transcendental. Herrera’s singing is otherworldly on the entire record, but there’s something extra special about the contemplative one-word nature of this track in particular. Maybe it’s the clarity and simplicity of parts combined with the thick harmonic vocabulary.
Let me know your thoughts! Enjoy!