To me Fred Wesley is a Mantra player or as Shawn described towards the end about using a repeated rhythm or groove base. One thing to notice if you’re trying to cop some Fred is that he often drops beat one and starts his phrase on beat two.. the result is super funky.
Hi Shawn, I just picked up trombone again after say, 10 years, and I was so discouraged at first. In high school I was first chair, and now I can barely manage my scales, but your channel has been a huge help and I'm so happy to be getting back into it!
Great tips here. One thing I found playing in a funk band for a few years before the pandemic was that I started to sound more like Fred Wesley by playing more like James Brown. What he does in those long improvisations is so sparse that it doesn’t seem like much, but like Basie, it’s always the right thing at the right time.
Wow!! I hate that I’m just “discovering” you!! When first starting out, I found JJ Johnson albums in my folk’s record collection and have been trying to mimic his style, all through high school and college. Now…school is long gone and I’ve been playing in cover bands. Seems like all of my “structure” has flown the coop!!😁 Watching your videos will hopefully help this “old man” regain his focus!! You’re a pretty good instructor!!!👏🏾👍🏾
He probably didn't over-intellectualize the who thing as much; he doesn't play blues ideas; the man got the blues. Thanks for the video, but we have to stop trying to figure out black musicians and just understand it's the life that breathes into the music. Music isn't approached from out to the in; it's in to the out everybody.
Thanks for the comment and for checking out the video. I generally agree with where you are coming from; however, I still find value in looking at the playing of the greats in this way. Not only does it give us practical things we can practice to improve the nuts and bolts aspects of our playing(music theory ideas, phrases, etc.), but if we go deeper and consider some of the things you mentioned, it can helps us find our own voices as musicians and improvisors. This is not to say we are trying to copy or mimic Fred's or any other musicians life so to speak, its more that knowing where they are coming from on a deep level helps us connect with the aspects of our own experience that makes our playing unique.
To me Fred Wesley is a Mantra player or as Shawn described towards the end about using a repeated rhythm or groove base. One thing to notice if you’re trying to cop some Fred is that he often drops beat one and starts his phrase on beat two.. the result is super funky.
Dig through his catalog, you'll find a tune he wrote called "Not the One"
Hi Shawn, I just picked up trombone again after say, 10 years, and I was so discouraged at first. In high school I was first chair, and now I can barely manage my scales, but your channel has been a huge help and I'm so happy to be getting back into it!
That's great! I'm glad the information has been helpful for you in your journey back.
Jabo told me you have to make people dance through your pain. Translate your personal struggle into a way to dance out of it! It’s freeing!
Great tips here. One thing I found playing in a funk band for a few years before the pandemic was that I started to sound more like Fred Wesley by playing more like James Brown. What he does in those long improvisations is so sparse that it doesn’t seem like much, but like Basie, it’s always the right thing at the right time.
Are you aware that Fred once played in the Basie band?
Wow!! I hate that I’m just “discovering” you!! When first starting out, I found JJ Johnson albums in my folk’s record collection and have been trying to mimic his style, all through high school and college. Now…school is long gone and I’ve been playing in cover bands. Seems like all of my “structure” has flown the coop!!😁 Watching your videos will hopefully help this “old man” regain his focus!! You’re a pretty good instructor!!!👏🏾👍🏾
Thank you for the kind words and for checking out the videos. I'm glad to hear that they resonated with you!
Cool insight! Thank you Shawn!
Another great vid Shawn.
You jus got another subscriber. Your phenomenal
Haha! Love this vid Shawn.
How's the new horn working out?
Going well so far. I'm still working on playing in tune on it, but that's kind of a life long battle for me 😂
He probably didn't over-intellectualize the who thing as much; he doesn't play blues ideas; the man got the blues. Thanks for the video, but we have to stop trying to figure out black musicians and just understand it's the life that breathes into the music. Music isn't approached from out to the in; it's in to the out everybody.
Thanks for the comment and for checking out the video. I generally agree with where you are coming from; however, I still find value in looking at the playing of the greats in this way. Not only does it give us practical things we can practice to improve the nuts and bolts aspects of our playing(music theory ideas, phrases, etc.), but if we go deeper and consider some of the things you mentioned, it can helps us find our own voices as musicians and improvisors. This is not to say we are trying to copy or mimic Fred's or any other musicians life so to speak, its more that knowing where they are coming from on a deep level helps us connect with the aspects of our own experience that makes our playing unique.