STRATUS - Billy Cobham - Lee Sklar bass cover

My attempt to replicate Lee Sklar's ostinato hypnotic bassline of this marvelous piece of work from Billy Cobham, taken from his debut album Spectrum (1973).
A little tribute to Lee, since he's such an inspiration.
Bass: Fender Jazz American Original 60

[@lelandsklar6363]

Great job......nailed it!

[@luke_bass91]

Thanks Lee! i'm deeply honoured! Thanks for being such an inspiration on the music and human side. Virtual hugs!

[@shivasix9136]

Lee has played with so many legends... I think I remember him saying this was a way more difficult piece than it seemed. Nice Work!

[@francobettini5983]

Bass machine. Bravo!

[@luke_bass91]

Grazie mille!

[@mysterj1]

Many don't appreciate the restraint necessary playing a "simple" repetitive ostinato bassline. I can see a couple times where you closed your eyes and focused. I couldn't tell one place your meter was off this whole track. Nice!

[@luke_bass91]

Thanks for your kind words.
I agree with you, many don't appreciate it and think it's easy. Nothing further from the truth! 😅

[@mysterj1]

@@luke_bass91 we both know that skill will get you gigs.

[@aquamarine99911]

Lee has said that they set him up with a tiny amp beside Billy's huge drum kit. So he couldn't hear himself during the recording, otherwise he would have tried to sit more in the pocket. Based on that, your sound balance accurately reflects what Lee was hearing in the studio. Great job!

[@luke_bass91]

Thanks a lot!

[@garethde-witt6433]

Nice job. It takes stamina to play and self control not break the groove.

[@luke_bass91]

Thanks a lot! Yes, it wasn't easy!

[@yanickcoutu7812]

Lee would be proud. Great job

[@luke_bass91]

Thanks, much appreciated!

[@sabinasrexarockopera5087]

Very nice! I am comming ...

[@Alex-Soup]

Very nice! 👍 I find it really hard to play such ostinatos, it’s almost like walking a stair: the moment I think about my feet I stumble…

[@luke_bass91]

Thanks! I agree, ostinatos are one of the hardest thing to play. I like your comparison with walking the stairs, it's true 😂
The secret for me was emptying my mind, focusing only on the music. It's fascinating how the bassline interacts with all the beautiful mess played by the rest of the band, in fact I chuckled a bit!

[@Alex-Soup]

@@luke_bass91 Good advise, thx! It's a great record, I just listened to the whole album on Spotify inspired by your video!

[@luke_bass91]

@@Alex-Soup I'm so glad!

[@SamHutchinsonBass]

Fantastic groove, well played!

[@luke_bass91]

Thanks a lot!

[@pulse65]

molto bravo

[@The_Power_and_the_Glory]

Fantastic playing

[@luke_bass91]

Thanks for your kind words

[@steffencorcoran]

Good job young man!

[@luke_bass91]

Thanks!

[@meckanicall]

How do you mute the E string after plucking it for the F#...It seems you should mute it with the thumb of the plucking hand otherwise it will continue to ring in the background?

[@luke_bass91]

I mute the E immediately after playing the F#. When I play the open A string right after the F# the plucking finger rests on the E string.
It's harder to explain than doing it, trust me!

[@DavidBagshaw]

Yup - nice work!

[@luke_bass91]

Thanks indeed

[@BangVDrumChannel]

very nice n groove bro..👍🙏😎🎵🇮🇩

[@luke_bass91]

Thanks!

[@marejapt8620]

At what tempo (bpm) is it?

[@grigorisntamaras6709]

Song keys please?

[@luke_bass91]

It should be E minor, but I'm not sure.