Roger Zee Memoirs

"Life and Times of a Pandemic Musician"

2021 Bass Heroes 10/31/21

As I relentlessly hone my bass-playing technique by learning every bass line on virtually every CD I own, I ponder the players who truly feel my flow, the musicians who ultimately capture my "Heart and Soul" -- Boz Burrell (Bad Company), "Family Man" Barrett (Bob Marley), Jaco Pastorius (Weather Report), and Anthony Jackson (Phil Collins). Their love of melody and fluid, prodigious ability to create it on the fly unites them all. Three play fretless. Welcome to another excerpt from my memoirs, "Life and Times of a Pandemic Musician." B-|

I always describe bass playing using a surfing metaphor. The bassist doesn't create the wave. No, that's the drummer's job. Rather s/he exquisitely carves the swell with artful technique, plenty of emotion, and just a little touch of humor. On a good day, it all comes down to how gracefully you handle an irresistible, treacherous undertow and not drown miles off shore! ;-)

I really enjoyed playing fretless for a while, but as guitarist Simon Chardiet (Joey Miserable) pointed out to me on a gig, I can't sing and play fretless on pitch at the same time. Really sorry I sold my Japanese Fretless Fender Jazz Bass. I need to pick up another. =^_^=

Recently, in the constant struggle to improve and play faster with less pain, I made some major changes to my technique. On my fretting hand, I now mostly stick to the index, middle, and ring finger, using the pinky only for octaves. On the plucking hand, instead of holding my thumb horizontally on the neck, I now play with it fully extended over and around the neck which allows me to curl my hand further in order to hit the strings with my fingertips rather than the pads. This give me a more precise, clean, pick-like ring. :-)

I spent a lot of time over the past couple of years perfecting the banjo "thumb and claw" picking technique. Downstroke with the thumb and upstroke with the index finger. I recently abandoned that due to speed, smooth, and evenness concerns. :-O

The moment of clarity came on a gig with International Rock Star Dave Fields. He counted off his classic Blues shuffle "Let's Get Shakin'" at interstellar, warp factor speed. I just couldn't play the walking bass line fast enough and had to drop down from eighth to quarter notes. So embarrassing! :'-(

The next day, I worked my right hand banjo technique hard but still could not reach the requisite speed. Then, in a completely non-intuitive move, I tried playing the walking Blues softly with the right thumb only. And low and behold, much to my surprise started playing the riffs faster and more evenly. How does one finger trump two? But what the Hell, it works. Got that from Motown's James Jamerson -- "The Hook!" :-))

Now to the bassists who Rock my world! RIP Boz Burrell of Bad Company. Muscular, driving, funky, slinky, sexy. In short -- Bad Ass! B-|

In a class of his own, there's Aston "Family Man" Barrett" of Bob Marley fame. The centerpiece of the band, he plays a way you can only do by growing up in Jamaica -- halfway between straight time and swing. His pristine bass melodies provide the hook as well as the groove for each "Politically Correct" song. Ultimately hummable, sophisticated, and sexually healing! :-*

The game changer -- Jaco Pastorius. A monster! Totally unique. Made overplaying sound reasonable. Sad ending... :-[

Anthony Jackson personifies elegance -- gorgeous melodies created seemingly off the cuff. The fruit doesn't fall far from the "Family Man" tree. He's a master of time, taste, and exquisite love. But most important in my world, he makes women move and groove! And that brings ancillary benefits. :-D

As the march continues through Halloween and inexorably on to Thanksgiving and Christmas, it finally appears that the US has got a handle on the Corona virus. Musicians began going back to work in May and now roar through full steam ahead. Even I played my fair share of Summer and Fall gigs, LOL! But the true tests lies in how we fare when all the work moves indoors. A potentially very scary thought. >-O

Thankfully I wisely used my Pandemic time to better my playing. And now I've resumed my search for a new venue to resurrect the infamous Thursday Roger Zee Jam. Hopefully, I can soon share some positive news on that front. In the meantime, I continue to take gigs as well as frequent other people's jams. Also getting ready to travel this winter to San Diego, Vermont, Florida, and Jamaica. Until then, Peace, Love, and Happiness to all. May the light shine on you! One <3

YouTube - "Honey Child" - Bad Company w/Boz Burrell

YouTube - "Slave Driver" - Bob Marley w/Aston "Family Man" Barrett

YouTube - "Coyote" - Joni Mitchell w/Jaco Pastorius

YouTube - "This Must Be Love" - Phil Collins w/Anthony Jackson