Most… maybe all of our arrangements have specific written bass parts. However, I’m free to improvise.
Nobody is complaining. The audience was too shy to dance.
The venue:
The venue is the home of a 80 year old man in Long Beach California. (Happy birthday and thanks for following the band around to local spots!)
Jazz Derelicts’ freaky dancer-fans at the other places won’t be allowed into this persons home… garage… driveway… venue.
OUR band is almost as big as the “audience” by the time we start music. A sax player brought a cooler of beer for bandmates. It’s a laid-back gig.
I’m standing in the back of the garage near the back door of the garage. The drummer is to my right, guitar is to my left, and the rest of the band is in front of me. There are about 10 to 12 of us in the band. We are accidentally the party and the music.
Bass:
Fender Jazz Bass Deluxe 4 String … also known as “Bread and Butter.” I use this bass for long periods of time. Dereterity, efficiency, and longevity is always a consideration. I’ve modified it for long performances. Light strings, heavy mass bridge to reduce neck-dive, low action, and little oiled flatwound strings.
Amp:
I bring my own amp. like the old days. No backline will be provided and I understand. It’s a person’s house.
I will use my Mesa Boogie Walkabout. I don’t think I used the satellite. I probably should have. Someone made a comment about too much volume as I walked in with it. They are dumb. I am dumb. Super volume, that’s not why I love to have the satellite speaker attached. I like it for clarity and fullness of the entire musical presentation.
Good o’l “Bread and Butter”, my Fender Jazz Bass Deluxe has a tendency to be boomy with this amp. I make adjustments to the parametric EQ. So far, band mates have no complaints.
Music Stand:
The music stand has been with me for a long time. It’s been very durable. Also, very portable because it folds into a small manageable shape. It’s long and fits well into a former telescope bag. I recently fixed the zippers with a busted @SoCAlHive keychain.
