“Smooth” via Joseph’s BassView!!!”
Singers love to sing it.
August 2nd 2026 with the Jazz Derelicts.
Song: “Smooth”
By: Carlos Santana
Is it Cha cha or is it Salsa?
This song requires lots of communication within the band’s rhythm section and the music director. The chart takes some getting used too. The bass parts are specific on my chart and I can see why. The chord changes are designed to be hypnotic, so they only have slight changes. Since the band tends to get confused… me too, I stay loyal to the written part. Minimal improv.
Gear:
Amp:
The venue has an amp that I like to use. I plug into a direct box and also the amp. I finally took pictures and I can say that it’s an Ampeg B2-RE head. 450 watts at 4 ohms or 250 at ???
The amp head is on top of a speaker cabinet with 4 ten-inch speakers. I like that for my boomy Fender Jazz bass tendency. 4 tens should be more punch and less big low boomy speaker sub type sound. So far, band mates have no complaints.
I also plug into a direct box so that the sound guy can get a clean feed directly from my instrument.
He told me later that it sounds good and he runs the bass signal though a compressor. He also plays bass. I ask him if it gets too clicks and he says all good. I like all of that. I have the freedom to accidentally play too loud a little.
Bass:
Fender Jazz Bass Deluxe 4 String… also known as “Bread and Butter.” I use this bass for long periods of time. I modified it for longevity. Light strings, heavy-mass bridge, low action, grenade launcher with cup holders, thick strap, MAC-10s, toilet seat cover dispenser, and very useful tone knob controls.
I’ve been obsessed with quarter ever since arcades existed. I’ll probably add a quarter machine to my bass soon. :)
Music Stand AND Lights:
I purchased the stand lights for these Gaslamp performances. I don’t remember the brand name. The lights are rechargeable and they come with a long long long charging cable. It’s amazing how long it is. Black and long. Very, very long and black. Hard… to see. I don’t know what you were thinking, but the music stand has been with me for a long time. It’s very portable because it breaks down into a small manageable shape. It’s long and fits well into a former telescope bag. I recently fixed the zippers with a busted keychain. I’m surprised the stand is not broken yet.
The venue: