I’ve always loved jazz. For many years, mostly while in school, I played jazz in a school band. Mostly big band stuff since that’s what we had. Buddy Rich’s band was a huge influence. I was a trumpet player and Maynard Ferguson was a hero. So was Bill Chase. Doc Severensen. somehow I unearthed Don Ellis and Blue Mitchell. Freddie Hubbard came along later.
At the end of many high school classes our teacher would tell the rhythm section to play ‘Blues in F”, or whatever. Randomly point to people to play a solo. I was always terrified! I didn’t know what to do because I didn’t UNDERSTAND. I could play from sheet music. Had a good tone. But that’s it.
Fast forward to many years later.
I was always intrigued by jazz trios. Piano bass and drums. Nowhere to hide. I didn’t play bass but always thought it was cool. Their bass lines seemed random, but always right. I bought a bass off of eBay. It arrived a few days later. On a Friday. Thanks FedEx!
That Sunday I was scheduled to play guitar in a solo set at a neighborhood block party, The block was where a lot of my local music pals live. I did a 30 minute set of solo guitar stuff. Old blues tunes.
After I finished there was an open jam. Ice cream truck. Costumes. Adult beverages. “Bring your instrument and sit in!”. So I did. With my bass I had gotten 2 days before.
I was now part of the rhythm section! After the third song the drummer asked me between songs ‘how long have you played bass?” I answered “about 20 minutes”. I figured out that the bottom 4 strings were tuned the same as a guitar. I just played what I thought I should play.
A bass player was being born.