Jazz Bass in the U.S.A
by Kevin Crosby
James Jamerson supplied the Motown groove and Monk
Montgomery and John Entwistle played pyrotechnical
solos. They and many other talented players proved
that the electric bass could be a vital and valuable
accompaniment and feature instrument.
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Prince:
The Free(dom) Radical
by Jessica McKay-Dasent
Prince uses Lovesexy to express his love of God, and
to show how sexual experiences can be spiritual as well.
Just as Prince expresses male and female sexuality as
a jointed experience, he also brings together sexual
and religious experiences as one in the same.
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SPIRITS
IN THE BASS
Joseph Patrick Moore Shares With
Zora
For me, instrumental music should express that which
cannot be spoken. Sometimes I write from the bass, other
times I write from the piano or occasionally I will
write without an instrument in my hand. With most of
my music, I try to convey a mood or set the scene for
the listener. |
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The
Legacy of Pablo Casals
by Keith J. Lewis
He was particularly noted for his interpretations of
the suites of unaccompanied cello of J.S. Bach. With
the French pianist Alfred Cortot, and the French violinist
Jacques Thibaud, Casals formed a noted chamber music
trio. |
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Zora's
Meeting Room
Meet the Tin Men
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SPIRITS
IN THE BASS
Joseph Patrick Moore Shares With
Zora |
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| Bassist/Composer
Joseph Patrick Moore’s life journey
has been consumed by pursuing the sounds,
colors and rhythms of music. He started
with alto saxophone in the fourth grade,
switched to drums in the eight grade and
finally found his voice through the bass,
in his high school years and beyond. His
fascination with music and his chosen
instrument led me to contact him about
the bass, its sensual appeal and to talk
about his recording of “Alone Together.” |
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“I
loved the low rumble and thunder of the bass
and I was immediately attracted to the tones
and frequencies of this instrument.”
Joseph Patrick Moore |
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| For
both the Double Bass and Electric Bass
Guitar, the role of both is to provide
a foundation for accompanying instrumentation,
while occasionally being featured as a
solo instrument. The bass is in part responsible
for music’s steady pulse and is
used in most styles and genres of music.
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Joseph
Patrick Moore Shares With Zora:
As a composer, I tend to write tunes that are
instrumental in nature. When you don’t
have lyrics conveying your message, it’s
challenging to tell a story without saying a
word. For me, instrumental music should express
that which cannot be spoken. Sometimes I write
from the bass, other times I write from the
piano or occasionally I will write without an
instrument in my hand. With most of my music,
I try to convey a mood or set the scene for
the listener. The bass can be a very powerful
force in dictating the mood and emotion of a
song.
Composing
instrumental music that features the bass
throughout can have its own set of challenges.
This became evident when I embarked on my
third CD journey titled, “Alone Together”
(released on Root Cellar Records-2002). My
first two CD’s featured many instruments,
musicians, and friends. However on the recording
of this particular project, I wanted to try
a new approach. I wanted to release a solo
bass CD featuring nothing but the bass. I
wanted to try to explore the possibilities
of the instrument-- combining the Contrabass,
the Fretless Bass and the Electric Bass--both
bowed and plucked. I composed solo, duo and
trio songs. One of the most challenging aspects
in creating this CD was how the low frequencies
would sometimes cancel each other out. I refer
to this as “Spirits in the Bass.”
I had to really use my imagination and explore
the possibilities and range of each instrument.
It forced me to think differently about the
“role” of the instrument. It proved
to be both therapeutic and liberating.
Regardless
of what instruments are used in the music
creation process, music should be created
with the hands of love, the ears of perception,
the heart of passion, and the spirit of inhibition.
When this is achieved, music can help stimulate
and arouse ones spirit and invigorate the
senses It can open that door to the enchanted
land. This is something I always try to be
aware of and strive to do with my music.
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| Recording
and Touring Artist Joseph Patrick
Moore, currently resides in the
Atlanta, GA area. He is an active
performer, educator and he is currently
completing his 4th CD with his group
scheduled for release in Fall
2003. |
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