Originally posted by C.Bull in the Keyboard forum:

HIROMI VIDEO

For the uninitiated, Hiromi was on the cover of Keyboard mag a few months ago. She is a phenomenal performer...sort of a female anime version of Keith Jarrett (IMHO).

The bass player, who I am unfamiliar with (I'm sure one of you will name him as soon as you see him), has a very long solo, but it's his supporting grooves that sound so tasty.

And that Fodera!!! I get it now.

__________________________________
EDIT: It's Tony Grey (www.tonygrey.com)

SOMETHING A TINY BIT MORE AGGRESSIVE with more Fodera goodness.

Somebody's feelin' the Fodera luv!

Great basses, lots of great tones. They feel funny to me, but I'm imagining you can get them made anyway you want.

Tony sounds great. I love how he has the bass strung E - C (???).

I fight with that all the time. I'd like to string my 5 E - C for more range when I solo, but I need the low B for some of the grooves. I know, play a 6, but I just can't get comfortable on a 6. My hand is just so small and those necks feel so big. Even my Carvin, which had a narrow neck as far as I could tell, felt big and caused a lot of fatigue.

Thanks for sharing the link.

I didn't download the video....no time...but my common sense tells me (and I mention this only 'cos no one has yet) tthat the player is none other than AJ (Anthony Jackson). Since you are unfamilar with him let me give you a quick course:
He is is one of the true, great innovators of the bass gtr (he is the man who is wholly responsible for the design of the 6 string "Contra-bass" guitar which he designed and made, with Ken Smith in the late 70s).

He is also one of the true great players/musicians of all time.

He is, in short, a true monster. Yet, with mega-chops galore, I have never heard him once do anything just for ego-gratification (and I have never heard him ever squash a groove to get a solo over, either).

Reference:
O'Jays "For The Love Of Money" (that is HIS riff!)

Several Chaka Khan titles from the 80s which escape me right now but are required listening for bass players!

Any of the Eyewitness albums with gtr great Steve Khan.

Al DiMeola "Elegant Gypsy" "Land Of the MIdnight Sun" "Rendevous" etc.
OK..here is a player who can unsion parts with DiMeola...that's gotta be challenging.

He is featured with the Michel Camilo Trio in the Film "Calle 54" He has a fairly short solo in an amazing tune with Camilo. In his solo he reharmonizes and re-structures the primary motiff of the tune with such power and mastery that at the film's premier in NYC the audience (and mind you this is at a MOVIE) stood to give him a standing ovation.

BTW....AJ is and has been a very vocal champion of pick playing (his pick technique is amazing tho of late he hjas been using more thumb and fingers, classical gtr technique...withthe same amazing results!) and quite "anti" slap playing (of which he does none nor ever has..."an abomination" he calls it.)
He also always plays seated with a footrest and no strap.

Outspoken, gifted, very intelligent.

The Fodera in question is the Anthony Jackson Presentation Model (I believe you can get one from Fodera for around $25k...)
It features a 36" scale, chambered body and NO onboard electronics of any kind. The Pickup (custom made by Seymour Duncan...Aero's are an option from Fodera) is wired direct to the ouput jack. There is nothing, zip, zero, nada, 'tween the pickup and the jack (no capacitors, resistors, tone control, even volume control...). For AJ the sound is truely in his hands.

Last I heard he was using API mic pre and Krell power (these things are sooo high priced I cannot even fathom it!) amp to run the Epifani 1x12 cabs he also helped design.

Max

Max, you might want to move that excellent post to an Anthony Jackson thread (there are definitely a few on here already) - as Tony Grey is the bassist on this video (and all the other Hiromi ones I've seen)!

Alex

SteveC, seems like a good reason to own two of those five strings.

Wally

Thanks for the rundown on AJ, Max. I'm very familiar with him, but I could see the confusion, as he is the only other bass player to play on Hiromi's albums besides Mr. Grey.

I should have made my "edit" text a little more prominent in the first post.

Actually, if the jazz combo gets going again...

09: I think there's another thread somewhere w/ video of Tony Grey.

Steve: What about two Modulus 5-strings? One strung E-C, the other B-G. Maybe make the E-C one fretless.

Peace.
--s-uu

Yup. Phil W posted it.
Here it is.
That's the first I'd heard of Mr. Grey and his interesting history.
Plus, we're practically neighbors.

Peace,

wraub

Uggh, sorry, I don't know how I missed that thread. Just an amazing player, if you ask me.

That would be nice...

oops...my bad!

Tony Grey is another fabulous player (I guess I should've downloaded THAT video....!)

I seem to recall he was using a Fodera Matt Garrison Model.

I was unaware that he was now (or then) with Hiromi...I knew AJ was....recently if I recall...in that bass chair.

Max

Try pulling your thumb to the treble side of you neck when playing the six string. See the position that Bunny Brunell plays in (headstock pulled towards the shoulder). He pulls the strap over the edge that your right arm rests on and has a straplock to keep it there. These things may reduce the wear and tear.

I like Kung Fu World Champion better. What I can't figure out is why Hiromi always looks like she has an intentional world class case of bed-head...

That's her thing. She couldn't look more reserved and normal when she's not on stage.

I think it looks... good.

Peace,

wraub

His solo steals the show...

Is Tony Grey using 3 fingers for the fast part of that solo?

Sweeeeeeet tone!!! And so tasteful.

Thanks for the link, i will now have to dig up more of her. Finally something new that i can get into!

I somehow missed Phil's previous thread.

Wow! I love this music! I don't know why I've never heard of her before. Any album suggestions from those who are more familiar with her music?

I just had an eargasm...