_Sweet Willie_ Posted May 23, 2003 Share Posted May 23, 2003 Ya' know, I've been spending a little time the past couple of days listening to and playing along with Ben Harper's CD "Fight for Your Mind" (1995). Juan Nelson is the bassist. I have been thoroughly enjoying learning Juan Nelson's lines on this album, particularly on the track "People Lead" and the title track. Don't know where I'm going with this. Just sharing a recent source of pleasure for me. Peace. spreadluv Fanboy? Why, yes! Nordstrand Pickups and Guitars. Messiaen knew how to parlay the funk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
... Posted May 23, 2003 Share Posted May 23, 2003 Ahh yeah. I like that album a lot. One of the coolest 5-string grooves ever is on that cd: "Fight For Your Mind", that song just kills. Now, open your CD booklet and look at the picture of Juan playing a Spector NS5-XL. That was the Spector that I owned for several years. I bought that bass from Juan after he got endorsed by (Modulus?). Came with a super-fly flight case with 'Juan Nelson' stenciled on it. Someone in the Ukraine is now the happy owner of that particular bass (no shit!!). I sold it through Bass Northwest and they got contacted by this guy over in the old Soviet Republic. Wacky I tell you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Sweet Willie_ Posted May 23, 2003 Author Share Posted May 23, 2003 Originally posted by Bumpcity: Ahh yeah. I like that album a lot. One of the coolest 5-string grooves ever is on that cd: "Fight For Your Mind", that song just kills.Yup, title track is sweet. I've got the CD player on repeat w/ that tune going over and over and over. I've been playing that groove non-stop on my MM S'Ray 5 fretless (!) thru my SansAmp Bass DI and w/ a touch of chorus. Yowsa! Too, too, too phat in terms of tone. So groovalicious I can't stop playing it! Originally posted by Bumpcity: Now, open your CD booklet and look at the picture of Juan playing a Spector NS5-XL. That was the Spector that I owned for several years. I bought that bass from Juan after he got endorsed by (Modulus?). Came with a super-fly flight case with 'Juan Nelson' stenciled on it. Someone in the Ukraine is now the happy owner of that particular bass (no shit!!).OK, now that's cool. Top quality story, man. BTW, Juan is playing MTD basses these days. spreadluv Fanboy? Why, yes! Nordstrand Pickups and Guitars. Messiaen knew how to parlay the funk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
music-man Posted May 23, 2003 Share Posted May 23, 2003 YES. I like his playing a lot. I think of him as one of the best 5-string players in pop/rock - to me he plays a 5 in a way that makes the most of the instrument without overwhelming the tunes. On the right gigs, I consciously steal his trick of throwing a chromatic 9-flat9-8 into phrases that hang for more than a bar on a major chord. It immediately changes the harmony to something more nasty and dark. Also, that kick-butt way he has of playing fills that sit right in the pocket (harmonically AND rhythmically) but that move from somewhere like Bb on the G-string ... all the way down to a C on the bottom. That's take-no-prisoners playing, if you ask me. I think his sound is really cool too - I love that grrr top-end presence. R.e. Ben Harper - I really liked the swampiness of "Welcome to the Cruel World" ... but the first album I really got into of his was Will to Live - I like that one the best, and I really love Juan Nelson's parts on that record. By the time I began to listen to Fight for Your Mind, I started feeling like I was kinda done with it all though ... But on your rec, Sweets, I'll listen some more, I guess. Have you checked out the new album? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Sweet Willie_ Posted May 23, 2003 Author Share Posted May 23, 2003 Originally posted by music-man: R.e. Ben Harper - I really liked the swampiness of "Welcome to the Cruel World" ... but the first album I really got into of his was Will to Live - I like that one the best, and I really love Juan Nelson's parts on that record. By the time I began to listen to Fight for Your Mind, I started feeling like I was kinda done with it all though ... But on your rec, Sweets, I'll listen some more, I guess. Have you checked out the new album?I haven't checked out the new album. The only CD I own of Ben Harper's (and the Innocent Criminals) is "Fight for Your Mind." I've heard tunes from all the others, just don't own 'em myself. You're right. Juan gets mad phat tone w/ great grrr on top. However, I think you'll be pleased w/ what you can do in terms of tone w/ some of those BH tunes using your 'Ray 5-string! spreadluv Fanboy? Why, yes! Nordstrand Pickups and Guitars. Messiaen knew how to parlay the funk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foot Posted May 23, 2003 Share Posted May 23, 2003 Hi, just thought I'd point out the wicked solo Mr. Nelson plays on Steal My Kisses on Live from Mars. That whole album is mindblowing, but as a bassplayer that one little moment just makes me grin till it hurts. PonderIsaac Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg A Posted May 26, 2003 Share Posted May 26, 2003 Check out the new Ben Harper DVD. There's outstanding footage of "Fight for your Mind" on there. -------------------------- Peace http://www.thetimecircus.com http://www.myspace.com/medullaoblongataband Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Sweet Willie_ Posted May 26, 2003 Author Share Posted May 26, 2003 Thanks for the tip, Gerrg. spreadluv Fanboy? Why, yes! Nordstrand Pickups and Guitars. Messiaen knew how to parlay the funk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DigiVoices Posted May 27, 2003 Share Posted May 27, 2003 Originally posted by Gerrg: Check out the new Ben Harper DVD. There's outstanding footage of "Fight for your Mind" on there.I was just listening to that track. One of my absolute favorite Juan bass solo's. The new album is pretty good to, has a religous tone to it, but it also has a lot of fun tracks. Brown eyed blues is probably my favorite bass line from the new album. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Sweet Willie_ Posted August 10, 2004 Author Share Posted August 10, 2004 Bump o' luv. Just listening to some Ben Harper w/ Juan Nelson again. JN is a groovy mofo. It's that simple. Peace. --SW spreadluv Fanboy? Why, yes! Nordstrand Pickups and Guitars. Messiaen knew how to parlay the funk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McDuff Posted August 10, 2004 Share Posted August 10, 2004 Good bump Sweets!! I was just listening to that album and thinking about how he got that tone on the title track. When that album came out, I assumed it was on a four with a good octave effect. I don't own a five so that's how I've been playing that line all these years. Great album though, prob my fav BH album. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
getz out Posted August 10, 2004 Share Posted August 10, 2004 I love that album. "Gold To Me" is a great hook. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Phil Posted August 11, 2004 Share Posted August 11, 2004 hee hee, Juan is very big. I like that picture of him when he was the BP cover story back like a year and half. His bass looks small compared to him and other basses on other people. But he is so great. I think I heard this on a previous thread: Something to the effect of "The bigger you are, the more you resonate the bass frequencies off your gut. And that why most bassists are fat." http://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/blue.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/black.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/fuscia.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/grey.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/orange.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/purple.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/red.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/yellow.JPG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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