Alec Fraser- Brushbass-part one

Alec Fraser http://www.biggiolarecords.com/alecfraser.html

I played bass in The Jeff Healey Band for his last eight years. He was a great friend and bandleader.If you have something nice to comment on Jeff, feel free.I'm also a part of an acoustic trio called Brokenjoe. http://www.brokenjoe.com/music http://www.myspace.com/brokenjoemusic Here`s a wacky little contraption that I put together that allows me to play a beat while playing the stand up bass using a snare brush through my fingers. Lightning Chance and Ernie Newton amongst others used to use something similar back in the 40`s & 50`s on the Grand Old Opry shows when they wouldn`t allow drummers there. Theirs was a big old skin with a frame permanently screwed right to the belly of the bass, I didn`t want to do that because it would obstruct me from going up the neck if need be. My addition to this was to come up with a quick removable one that had more tension to it like a real snare and to also put in a condenser mic/pre amp that I can send to the P.A at festival gigs.It takes a while to get the hang of the brush being through the fingers but it`s worth it. At first I used it all night on duo and trio gigs playing every kind of music just to get the hang of it but now I`ll just pull it out for two or three songs a set for effect. It`s volume is turned up higher on this video so you can hear its tone. Normally it would be a bit lower in level.Also you MUST roll of all of the bass and mid-range on the Gazinkey's mic and increase the the treble to almost maximun on the mixer channel. This will give you a snare brush sound with no thud.

Unfortunately there isn`t much literature on these old pioneer bass players of Nashville and very few still doing this technique. If you know of anyone that does this brushbass style please put me in contact with them.

I don`t use this in the Jeff Healey Band because we have Al "baby" Webster behind the kit but a trio like Brokenjoe has the perfect instrumentation with banjo, harmonica and bass where the chop comes in handy at times.

Here are some friends and influences of Brokenjoe worth checking out. Dock Boggs, Charlie Poole, Charlie Angus and the Grievous Angels, Bill Munroe, Lester Flatt,Willie Nelson, Earl Scruggs, Uncle Dave Macon, Robert Johnson, Morgan Davis, Hank Williams, Hank Snow, Jack de Keyzer, Danny Marks, Rick Fines, Fruteland Jackson, Roscoe Holcomb, Fred Eaglesmith, The Weber Brothers, Jeff Healey, Mark Haines and Tom Leighton, Junior Brown, Matt Masters, Bob Wills, Wendell Ferguson, Billy Connolly, George Carlin, James Jamerson, Paul McCartney, Pinetop Perkins, Jimmy Rodgers, Murray McLaughlin, Gordon Lightfoot, Stomping Tom Connors, The Carter Family, Chubby Wise, Lightning Chance, Webb Pierce, Ray Price, Julian Fauth, Julian Fauth, Taj Mahal, Keb Mo, Grandpa Jones, The Chieftains, Merle Haggard, Dale Watson, Danny Brooks, Asleep At The Wheel, Ray Benson, Dan Whiteley, Jenny Whiteley, Cris Whiteley, Jimmy Bowskill, Steve Strongman, Finis Tasby, David Rotundo, Loretta Lynn, Tom Waits, Mo' Kauffey, Harry Manx, Doc MacLean, Long John Baldry, Mose Scarlett, Rick and the Biscuits, Matt Minglewood, Trouble and Strife, Ken Whiteley,Tim Williams, Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins, Harrison Kennedy, Steve Earle, one man bands and especially Electro-fi records. Do a google search, you won`t be disappointed.

The Brokenjoe CD " LONG WALK TO NOWHERE" is available for download at iTunes,
Rhapsody http://www.rhapsody.com/brokenjoe/longwalktonowhere,
emusic http://www.emusic.com/album/Brokenjoe-Long-Walk-To-Nowhere-MP3-Download/10980...,
Audio Lunchbox http://www.audiolunchbox.com/album?a=77659,
Yotta music http://www.yottamusic.com/albums/Brokenjoe/Long-Walk-To-Nowhere/
musicload http://www.musicload.de/item.ml?releaseid=1878032_2 and other fine on-line stores.

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• the
• same
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• bluegrass
• blues
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• brokenjoe
• alec
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• man
• band
• Jeff
• Healey
• bassplayer

[BottomLineDuo]

Thanks for the minute of quiet reflection at the end.

[Magublican]

No, thank YOU dear Bottom for pointing this out. We'll have our people look into it :-)

[Phosonell]

If you don´t want a drummer, who will pic you up at home and drive you to the gig (and back home of course)?? I think your Gazinkey can´t.

[Magublican]

Never mind that, who will come and do my laundry and tuck me in my parent's basement room at night? To hell with music, lets get to the important stuff:)

[rockincarbonara]

Well, i didn´t read all the comments here, so sorry if someone allready wrote the same like me...

Anyway this style of playing its a nice trick! Congratulations for that..

But as i see, your techique is sounding very simular to the 50´s slappin´style! And for that, you don´t need a brush to get the same effect...

Greetz: Carbo

[Magublican]

Your right Carbo, slapping is definitely worth learning but it sounds nothing like the brush.Sometimes a different texture can make a difference to a show or recording. Do it all if you like it I say. The description under MORE explains some of the history of the technique and guys like Ernie Newton the skillful trickster that originated it with Les Paul.Slap your bass not your kids!

[crr31]

Does anyone know that there's a silent 'B' at the end of the word Drum? I've been beating skins for 20 years and just figured that out!

Nice work Mr. Fraser, now I can tell my bassist to TCB while I distract the bartender.

[MadSmokerBBQ]

fun fun!!

[frazzzi74]

@Magublican ya!

[TheTwoGayGuys]

We love the Gazinkey!!!

[thedigitalcollective]

good post man.good for small gigs with a singer and or a guitar too.perhaps brass of some sort to set the mood.thanks for sharing.

[DougtheJUGlane]

interesting technique, there's no need for a drummer now ,haha