Tal Wilkenfeld appreciation thread...

[odysseus]

Having had a good schmooze around the forum, I see that there are quite a few musicians of various sorts here, and some cracking material too. I thought I'd make a Tal Wilkenfeld appreciation thread as I've not seen any mention of her on here, so here goes:

I'm a bassist myself, and I noticed there don't seem to be that many female bass players of note around in the top flight of musicians. However, a couple of years ago I bought the Jeff Beck Live At Ronnie Scott's dvd. Watching it, I thought ah... female bassist... cool... then I watched further and thought Jesus Henry, she's the bastard daughter of Jaco Pastorius!!!. Turns out that this girl, Tal Wilkenfeld, 22 at the time, is something of a prodigy and has been talked up as a shining light in the future of bass. She's an absolutely wicked bass player, and yes guys.... she is indeed rather easy on the eye too!

Here's a couple of scenes: in the first one, she gets going on a solo round about 01:24 - the playing is fantastic, and the look she gives Jeff Beck once she's finished is absolutely priceless. It's like.. "Have some of that, chief. Now you're MY bitch!"




The second one is worth a look too - a version of Freeway Jam with her and Beck sharing the Fender Jazz for a wee while.




Hope you enjoy them. I did!

[devogue]

It's visually very impressive and she has good technique but what she plays is relatively undemanding (the all round music is fucking ace though!). There are lots of arpeggios (split chords), and notice how most of the notes and mini riffs are fairly tightly knit around the mid-register.

Having played Double Bass and Bass Guitar, I would put her riffs at about Grade 7 level on the Double Bass - they are more like Bottesini exercises - scales and arpeggio work at speed.

As you know yourself, the Bass guitar is a fairly forgiving instrument. The frets in all registers stop a note dead, but a Double Bass is a cruel bitch - land your finger a few millimetres out and you're flat or sharp, and as you go up the register the strings are further from the fingerboard so you have to work harder and exert more pressure to play higher notes (unless they are harmonics).

Watch this crazy bastard from about 8:50 to see real virtuoso bass playing - he's using a bow, but be in no doubt that his pizz (plucking) technique is also spot on. Every note is loaded with risk and effort...

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGt0u46C ... re=related[/youtube]

(Of course I would say all this because I'm a sucker for good old Jaco. )

[charlou]

Yep, talented young woman who really enjoys what she does ...

[charlou]

[charlou]

Watch this crazy bastard from about 8:50 to see real virtuoso bass playing - he's using a bow, but be in no doubt that his pizz (plucking) technique is also spot on. Every note is loaded with risk and effort...

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGt0u46C ... re=related[/youtube]

(Of course I would say all this because I'm a sucker for good old Jaco. )

Ohhhh

[devogue]

Shit, Oddy. My post has come across as all curmudgeonly and horrible. I didn't mean that. I only wanted to show how clever I was. [/hates self].

I need wine.

[devogue]

Watch this crazy bastard from about 8:50 to see real virtuoso bass playing - he's using a bow, but be in no doubt that his pizz (plucking) technique is also spot on. Every note is loaded with risk and effort...

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGt0u46C ... re=related[/youtube]

(Of course I would say all this because I'm a sucker for good old Jaco. )

Ohhhh

Good, isn't it?

I tried to play it once a long time ago. I thought it was bloody impossible until I saw him.

[charlou]

[devogue]

I love how her tit falls over the bass...

[odysseus]

Shit, Oddy. My post has come across as all curmudgeonly and horrible. I didn't mean that. I only wanted to show how clever I was. [/hates self].

No man, it's cool. I know where you're coming from. It's good to see someone who is fully into their instrument(s). I've only tried an upright once, and phew.... I don't think I'd get along with it too well.... 'specially playing progressive.power metal!!

I need wine.

Same some for meeeeeeeee..........

[odysseus]

New wallpaper spotted right there! Splendid!!