Date : 28th June 2004
School for the Performing Arts
Attendance : 13
Apologies : Theo Klassen, Dave Broido.

13 Present: Martin Simpson, Wesley Chetty, Nippy Cripwell, Gerrie Lubbe, Johann Kruger, Nick Cook, Chriselda Brits, Gerhard Kok, Adrian Lay, Greg Gibb, Glen Haggis, Steve Crozet, Sylvester Majola and Jason Green.

Just as the last two months, we started with a photo session of Bassists with their basses, for the web-site. Members only first and then a mix of members and possible members to be. Thanks to Johann once again for doing camera duty in Graeme’s absence.

Welcoming by Martin Simpson.
Points addressed were to let the people present know that there’s a ‘new kid on the block’ a local website for drummers – www.sadrummer.com - the brainchild of drummer, Rob Watson and Michelle Smith who works at Marshall Music. Check it out.
Mention was also made of the up-coming joint meet of bassists and guitarists for an evening of recitals at Allenby Campus on 23rd August.
Mention was also made of a workshop the following evening (June 29th) with Denny Lalouette and Neil Ettridge at Music Mate – Jason interjected here to say it would be nice to have joint bass and drums workshops on a regular basis on club nights and to encourage some jam sessions which it seems is what is happening overseas at the moment.
Martin also mentioned that the time is now upon us to say '‘no more submissions for the bass album project” otherwise it’s going to drag on endlessly.
Martin also requested that guys could do interviews of each other for the site and newsletter. He told everyone present that due to his untimely death, Gito wasn’t ‘captured’ for the website and newsletter so we’d better concern ourselves with interviewing each other during the time that’s left to each of us – yes, it’s a morbid subject but one that needs to be faced!!!
Finally, Martin requested that photos of local bassists be sent through to him for framing and putting into the galleries section of the website.

Martin handed the floor to the Green Machine, Jason Green

Jason immediately handed out music scores that no doubt scared the pants off of most of those present and proceeded with his presentation on walking basslines. After a short talk, Jason set the click on beats two and four and went through a short passage that was in most people’s grasp and then went on to demonstrate more complex walking patterns. Jason explained to those present that a lot of people play the various scales without fully realising exactly what each scale’s musical content is and that failing would show itself when someone who knows how to ascend is required to descend. Because many players don’t fully understand music theory they’re unable to descend through the various modes because they’re totally in the dark.
Jason then put a piece of music on with the bass part omitted and proceeded to play the written bass part along with the music – with a bass solo and a drum solo no less!!! The idea, other than to show the walking lines was to demonstrate that when taking a solo, the player still needs to follow the written part to know exactly where to go back into his part and also to follow the music through the drum solo even when he wasn’t actually playing so that he could return to the music in the right spot. Jason’s performance brought about a round of applause for his performance.
Jason gave us a little more of a talk and then proceeded to play his last performance of the evening which also brought out a round of applause.

Martin returned to the floor to thank Jason and to make mention of one point he’d forgotten to mention earlier. He asked if there was any interest in having a Chiropractor come along one evening (possibly in October) to give us a talk about how we must look after ourselves with correct posture and warming up exercises. Those present were very much in favour and Gerrie Lubbe suggested that we ask that same question on the website to be sure that we get a good turnout that evening which was agreed upon.

Adrian Lay came back for his first meeting since our very first meeting in February 2002 and brought with him a Victor Wooten video which he says we could all watch one evening if we organise ourselves a screen and video machine. This was a fine gesture indeed and if we receive enough requests to see the video, we’ll organise something. This may even set a president for more events of this nature to be carried out.

All those people who are interested in a Chiropractor coming along to a bass evening and to see the Victor Wooten video are urged to contact Martin to let him know their wishes and the evenings will be organised. After all, we’re here to give you what YOU want not what we say you’re going to get.

The evening ended at 21:15 and most of us went home to do a bit of woodshedding.