Post by ©KAJAMANIA Board Team (Slim K) on Jun 21, 2004 19:35:46 GMT -5
hi Beggsomaniac's 
In association with the Academy Of Contemporary Music in Guildford, Surrey, Bass Guitar Magazine staged the inaugural Groove School on 13th December 2003 – a day of intense tuition and bass playing.
Were you there? You should have been! Groove School is the brainchild of Bass Guitar Magazine and the Academy of Contemporary Music, the idea being to put together a day of bass clinics, bass classroom sessions and a chance to get together with a group of fellow low-enders. We had everyone on board for this day, new bassists, old hands and pros. Adrian Ashton reports back on the very first Groove School Day.
The day of clinics at Groove School reflected the huge talent and diversity that the UK has to offer bassists. After introductions, the packed seminar room got a demo by Nick Beggs slapping his new Music Man bass and tapping away on his Chapman Stick. After several questions and answers, the assembled crowd made their way into one of three classroom sessions for the day. Whether it was hard hitting rock lines with Roger Davis, ten steps to a perfect groove with Paul Geary, or a master bassline class with Paul Francis, everyone had a chance to listen, get up and play or just ask questions in these sessions. Back in the seminar room, Back Door bass soloist Colin Hodgkinson was preparing for his solo bass and vocal show that left everyone wondering, “How does he do that?” Colin’s set showed his mastery of getting down a bass groove, chordal accompaniment and lead lines on just one left-handed, sunburst Music Man StingRay. And then he sung a great vocal over that …<br>
We knew a pop star was in the house when the seminar room seemed to swell in numbers including several of the excellent support staff who were on hand that day. Step forward Nick Fyffe, who made his bass playing felt the world over with his performances with Jamiroquai. Today, instead of focusing on huge stadiums, Nick, and his trusty Yamaha TRB II, was demonstrating his basslines, wall of effects sounds and world tour knowledge to just 60 lucky bass students. As well as showing why he’s had one of the best jobs in the world through his grooves and sonic experimentations, Nick also gave a very humorous look at life on the road with an international act.
Having covered bass versatility (Nick Beggs), R’n’B groove and creativity (Colin Hodgkinson) and solid funk (Nick Fyffe), Groove school didn’t forget the world of the recording bassist with a clinic by Session ace Mo Foster. Mo has recorded with hundreds of artists from Phil Collins to Gil Evans. Bringing along his two trusty Fender workhorses (fretted and a fretless PJ modified models) Mo was happy to answer a variety of questions from the audience ranging from, “Do you play slap bass?” (“Yes, but only when I have to, e.g. the theme tune from Minder”) to, “How do you get a great fretless tone?”, which led to a neat demonstration of vibrato technique.
A huge thank you to all who attended, ACM and our sponsors, Strings and Things (Ernie Ball Music Man) and Yamaha Kemble. Groove School 2004 is already penciled in for next December; see you there!
Nick Beggs in action ...
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Some comments from those who attended:
Many thanks for the Groove School day. The whole day was very informative, great fun, and will help my playing no end. It was great just to be in the company of other bass players, and to get different opinions of playing bass. The workshops were varied, and I am sure everyone there got something out of them. Which brings me to the clinics. Superb performances by Nick Beggs, Nick Fyffe, Colin Hodgkinson, and Mo Foster. Special thanks must go to Colin Hodgkinson, who played a fantastic set, in what must have been a very difficult week, after the passing away of his friend and writing partner Ron Asprey.
Thanks again,can`t wait for the next one.
Charlie Douglas
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A little later than I meant, but thanks to you and all involved for a fantastic day at Groove School.
I had a fantastic time, learnt loads, and met my all time hero, Colin Hodgkinson. Has to be the best Xmas gift I got.
Pete Glass
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Nick Beggs and future musicians..
peace & love
SLIM K
In association with the Academy Of Contemporary Music in Guildford, Surrey, Bass Guitar Magazine staged the inaugural Groove School on 13th December 2003 – a day of intense tuition and bass playing.
Were you there? You should have been! Groove School is the brainchild of Bass Guitar Magazine and the Academy of Contemporary Music, the idea being to put together a day of bass clinics, bass classroom sessions and a chance to get together with a group of fellow low-enders. We had everyone on board for this day, new bassists, old hands and pros. Adrian Ashton reports back on the very first Groove School Day.
The day of clinics at Groove School reflected the huge talent and diversity that the UK has to offer bassists. After introductions, the packed seminar room got a demo by Nick Beggs slapping his new Music Man bass and tapping away on his Chapman Stick. After several questions and answers, the assembled crowd made their way into one of three classroom sessions for the day. Whether it was hard hitting rock lines with Roger Davis, ten steps to a perfect groove with Paul Geary, or a master bassline class with Paul Francis, everyone had a chance to listen, get up and play or just ask questions in these sessions. Back in the seminar room, Back Door bass soloist Colin Hodgkinson was preparing for his solo bass and vocal show that left everyone wondering, “How does he do that?” Colin’s set showed his mastery of getting down a bass groove, chordal accompaniment and lead lines on just one left-handed, sunburst Music Man StingRay. And then he sung a great vocal over that …<br>
We knew a pop star was in the house when the seminar room seemed to swell in numbers including several of the excellent support staff who were on hand that day. Step forward Nick Fyffe, who made his bass playing felt the world over with his performances with Jamiroquai. Today, instead of focusing on huge stadiums, Nick, and his trusty Yamaha TRB II, was demonstrating his basslines, wall of effects sounds and world tour knowledge to just 60 lucky bass students. As well as showing why he’s had one of the best jobs in the world through his grooves and sonic experimentations, Nick also gave a very humorous look at life on the road with an international act.
Having covered bass versatility (Nick Beggs), R’n’B groove and creativity (Colin Hodgkinson) and solid funk (Nick Fyffe), Groove school didn’t forget the world of the recording bassist with a clinic by Session ace Mo Foster. Mo has recorded with hundreds of artists from Phil Collins to Gil Evans. Bringing along his two trusty Fender workhorses (fretted and a fretless PJ modified models) Mo was happy to answer a variety of questions from the audience ranging from, “Do you play slap bass?” (“Yes, but only when I have to, e.g. the theme tune from Minder”) to, “How do you get a great fretless tone?”, which led to a neat demonstration of vibrato technique.
A huge thank you to all who attended, ACM and our sponsors, Strings and Things (Ernie Ball Music Man) and Yamaha Kemble. Groove School 2004 is already penciled in for next December; see you there!
Nick Beggs in action ...
----------------------------------------------------------------
Some comments from those who attended:
Many thanks for the Groove School day. The whole day was very informative, great fun, and will help my playing no end. It was great just to be in the company of other bass players, and to get different opinions of playing bass. The workshops were varied, and I am sure everyone there got something out of them. Which brings me to the clinics. Superb performances by Nick Beggs, Nick Fyffe, Colin Hodgkinson, and Mo Foster. Special thanks must go to Colin Hodgkinson, who played a fantastic set, in what must have been a very difficult week, after the passing away of his friend and writing partner Ron Asprey.
Thanks again,can`t wait for the next one.
Charlie Douglas
------------------------------------------------------------------
A little later than I meant, but thanks to you and all involved for a fantastic day at Groove School.
I had a fantastic time, learnt loads, and met my all time hero, Colin Hodgkinson. Has to be the best Xmas gift I got.
Pete Glass
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Nick Beggs and future musicians..
peace & love
SLIM K
