Jerry Jemmott (King Kurtis, Aretha Franklin)

Courtesy of Ampeg Courtesy of Ampeg

Courtesy of Ampeg

By Thomas Semioli

 

“Jerry never does anything just because it’s right to do, he likes to do it because it feels good…” B.B. King.

 

A true giant of the instrument – Jaco Pastorius cited Jerry Jemmott aka “The Groovemaster” as his favorite player and mentor. And when you hear (and feel) Jerry’s bass artistry on scores of tracks, you can obviously understand why. A disciple of Paul Chambers and Charles Mingus – Jemmott owns “the pocket.” Greatly inspired by Paul Chambers, Jerry often stretches the harmonic and rhythmic boundaries akin to his mentor.

 

Along with James Jamerson, Duck Dunn, Carol Kaye, and Chuck Rainey – Jerry Jemmott played a major role in establishing the electric bass in the studio and on the bandstand.

 

Jemmott was among Atlantic Records’ most prodigious session cats during their golden era – appearing on such landmark recordings by Aretha Franklin (Soul ’69, Aretha Now!, Live at the Fillmore), The Rascals (Freedom Suite, Peaceful World), King Curtis (Live at the Fillmore, Everybody’s Talkin’), and Roberta Flack, plus numerous sides by George Benson (The Other Side of Abbey Road, Tell It Like It Is), Ray Charles, Nina Simone, Gil Scott-Heron, Janis Ian, Herbie Hancock, Wilson Pickett and Herbie Mann to cite a very, very select few.

 

Jerry is also a prolific solo recording artist, waxing sides which meld blues, funk, soul, and reggae under his name and the moniker Jerry Jemmott & Souler Energy.

 

Bass Player cited Jerry with a lifetime achievement award in 2001. Be sure to seek out the video Jaco Pastorius Modern Electric Bass, hosted by Jerry. Dig the way Pastorius’ heartfelt admiration and reverence for Jerry bursts forth in that historic meeting.

 

Jerry’s main weapon of choice during his 60s/70s heyday was the Fender Jazz.

 

Jerry Jemmott Sound & Vision

“The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” Gil Scott-Heron https://youtu.be/6043Z_WPaKU

“People Got to Be Free” The Rascals  https://youtu.be/6043Z_WPaKU

“Memphis Soul Stew” King Curtis & The Kingpins: https://youtu.be/0Loy55z4GpA

“The Thrill is Gone” B.B. King https://youtu.be/kpC69qIe02E

“Ain’t Got No I Got Life” Nina Simone https://youtu.be/LKLeYot4l3I

“Tracks of My Tears” Aretha Franklin https://youtu.be/oTD7PGgEq9c

“Soul Limbo” George Benson https://youtu.be/99ppx4byI2U

“Soul Turnaround” Freddie Hubbard https://youtu.be/7Ri9OiHS1LI

Gary Van Scyoc (John Lennon, Elephant’s Memory)

 

As the harmonic and rhythmic anchor for John Lennon & Yoko Ono Elephant’s Memory Band, Chuck Berry, and Elephant’s Memory Band, among others – bassist Gary Van Scyoc has forged and indelible imprint on the artform that is rock and roll!

 

An educator, collaborator, side-man, clinician, and author, Gary discusses his life as a bass player in Know Your Bass Player on Film Seasons One and Tres, New York City 2015, 2018 at Euphoria Studios. https://bit.ly/3gxMqzj

Trevor Bolder (David Bowie, Uriah Heep)

 

 

Though Ziggy was the nazz with God-given ass –  it was the late Trevor Bolder who tethered the mighty Spiders from Mars with his dense, soulful bass parts that referenced the hip rhythm and blues cats his bandleader so greatly admired.  

 

The Spider with rock ‘n’ roll’s most elegantly multi-colored elongated side-whiskers steered the Stardust ship with a Gibson EB-3 hot-wired into stacks of Marshall amplifiers and cabinets, and on occasion, a Fender Mustang – which consequently afforded guitar deity Mick Ronson and piano maestro Mike Garson a firm platform on which to render their theatrical melodies to prop Bowie’s extraterrestrial sound and vision.

 

Trevor was also victim to the bass crime of the 20th Century on Alladin Sane (1973) which was perpetrated by Mr. Jones – who did not allow Bolder to repair the glaring error on “The Jean Genie” – which was likely a result of David’s propensity for miscues.

 

“Jean Genie” – bass clam at 0:45 https://youtu.be/kMYg_Ra4cr8

 

When the kids had killed the man, and Ziggy broke up the band – much, much too soon, Trevor anchored Ronno’s Slaughter on 10th Avenue, and Play Don’t Worry – two releases which prove that the Spiders were much more than Ziggy’s hired ray-guns!

 

In 1977, Bolder commenced the gig that he would excel at for the remainder of his days on this mortal coil (save for a brief few years in the 1980s wherein he was replaced by Bob Daisley)– bassist, composer for prog-metal masters Uriah Heep. With Heep, Trevor’s primary weapon of choice was a modded-out Fender Precision with a J bridge pick-up.

 

Coda: As told to KYBP On Film, Trevor afforded John Bentley, later of Squeeze, bass lessons when Bolder left the band they were both in to join the Spiders.  

 

Trevor on stage with Uriah Heep 1978 – Courtesy of Konstantinos Takos

 

Trevor Bolder Sound & Vision….

 

David Bowie:

 

“Lady Grinning Soul” https://youtu.be/18d_pLKgMoY

 

“Roslyn”  https://youtu.be/-9LU21aU5aU

 

“Watch That Man” https://youtu.be/eQGobt4ub6U

 

 Mick Ronson:

 

“Growing Up and I’m Fine” https://youtu.be/-3dtBblWmaM

 

“Billy Porter” https://youtu.be/QOwj0zgmykU

 

Uriah Heep

 

“Sympathy” https://youtu.be/Nvmkaw_ZQxM

 

“Free Me” https://youtu.be/lK45E6zfJeA

 

“Love Or Nothing” https://youtu.be/vRsxTdpfJ8o

 

“Carry On” https://youtu.be/pCYM9GHe81M

 

“Blood Red Roses” https://youtu.be/9Y0MlyNgGHs

 

Take note of Trevor’s lead vocal and melodic bass on “Fear of Falling” from Heep’s latter day classic Sea of Light (1995). https://youtu.be/Jx3Nzk5XvFQ

 

 

Kenny Aaronson (Bob Dylan, Derringer, Joan Jett)

 

Cited as Bassist of the Year in 1988 by Rolling Stone, Kenny Aaronson is the among most versatile and resourceful players in the history of the art-form that is rock and roll. On the concert stage as a sideman, he is second to none as an accompanist, rhythmic/harmonic catalyst, and visual performer.

 

Ditto his career as a studio player. Aaronson’s canon embraces every sub-genre of rock ranging from traditional rhythm & blues, prog, metal, punk, alternative, roots, arena rock, pop, blues, folk, and every permutation thereof…and maybe a few Kenny invented – go ask him!!

 

A short list of his record and touring credits would break the internet quicker than a Kardashian. To cite a select few: Ronnie Spector, Billy Idol, Tom Guerra, The Stories with Ian Lloyd, Dana Fuchs, Bob Dylan, Sammy Hagar, Joan Jett, Graham Parker, Hall & Oates, New York Dolls, John Eddie, The Yardbirds, Edgar Winter, Robert Gordon, Dave Edmunds, Michael Monroe, Billy Squire, Dust, and Hagar/Aaronson/Schon/Shrieve…

 

As I was witness, Kenny’s tenure with Dylan – with guitarist G.E. Smith, and drummer Chris Parker – ranks with Bob’s collaborations with The Band, and The Rolling Thunder Revue.

 

This writer cited Kenny in Huffington Post in December 2017 Eleven Bass Players Who Belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – in the category for Musical Excellence : https://bit.ly/2hOLzO3

 

Aaronson’s arsenal: I’ve seen Kenny commandeer Fender, Kay, ESP, Ibanez G & L basses…his strings are La Bella 760N…

 

Interview with Tom Guerra and Kenny From a Yardbird to a Mambo Son – Sowing Seeds in Tom Guerra’s American Garden – Tom Semioli NO DEPRESSION 2018 https://bit.ly/2XeOaWZ

 

 

Kenny Aaronson Sound & Vision:

 

Brian Setzer “Haunted River” https://youtu.be/tlGJu317T7E

 

Rick Derringer “Envy” https://youtu.be/EpjZ9gRjJU4

 

Stories “Brother Louie” https://youtu.be/wmF3jDwSTmI

 

HSAS “Missing You” https://youtu.be/Q1pUyLrZWcg

 

Joan Jett “World of Denial” https://youtu.be/XK_K_ft0dIU

 

Dust https://youtu.be/U4KnOFDxW0c

 

Michael Monroe “Not Fakin’ It” https://youtu.be/62w64L9j_0g

 

Tom Guerra “Tell the World” https://youtu.be/X_1zLzia3oQ

 

For all things Kenny Aaronson – https://www.kennyaaronson.com/home

 

Read Kenny Aaronson: An Appreciation on Know Your Bass Player Com https://bit.ly/2L6QUmA

 

Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Trapeze)

Photo courtesy of Glenn Hughes Com Photo courtesy of Glenn Hughes Com

Photo courtesy of Glenn Hughes Com

By Thomas Semioli

“Doesn’t everyone sniff cocaine off stripper’s bums?”

They don’t make rock stars like Glenn Hughes anymore. The rightfully proclaimed “Voice of Rock” is a world class bassist and singer-songwriter on par with Sir Paul and Sting who carved his legend with Trapeze and Deep Purple Mark III & IV.

Dig Glenn with Trapeze “Coast to Coast” https://youtu.be/ivSMRe4SUVI

Armed with a Fender and Rickenbacker 4001 –among other instruments, Glenn’s funky bass playing and soaring vocals with Deep Purple were decidedly soulful: which was one of the primary reasons Ritchie Blackmore bolted to form Rainbow.

Dig Glenn and Deep Purple at the legendary ‘74 California Jam https://youtu.be/KJ-CMPqvzQU

As such, the Purps hired Tommy Bolin and waxed one of the great lost albums of the 1970s – Come Taste The Band (1976).

Glenn’s solo catalog and collaborations are an extraordinary, groundbreaking fusion of rhythm & blues and hard rock: Play Me Out, Glenn Hughes Blues (with Tony Franklin), The Way It Is, Soul Mover, Hughes-Thrall, Tony Iommi/ Black Sabbath’s Seventh Star, and Black Country Communion, to cite a select few.  

Dig Glenn Hughes performing “Burn” with his solo band https://youtu.be/hzaGm3L0oqo

Dig Tony Senatore’s rendition of Deep Purple’s version of “Burn” with Glen Hughes https://youtu.be/XZsWolQbxp4

Dig Glenn with Trapeze “You Are The Music, We Are Just the Band” https://youtu.be/nLSVY0VS3Dg

Glenn’s autobiographical tome, penned with Joel McIver is essential reading!

Glenn-Hughes-book-cover.jpg Glenn-Hughes-book-cover.jpg

Dennis Dunaway (Alice Cooper)

Courtesy Dennis Dunaway Facebook Courtesy Dennis Dunaway Facebook

Courtesy Dennis Dunaway Facebook

By Thomas Semioli

“Rock ‘n’ Roll,” proclaimed Dennis Dunaway to this writer – “if it doesn’t kill ya’ it will keep you forever young!”

‘Twas a time when rock ‘n’ roll actually horrified parents! And no band mortified America’s elders more so than the original Alice Cooper band circa 1969-74.

A composer / conceptualist who commandeers his signature mirrored Fender Jazz and, previously his “Frog” Gibson EB, Dennis Dunaway’s bass passages for the original, Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame Alice Cooper band were as daring and unconventional as his ensemble.

Greatly inspired by the Yardbirds, Cream, and Sir Paul, among others of his generation, and an inspiration to a few generations of hard rockers; Dennis worked brilliant upper register motifs (“No More Mr. Nice Guy”) cascading glissando passages (“Muscle of Love” – kudos to engineer Dennis Ferrante), cool Latin rhythms (several cuts on Pretties for You), and sinuous in-the-pocket grooves; all of which served the song.

Photo courtesy of Dennis Dunaway Facebook Photo courtesy of Dennis Dunaway Facebook

Photo courtesy of Dennis Dunaway Facebook

Dig my select sampling of Dennis’ work with the original Alice Cooper Band, spanning 1969 to 1974:

“Shoe Salesman” https://youtu.be/BQZE7jLbbYU

“Ballad of Dwight Fry” https://youtu.be/FfqrZvKI_1g

“Halo of Flies” https://youtu.be/fGOD1-NtxH8

“No More Mr. Nice Guy”  https://youtu.be/PkRxh-8mpcQ

“Muscle of Love” https://youtu.be/Hi5ole3ikFQ

Dennis continues on the bandstand and the recording studio with Joe and Albert Bouchard in Blue Coupe, guest appearances with the Hollywood Vampires, the Dennis Dunaway Project, original Cooper clan reunions, and as a solo video and recording artist.

Dig Dennis and Blue Coupe “Everybody Goes Insane” https://youtu.be/3R_qsoqcYbA

Dig Dennis solo “Cold Cold Coffin” https://youtu.be/FQV_596ELYo

Dig Dennis with the Hollywood Vampires “School’s Out / Another Brick in the Wall” https://youtu.be/_BgStW37oUc

Dig The Dennis Dunaway Project “Subway” https://youtu.be/EnHO_2HcvPg

Dig Dennis on “A Runaway Train” with Alice Cooper from Welcome to My Nightmare 2 https://youtu.be/qMWVZwqTRew

Dennis Dunaway Snakes.jpg Dennis Dunaway Snakes.jpg

Dennis’ autobiography  “Snakes! Guillotines! Electric Chairs!”  (with Chris Hodenfield) is essential reading for rockers of any era. I had the opportunity to chat with Dennis for Huffington Post Books in 2015.

They say “never get too close to your idols” – well, they were wrong about Dennis, he’s a humble cat with a wicked sense of humor! As you would expect….

Dennis Dunaway Tom Semioli.jpg Dennis Dunaway Tom Semioli.jpg

Dennis Dunaway: The Billion Dollar Bassist Re-Writes the History of Rock ‘n’ Roll

Tom Semioli – Huffington Post June 2015

“How can you kick the bucket if you’re writing a book? Every time I’d read something about Alice Cooper, I’d complain aloud ‘ah, that’s not how it happened! And my kids had to put up with that for years, and years, and years. Finally they said to me ‘Dad! Shut up and write a book!”

My hot-blooded Sicilian mother oft warned me that there were three sides to every story “his, hers, and the truth!” The same loving women who doted on her only son also made a habit of tearing Alice Cooper posters off my bedroom wall in the 1970s- thankfully she never discovered the panties that spilled out of my vinyl copy of School’s Out (1972) back in the era when a certain band was re-imagining the art of album packaging. She also warned me that these degenerate creeps whom I worshiped and inspired me to join a band were actually Russian operatives on a mission to rot the minds of American teenagers. Nowadays my mom’s behavior is commonly referred to as “menopause.”

Behold the third side of the story of a bona-fide American rock ‘n’ roll legacy. Dennis Dunaway, bassist, songwriter, conceptualist for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame Alice Cooper band – that’s right, Alice Cooper was a group before he, the former Vincent Furnier, emerged as a Hollywood Square, celebrity golfer, and singular show business entity – has composed the definitive and most truthful tome detailing the groundbreaking collective that also included Michael Bruce, the late Glen Buxton, and Neil Smith.

Aptly entitled Snakes! Guillotines! Electric Chairs! My Adventures in the Alice Cooper Group (Thomas Dunne Books – St. Martin’s Press, 2015), and written in collaboration with veteran rock journalist Chris Hodenfield – Dennis vividly details in the first person how the Alice cooperative of five endearingly misfit pioneering adolescents put the Woodstock generation to rest; and the rest, as they say, is history. Kiss, Marilyn Manson, Guns ‘n’ Roses, arena rockers too numerous to mention, and even MTV took their cues – and then some – from the original Cooper clan.

Dunaway laughs as I bestow upon him the new title of “literary lion.” He revels traveling in writers circles in New York City too. “I’m meeting all these famous authors…individuals who wrote books about such important historical figures such as Abraham Lincoln. I wrote about a band who threw a chicken at an audience!” I remind Mr. Dunaway that he too is an important part of history and that his new book documents the missing link between the transformations in American pop culture from the 1960s to the 1970s – an era that continues to resonate.

Among the unsung heroes afforded due recognition in Snakes! is his wife, Cindy Smith, sister of drummer Neal Smith. “Cindy created the look that set off the whole gam rock thing…other people got credit for it, and accept credit for it…and it’s not that they weren’t part of it…but Cindy was doing it way, way, before anyone else…” Dennis also speaks lovingly and reverentially of the band’s dearly departed guitarist, Glen Buxton. A true rock ‘n’ roll outlaw with a razor sharp wit to which Dunaway often quotes, it was Buxton who created many of the group’s signature riffs which every player who followed in his platform boot-steps is required to replicate, and air guitarists young, old, and middle-aged continue to mime.

Effectively re-writing the script to a vital period in rock ‘n’ roll history as demanded by the Dunaway brood actually commenced for Dennis during Easter of 1997 – the same number of years ago as the age of a rather distraught young adult who can’t figure out if he’s a boy or a man as per the libretto of the band’s first hit. But first he had to overcome a life-threatening disease. “If I was going to write a book,” Dennis recalls, “I had to survive the surgery. That sounds strange, but that’s what drove me as well.” Dunaway also had to conquer moods of bitterness borne by the age old injustices of the music business, and a feeling that the fans had forgotten him. Truth is, the hardcore fans always held Dennis and the original Alice Cooper band to close their hearts despite the fact that the Cooper brand continued without them.

“We were overshadowed by the monster we created,” emphasizes Dennis. “There are a lot of newer Alice Cooper fans out there that don’t even know that I or the band existed!” During our conversation I note that oft times in my career as a musician – my band-mates and I would refer to the sounds and mixes of the original Alice Cooper albums for our producers and engineers – all of whom nodded their heads with respect and approval. Even without the theatrics, the Alice Cooper band canon was Hall of Fame worthy.

My comment flatters Dennis, who is quick to point out that “we also upstaged ourselves as musicians with the visuals in the Alice Cooper band.” Ditto the boa constrictor which infamously slithered around the body of Mr. Furnier during concert performances. “Journalists would write half an article about the boa and not even mention the great songs we wrote for the snake!”

That was then, this is now. Mr. Dunaway, author and bassist, currently plies his craft in a kick ass trio dubbed Blue Coupe – which is made up of former Blue Oyster Cult members Joe and Albert Bouchard. They record, tour the world, and to my ears, they put guitar slinging bands (more than) half their age to shame.

At the official release party held in the Rare Books section of The Strand in New York City – Dennis and Blue Coupe tear the house down much like his old band did when a certain type of music was indeed a threat to society. To thunderous applause from glam grannies, young rockers, and Strand employees spattered in black eye-shadow akin to Dennis’ former singer, the bassist bellows “no more pencils…one more book for your summer!”

Dennis and Blue Coupe ripped the joint with rousing renditions of “I’m Eighteen,” “No More Mr. Nice Guy,” Blue Oyster Cult’s 1976 anthem “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper,” and close with “School’s Out” -abetted by the backing vocals of New York City legends Tish & Snooky.

During the question and answer segment for attendees, co-author Chris Hodenfield speaks eloquently of his time touring with the band for his well-known Rolling Stonemagazine feature in 1972. He quips “Dennis has an appallingly good memory….everyone in the band was a comedian who tried to outdo each other.” Reminiscing how Groucho Marx and George Burns were Alice Cooper band fans,
Dunaway praises his wife, the band’s former managers, his beloved band-mates, the road and lighting crews from years past, and of course, his loyal fans.

“Rock ‘n’ Roll,” proclaims the author to me – “if it doesn’t kill ya’ it will keep you forever young!”

Snakes! Guillotines! Electric Chairs! My Adventures in the Alice Cooper Group by Dennis Dunaway and Chris Hodenfield is out now on Thomas Dunne Books – St. Martin’s Press, 2015

Alice Cooper Band Promo Best_opt.jpg Alice Cooper Band Promo Best_opt.jpg

Prakash John (Lou Reed, Alice Cooper)

When Lou Reed decided to transform his persona from underground artist to a bona-fide arena rocker, he enlisted guitar shredders Dick Wagner and Steve Hunter, drummer Whitey Glan, keyboardist Ray Colcord, and bassist Prakash John to forge his sonic assault. The result was one of rock’s greatest concert releases: Rock n Roll Animal (1974) – and one of rock’s greatest bass performances.

 

With Steve Katz in the producer’s chair, John and the band essentially threw every motif imaginable against the wall and somehow all of it stuck!

 

With a strong foundation in his native Indian music, along with studies in classical, and a passion for rhythm & blues borne of his dues paying days in Toronto based Top 40 bands, John’s harmonic extensions and endless rhythmic variations within the most basic of rock chord progressions were inventive ala Jack Bruce. Perhaps Jaco heard Prakash with Lou and decided to tweak his bridge pickup – we’ll never know. John’s soulful playing on Sally Can’t Dance helped Lou nail his only Top 10 album.

 

After Lou sacked his Animal band, John and his mates went to work for Alice Cooper and replicated their signature din as heard on the live Alice Cooper Show album.

 

Prakash John Sound & Vision…

 

Lou Reed:

 

“Intro / Sweet Jane” https://youtu.be/KqpWTC-rvhQ

 

“Sally Can’t Dane” https://youtu.be/gbfB9z4Am-E

 

“Vicious” video clip: https://youtu.be/gYUIZg3bhjU

 

Alice Cooper:

 

“Under My Wheels” https://youtu.be/o_oQa0dTQSI

 

“School’s Out” video clip with bass solo: https://youtu.be/Kbz7ZI6S6oU

 

Steve Hunter: “Eight Miles High” https://youtu.be/0KtgqCiiIhE

 

Prakash John & The Lincolns: “How Sweet It Is” https://youtu.be/27NO95PdPQg

 

Matt Schofield: “Black Cat Bone” https://youtu.be/qZZpezJcPl0

 

Jordan John “Do Right Woman” https://youtu.be/OdcwqSe1o14

 

 

Kenny Passarelli (Elton John, Hall & Oates, Joe Walsh)

Photo courtesy of Kenny Passarelli Com Photo courtesy of Kenny Passarelli Com

By Thomas Semioli

A composer, producer, bandmember, collaborator and recording artist – Kenny Passarelli has been the go-to bass player for numerous Rock and Roll Hall of Fame artists, serving as the harmonic and rhythmic catalyst on several seminal sides, and ensembles.

 

Born in Denver, Colorado, Kenny’s musical journey began as a classical trumpet player – studying with Byron Jolivett, and performing with the “Inaugural Band” as a member of the Denver Junior Police Band.

 

Following his meeting with Stephen Stills, who played him demos of his new group Crosby Stills Nash &Young, Kenny opted for a career in rock and roll. Though he missed the opportunity to work with the iconic guitarist at Woodstock in ‘69, Kenny nailed a gig with Joe Walsh, fresh out of the James Gang, with his band Barnstorm  also featuring drummer Joe Vitale.

 

Working on-and-off with Walsh throughout the 70s, Kenny co-authored “Rocky Mountain Way”  and his ascending fretless motif enabled Wash to live a “Life of Illusion” – another classic rock track which he co-wrote with Walsh.

 

Courtesy of Joe Walsh Com Courtesy of Joe Walsh Com

Courtesy of Joe Walsh Com

Dig Tony Senatore’s rendition of  Joe Walsh’s “Life of Illusion” https://youtu.be/guBps-ftmPk

 

Along with Rick Danko and Boz Burrell, Kenny was an early proponent of the fretless bass in a rock context which he plays with a decidedly soulful / rhythm and blues approach.

 

At the recommendation of Walsh, Kenny was the foundation of Reg Dwight’s second greatest band as heard on Rock of the Westies (1975), Blue Moves (1976), and the archival Captain Fantastic Live at Wembley (2005).

 

 

Courtesy of Elton John Com Courtesy of Elton John Com

Courtesy of Elton John Com

Dig Kenny on “Island Girl” https://youtu.be/H19MbiOICa0

 

Dig Tony Senatore’s rendition of Kenny on “Grow Some Funk of Your Own” https://youtu.be/ZuvUxFqiPyM

 

As the bedrock of the Darryl Hall & John Oates band, Kenny waxed Livetime and Along the Red Ledge (1978) in addition to Hall’s iconic Sacred Songs slab.

 

 

Courtesy of Hall and Oates Com Courtesy of Hall and Oates Com

Courtesy of Hall and Oates Com

Dig Tony Senatore’s renditions of Kenny’s select work with Darryl Hall and John Oates:

 

“It’s a Laugh” https://youtu.be/kUyVrBftDGY

 

“Pleasure Beach” https://youtu.be/U-eDze5_f4Y

 

“Serious Music” https://youtu.be/U-eDze5_f4Y

 

“Room to Breathe” https://youtu.be/VL_hBn0UPkg

 

“Don’t Blame It On Love” https://youtu.be/2q9Tzc8CTwA

 

“I Don’t Want to Lose You” https://youtu.be/kUyVrBftDGY

 

An extended range version of “The Last Time” https://youtu.be/JnOJP6-L0AE

 

Kenny Sacred Songs.jpg Kenny Sacred Songs.jpg

Several musical guests on Live From Daryl’s House have rendered compositions from Sacred Songs with their esteemed host– and with good reason: it stands among the seminal slabs of its era!

 

Go figure why RCA shelved it for three years fearing its lack of commercial potential.

 

Produced by Robert Fripp, who also renders his signature sonic guitar soundscapes, Sacred Songs prominently features the core of Sir Elton’s most dexterous ensemble : guitarist Caleb Quaye, drummer Roger Pope, and bassist Kenny Passarelli. The tracks, which were recorded in 1977, burst forth with the vibrancy a concert performance – even though they never played ‘em on stage!

 

Kenny works his gritty soul influences from cut to cut, and keeps the pocket percolating when reinforcing Daryl’s left-hand keyboard motifs throughout.

 

Dig Tony Senatore’s rendition of Kenny’s bass passages from Sacred Songs

 

“Sacred Songs” https://youtu.be/NUxbDLSIGDk

 

“Something in 4/4 Time” https://youtu.be/W-SFYbN9BMg

 

“NYCNYC” https://youtu.be/_jj_jIUdxUQ

 

Dig Kenny on Sacred Songs

 

Dig “Survive” https://youtu.be/0ZaLqTd9wWk

 

Dig “Babs and Babs” https://youtu.be/235nPzFOXSY

 

Kenny Jazz Bass_opt.jpg Kenny Jazz Bass_opt.jpg

Kenny also shined on notable slabs by Stephen Stills (Stills and Stephen Stills Live -1975), Rick Derringer (All American Boy / 1973), Otis Taylor, and Dan Fogelberg (Souvenirs / 1974), among others.

 

His impressive solo canon, which also features Kenny’s talents as a pianist, includes releases which are a meld of classical, new age, and Spanish heritage.

 

Coda: In November 2016, I cited Kenny Passarelli among Eleven More Bass Players Who Belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Huffington Post http://huff.to/2gHNIOA in the Musical Excellence category.

 

Among Kenny’s weapons of choice include the Fender Jazz bass, and the fretless Fender Precision bass.

 

Kenny Portrait.jpg Kenny Portrait.jpg

Jim Rodford (Argent, The Kinks, The Zombies)

By Thomas Semioli

In Memoriam: The axiom “don’t get too close to your heroes…” did not apply to my bass hero Jim Rodford. When we spoke on film at his local pub in St. Albans where The Kinks, Who, Beatles, and Stones, among others, all honed their craft back in the day, Jim shared insightful and untold stories about his career, the artists, and the era. As per my request, Jim was kind enough to dig his weathered Fender Mustang out of storage which can be heard on The Kinks and Argent classics. With my colleagues’ co-producer Mark Preston and cameraman Derek Hanlon, I bought Jim a pint or two to repay all those bass lessons from In Deep, Low Budget…. Godspeed to the great Jim Rodford!    

   

If you’ve ever grooved to “Hold Your Head Up,” “Give The People What They Want” “God Gave Rock and Roll to You,” “Come Dancing,” “(Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman,” and “Destroyer” among other Argent and Kinks “Klassics,” please refer to James Walter Rodford, of St. Albans, Hertfordshire England. As a member of Mike Cotton Sound, Jim shared stages with The Beatles, The Who, The Animals, and The Kinks’ original line-up.

 

He was a founding member of the progressive pop powerhouse Argent (1969-76) and the longest tenured (1978-96) and most musically adept bassist The Kinks employed after the departure of Peter Quaife. With Argent, Rodford rendered adventurous counterpoint for the band’s legendary extended instrumental passages. With the Kinks, Jim underpinned Ray’s melodies and Dave’s riffs with inventive lines that facilitated the band’s commercial and artistic rebirth the moment he joined. Jim also appeared with The Kast-Off Kinks tribute band, wherein he replaced John Dalton whom he originally replaced in The Kinks back in the late 1970s!

 

The ageless Jim Rodford continued to ply his bass artistry on stage and on record with revamped line-ups of Argent, The Zombies, and the Colin Blunstone Band, among others until his passing in 2018.

 

Coda: I cited Jim Rodford (and John Dalton) in Eleven Bass Players Who Belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for Huffington Post in 2015:  http://huff.to/1WPHSp6

 

And Jim was also mentioned in my Huffington Post interview with Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent The Zombies Still Got That Hunger for New York City: http://huff.to/1JQbpWe

 

Dig Jim Rodford in Know Your Bass Player on Film Season One 2014 – filmed at The Horn, in St. Albans UK https://bit.ly/2QuX6E7

Ronnie Lane (Faces, Slim Chance)

Affectionately referred to as “Plonk” by his bandmates for reasons not appropriate to discuss on this forum, the late great Ronnie Lane’s career, which spanned from 1965 until his passing in 1997, was an amazing journey which traversed pop, folk, rhythm and blues, soul and permutations thereof.

 

Though he is more renowned for his songwriting with Steve Marriott and the Small Faces, and later with The Faces (“Glad and Sorry,” “Debris,” “Stone”) Mr. Lane was a remarkably fluid bassist who served as a pocket player and melodic foil – often within the same composition.

 

Ronnie on fretless on “Debris” https://youtu.be/cbTDVTwPNZw

 

Slim Chance “How Come” https://youtu.be/z4U2Fcz_iKw

 

Small Faces: “Tin Soldier” with PP Arnold: https://youtu.be/6vWTtx_PxPo

 

Ronnie’s solo career leading Slim Chance was a groundbreaking meld of traditional English folk and rock which inspired generations on both sides of the Atlantic.  

 

Lane’s collaborative album with Pete Townshend Rough Mix (1977) was among the most overlooked gems of the 1970s. 

 

When he was stricken with multiple sclerosis in 1983 – Mr. Lane assembled the historic Ronnie Lane Appeal for ARMS (Action into Research for Multiple Sclerosis) Charity Concerts in the UK and US which featured his mates Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Steve Winwood, Andy Fairweather-Low, Paul Rodgers, Joe Cocker, Ray Cooper, Chris Stainton, Bill Wyman, Kenny Jones, and Charlie Watts among others.

 

Though diminutive in physical stature, Mr. Lane was a giant of classic rock – and kept gigging to the very end despite his debilitating disease.