By Joe Gagliardo

If you spend any time listening to live music in Chicago, you have likely been fortunate to see Casey McDonough on the bandstand playing his Black Fender Musicmaster, modified with a P Bass pickup, through a Fender Bassman TV Amp. Casey’s sound is reminiscent of the sounds of his bass heroes, which include; Paul McCartney, James Jamerson, Carol Kaye, Joey Spampinato and Duck Dunn.

Casey picked up the bass having been inspired by his Dad’s Beatles records and The Blues Brothers movie soundtrack. Those records and the influences of his bass heroes have come together in his playing with the great NRBQ, where he has laid down the bottom since 2012.

That experience is like being on a flying trapeze without a net, as the NRBQ sets are spontaneous; there are no set lists. An NRBQ set can include everything from their deep catalog of originals, to Sun Ra and The Beach Boys.

Since 2006, Casey has also been a member of the inimitable Flat Five, a Chicago-based vocal group, which, like the NRBQ, is known for its eclectic sets, ranging from harmony-laden originals, to The 5th Dimension and Free Design, and Lesley Gore to Lee Dorsey, and everything in between. www.theflatfivechicago.com

In his spare time, Casey can be found on stage with The North Berwyn Rhythm and Soul Organization; performing solo sets; or joining one of his many musical friends for one-off shows. In addition to his bass playing, Casey is an accomplished singer and he had the honor of singing lead falsetto on a number of shows when Brian Wilson and his band were recreating Pet Sounds and Beach Boy hits on tour.

For your listening pleasure, check out “Happy Talk” https://bit.ly/34cr3ND with the NRBQ and “The Raven” with The Flat Five https://youtu.be/Y6BQPcw5JBM

Dan Alfano, Baby Huey and the Babysitters, by Joe Gagliardo

In the late 60’s one of the bands that was shaking stages in Chicago, and wherever they played, including the Merv Griffin Show, was Baby Huey and the Babysitters.  The 10-piece band was thunderous, and Baby Huey, aka James Ramey, fronted the band.  From 1968 until weeks before Ramey’s untimely death in 1970, Dan Alfano worked the pocket for that powerful band, with his trusty Fender Jazz bass.

Influenced by James Brown, Bobby “Blue” Bland, and anything Soul, Dan’s playing was precise and to the point.  Curtis Mayfield signed the band to his Curtom record label, and one posthumous LP was released in 1971, The Baby Huey Story.  Helping to direct the studio work was Donny Hathaway.

Two examples of Dan’s handily working the pocket are “Mighty Mighty Children Part 1” https://youtu.be/jtpFtlzjJ5s  and “Hard Times” https://youtu.be/zMIzTh0Lafg

While the LP did not have an impact when released, it has gone on to achieve legendary status as a funk n’ soul masterpiece.  The song “Hard Times” has been heavily sampled, and it was covered by John Legend and The Roots on the Wake Up album, and was featured, almost in full, in the movie Stand Up Guys, starring Al Pacino and Christopher Walken.

Today, you can catch Dan working his fluid bass lines with the Bluz Brothers.

“You know the breakdown in the B-52’s ‘Love Shack’? That’s what got me hooked on the bass!”

Inspired by that oh-so-funky passage as rendered by ace studio bassist Sara Lee – singer, songwriter, recording artist, and half of Common Ancestors (with David DeMarco), among other endeavors d’art – Apryl Electra Storms brings the force of the universe to the almighty groove!

Dig the dangerous curves … with a Fender Jazz as wielded by this urban / urbane chanteuse “Follow The Breeze” https://youtu.be/E-cYhH7yTuQ

Randy Kertz is an active bass player who can be seen in the clubs around Chicago, and can be heard holding down the bottom on three of Racing the Sun CDs, including L’Habitat Naturel, the band’s latest release, which is the band’s latest release: https://www.reverbnation.com/racingthesun

Randy’s bass heroes and influences include Jack Bruce (Cream, Solo, and so much more), Trevor Bolder (Uriah Heep, Spiders from Mars, Wishbone Ash), Felix Pappalardi (Mountain and his extensive production work, including Cream, The Youngbloods, Jack Bruce, and Chicago’s The Flock), Mark Clarke (Uriah Heep, Mountain, and Tempest), John Wetton (Uriah Heep, Family, and King Crimson)  and John Gustafson (Roxy Music, Hard Stuff, Quatermass and Ian Gillan).

 A common thread here is his affinity for English bassists, and those influences can be heard in his playing.

 In a departure from his harder rock influences, Randy and bassist Chris Clemente have created BassScapes; ambient music meant to promote relaxation, with the bass as the lead instrument. Check out BassScapes on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2OaK8uJ

Randy has also been practicing chiropractic and acupuncture for over 20 years, and has treated musicians for various injuries they may sustain on the road, or locally.

He is the on-call chiropractor for a number of local music venues.  Melding his extensive health care background with his lengthy experience as an active bass player, he has written “The Bassists Guide to Injury Management, Prevention and Better Health” (https://amzn.to/2Dan0pW ) and developed with David Ellefson of Megadeth and Gruv Gear, a more ergonomic bass strap, the “Recoil” (Sweetwater: https://bit.ly/2OaKykN) and is releasing the Helix Neck System ergonomic bass guitar neck with Lace Music.

In his spare time, he is a frequent lecturer on the topic of injury prevention for musicians locally and internationally.

To learn more about Randy, visit www.DrKertz.Com  (Photos courtesy of DrKertz Com and GruvGear Com)

Dennis Keith Johnson by Joe Gagliardo

In 1971, you couldn’t turn the radio on without “Get It On” by Chase exploding out of your car’s sound system! Who can forget that driving bass, and that line-up of trumpets led by Bill Chase?! Back then, we knew little about the musicians in bands—that information was not readily available.  Due to the success of “Get It On, and the band’s Chicago home base, there was a taping of a live concert that was broadcast on TV, and I was lucky to be there.  Now, I’m seeing this bass player, Dennis Keith Johnson, in a live setting, and I’m thinking, ‘where the hell did this guy come from, and how did he learn to play bass like that!’ He was a monster, and he was barely 21.

Go check out “Get It On” and “Open Up Wide” from the first Chase LP, and “So Many People” from the Ennea LP, and you will know what I’m talking about.  After hearing those songs, it is no surprise that Dennis’ playing was influenced by Tim Bogert, Motown, and Ron Carter.

Fast forward to about 1977, and I am in a Chicago club checking out this hot new band, Survivor, and there is Dennis Keith Johnson again, laying down a heavy rock bottom.

Check out the first Survivor LP, where Dennis and drummer, Gary Smith, cause the opening track, “Somewhere in America,” to chug like a freight train.  Also “Can’t Getcha Offa My Mind.”

Back in those Survivor days, you would often see Dennis wearing a T Shirt that said “More Bass,” shirts he had made as a reminder to the sound person to make sure the bass was heard in the live mix, after he received complaints that the bass could not be heard!

Back in the Chase and Survivor days, Dennis’ go-to basses were a ‘62 Jazz bass, and a ‘72 P bass.  Today, his bass of choice is a 35-inch scale Modulus bass, with a graphite neck.

You can catch Dennis with his project of over 31 years, the Dennis Keith Experience.

“Get It On” https://youtu.be/j4QBZanJKyA

“Open Up Wide” https://youtu.be/dBogxn5ObgA

“Somewhere in America” https://youtu.be/OjllHLUFWOk

“Can’t Getcha Offa My Mind” https://youtu.be/whhLMG0wKYU

By Joe Gagliardo

Like many of us, Mike Gorman’s first electric guitar was a 6 string, but once he held a bass in his hands, and heard those warm deep tones, he was hooked!

Starting with a Gibson EB-0, and influenced by the bass pillars of the British Invasion, including Paul McCartney, Bill Wyman (Rolling Stones), John Entwistle (The Who), Peter Quaife (The Kinks), and Rick Huxley (Dave Clark Five), among others, Mike has been a constant on the Chicago music scene, and his playing has crossed many genres.

Mike has waxed slabs with Power Pop legends Pezband and Off Broadway, played with Wild Blue, and is currently laying down the bottom with the rootsy Redmonds, and his latest recorded rock project, The Outfit.

In Pezband Mike assumed the role of many of his bass heroes co-writing a number of the group’s memorable songs, while handling some of the lead vocals.

Though Mike still treasures that Gibson EB-0, his mainstay basses have been a Fender P/J four string, and a 30-year-old Ibanez 5-string.

In light of his influences, it is no surprise that Mike’s melodic playing holds and fills the pocket well. Though Mike can pump and thump with the best of them, he is a meat and potatoes bassist, who plays for the song.

He just wants to keep it moving!

To get a taste of Mike’s style, check out Pezband’s Hippy Hippy Shake recorded live at Dingwalls in England, Off Broadway’s Automatic, or Lucky One by The Outfit, who blast a rock sound reminiscent of the Les Paul/Marshall-driven bands, we all love.

Better yet, try and catch him live with The Redmonds if you are in the Chicago-area, or catch him with The Outfit, currently touring in support of their debut cd, The Outfit, and their soon to be released cd, Viking.

Charles Lambiase by Tony Senatore

Dirty Angles Live 1976 https://youtu.be/QiAAkKiRGIc

Know Your Bass Player Cub Reporter Joe Iaquinto reviews his new Rickenbacer 4003 S!

He is the bass player you groove to on Paul’s “Mother and Child Reunion.”

Undeniably giants of twentieth century recorded music, Toots & The Maytals, anchored by Jackie Jackson, may not enjoy the high-profile name recognition or commercial visibility of Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, or Peter Tosh – yet they are just as influential and revered. In fact, Toots’ 1968 recording “Do The Reggay” is considered the first use of the term. Incorporating rhythm and blues into their ska and rocksteady roots The Maytals cut several classic sides.

Upon hearing James Jamerson’s Motown magic, Jackson took up the electric and never looked back. Akin to his idol, Jackson is a master of rhythm, harmony and tone – and scores of bassists cite him as their mentor. In addition to his incomparable career with The Maytals, Jackson also cut tracks aplenty with Herbie Mann, Garland Jeffreys, and Scratch Perry to cite a select few.

Jackie Jackson Sound & Vision…

Paul Simon: “Mother and Child Reunion” https://youtu.be/L0BUsDf0dxY

Toots & The Maytals:

“Pressure Drop” https://youtu.be/DKVB_CtU8XQ

“Reggae Got Soul” https://youtu.be/0ivk0x1vThY

“Funky Kingston” https://youtu.be/Or2_x8hsGTs