The power of “thud!” “Dead notes” are essentially “notes” without a set pitch. What better way to fortify a groove, enhance a syncopation, or simply to exude attitude than with a dull thump! KYBP Austin Bureau Chief Robert Jenkins demonstrates the fine art of notas muertas! WARNING THIS VIDEO CONTAINS A WADDAFOAM!

Since its inception in 2014, the manifest function of Tom Semioli’s Know Your Bass Player has been to provide bass guitar centric content that transcends established norms and typical legacy media style coverage. The linchpin of the KYBP philosophy has been to bring attention to bassists who are deserving of wider recognition who are profiled alongside some of the biggest stars in the industry via video interviews. The latent function of the establishment of KYBP has been the need for a forum that deviates from the standard video profile interview, and instead focuses on the mechanics of playing the bass guitar. As such, Know Your Bass Player has established the Two Minute Lesson. It is a place where the KYBP community is invited to share their ideas regarding their daily practice regimens. Ear training, hand positioning, technique building, learning difficult music are just a few examples of topics that can be conveyed via concise video presentations meant to serve as a jumping off point for broader based discussion. Mark Polott: Editor.

There are players that play with an overall adherence to tradition – which are most of us. Then there are the cats who take the bass to new places every time they pick up the instrument. Enter Charles Lambiase, a master groove and improvisational player. When Charles plays, you hear the entire history of the bass guitar in his melodies, and tone. And you also hear where the bass can go – harmonically, rhythmically, and spiritually. And he customizes his tools of the trade, of which he has many. But you always know it’s Charles Lambiase in one note, one phrase, one passage! Tom Semioli: Interviewer / Writer. Mark Preston: Director / Producer. Drew Taylor: Cinematographer. Mark Polott: Editor / Photographer. [www.KnowYourBassPlayer.com]

This Lancastrian (he was born in Lancashire, North West England) bassist, composer, singer, recording artist, multi-instrumentalist, producer has penned some of rock’s most enduring hits – most notably The Yardbirds “For Your Love,” (along with “Heart Full of Soul,” and “Evil Hearted You”), The Hollies “Bus Stop,” and Herman’s Hermits “Listen People,” among others for Wayne Fontana, and Normie Rowe.  Co-founder of the watershed pop / art-rock ensemble 10cc – which he continues with to this day as sole leader – Gouldman is the consummate song-player, rendering passages that anchor the composition and afford harmonic and rhythmic embellishments. From Terminal Studios in beautiful downtown Bermondsey, dig Part 2 of our conversation with Graham!

Tom Semioli: Interviewer / Writer. Mark Preston: Producer / Director. Derek Hanlon, Oliver Harley Symonds: Cinematographers. Mark Polott: Editor. Photos courtesy of Graham Gouldman Info [www.KnowYourBassPlayer.com]

This Lancastrian (he was born in Lancashire, North West England) bassist, composer, singer, recording artist, multi-instrumentalist, producer has penned some of rock’s most enduring hits – most notably The Yardbirds “For Your Love,” (along with “Heart Full of Soul,” and “Evil Hearted You”), The Hollies “Bus Stop,” and Herman’s Hermits “Listen People,” among others for Wayne Fontana, and Normie Rowe.  Co-founder of the watershed pop / art-rock ensemble 10cc – which he continues with to this day as sole leader – Gouldman is the consummate song-player, rendering passages that anchor the composition and afford harmonic and rhythmic embellishments.

From Terminal Studios in beautiful downtown Bermondsey, dig Part 1 of our conversation with Graham! Tom Semioli: Interviewer / Writer. Mark Preston: Producer / Director. Derek Hanlon, Oliver Harley Symonds: Cinematographers. Mark Polott: Editor. Photos courtesy of Graham Gouldman Info [www.KnowYourBassPlayer.com]

A multi-instrumentalist, producer, Tony Award / Drama Desk nominated composer (Boy George’s Taboo ) who was drawn to the bass by the work of Marcus Miller, Mark King, and Larry Graham… from Terminal Studios in beautiful downtown Bermondsey, London, Kevan Frost discusses his  role as the former George O’Dowd’s anchor and musical director, and more!

Courtesy of Dave Swift FB

Opines acclaimed author / editor / journalist / bassist Joel McIver “Dave Swift is one of the most, if not the most, recognizable bassists in England…”

From Terminal Studios in beautiful downtown Bermondsey, London, Dave Swift, known in his native land as the anchor of Later….with Jools Holland discusses his career and approach to the “craft” or is it “art” of playing bass! https://bit.ly/2YMv5fK

KNOW YOUR BASS PLAYER Season Deux: In this KYBP Short Take entitled “A Philadelphia Story” Elephant’s Memory Band bassist Gary Van Scyoc takes us behind the scenes of the Mike Douglas Show in February 1972 when John Lennon and Chuck Berry performed together on the iconic daytime talk program. Anchoring one of the great moments in rock history, Gary reveals what exactly transpired as the then controversial ex-Beatle met his testy rock and roll idol during a tumultuous period of Lennon’s solo career. Van Scyoc and Elephant’s Memory kept their cool – as all veteran studio cats do – and saved Dr. Winston O’Boogie from what surely would have been an embarrassing moment on national television. All in a day’s work! Tom Semioli: Interviewer / Writer. Mark Preston: Director / Producer. Derek Hanlon: Cinematographer. Mark Polott: Editor / Photographer.

It’s the Broadway ethos…revision, revision, revision!” Bob Dylan’s ebb and flow approach with to regard to rhythm, harmony, lyrics and song structure is legend. In this KYBP “Short Take” bassist Rob Stoner recalls waxing the Desire collection with guest vocalist Emmylou Harris and lyricist Jacques Levy. Tom Semioli: Interviewer / Writer. Mark Preston: Director / Producer. Derek Hanlon: Cinematographer. Mark Polott: Editor. [www.KnowYourBassPlayer.com]

With Rob as the anchor and musical director, Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue made the iconic singer, songwriter relevant to a new generation tuned to the burgeoning punk scene, and emerging voices such as Bruce Springsteen and Patti Smith, along with a new wave of writers and musicians. Stoner was the “thunder” in that Revue, commandeering a rotating cast of diverse players including Mick Ronson, Roger McGuinn, and Joan Baez, among others. To this day, it is among Dylan’s greatest artistic achievements and a watershed moment in popular music that continues to resonate. Stoner’s swingin’ modal bass passages recast Dylan’s repertoire – nothing was off limits – harmonically or rhythmically. Dylan always surrounded himself with great players, but none of his bands, including The Band, could rock akin to Rolling Thunder. Tom Semioli: Interviewer / Writer. Mark Preston: Director / Producer. Derek Hanlon: Cinematographer. Mark Polott: Editor.

In Part 1 of this riveting two part episode, bassist and musical director Rob Stoner takes us behind the scenes of the recording of Bob Dylan’s Desire album in New York City, including the controversial single “Hurricane,” which sets the stage for the historic Rolling Thunder Revue. A veteran of the Greenwich Village scene, an in-demand session player/vocalist, and a band-leader in his own right, Rob plays a pivotal role in Dylan’s remarkable resurgence on this record – which reignites a folk-rock landscape mostly given to the softer, overtly commercial sounds of Laurel Canyon. With Stoner as his anchor and guide, Bob was accepted by a generation which had grown skeptical of 60s “icons” in a rapidly changing popular music scene where commerce was consuming art. Tom Semioli: Interviewer / Writer. Mark Preston: Director / Producer. Derek Hanlon: Cinematographer. Mark Polott: Editor.