ISB @ Penn State..

[Arnold Schnitzer]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

Example.. Just before dinner last night, Arnold Schnitzer (a bassist too.. don't kid yourself), my friend Kevin (a Philly pro and teacher at UArts) and myself were playing a Bass trio jazz tune. Paul Ellison walks but and hangs out to listen. Then as I am about to take a solo, John Clayton walks by and I call out, "John, come help me with this. I don't know the tune".. (joking slightly). He takes "Big Ben" from my hands (Arnold with the Martini and Kevin with the Candi) and starts playing

Yeah, first I was attempting to bow the melody to "My Romance". I look up and Paul Ellison is standing next to me. I exclaim, "Paul, I don't really do this!" (play the bass). Then the three of us are playing a fast blues, and I open my eyes because I notice the guy next to me is SMOKIN! And it's John Clayton! Holy crap!!! What key were we in? Only at the ISB...

Here's my John Clayton story. I hope he reads this.

It's 1976 or 77. I just finished a week at Blues Alley in D.C. with Gap Mangione (Chuck's older brother). We have a night off before we fly to Seattle for our next engagement. I go into the club to try and hit on Susan, a gorgeous air-head of a waitress. The band starts up. Monty Alexander with Jeff Hamilton and John Clayton. I stop my flirtation in mid-sentence as my jaw will not rise from the floor. My goodness, it sounds like Ray Brown on the bottom end, but with something else, a slightly different bounce to the notes, a little more aggressive feel. Then he takes a solo! I left my place at the bar and went to hang by the bandstand. After a couple tunes, I started drinking. A lot. "I'm finding another line of work", I told myself. In the end I did find another line of work, and that's going just fine.

John, you are a mother$^%^$ of a musician and a wonderful guy to boot. It was a thrill to hear you in 76/77 and to play a few choruses with you in 2009.

[Tim Bishop]

Wow, too cool!

[Tim Bishop]

Speaking of "too cool" and "wow"....if you haven't seen or heard this; check this out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&h...&v=7vfHTn_4SFw

[Tim Bishop]

Originally Posted by Tim Bishop

Speaking of "too cool" and "wow"....if you haven't seen or heard this; check this out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&h...&v=7vfHTn_4SFw

Ken or Arnold, what do you know about the DB John is playing in this clip (....in addition to the fantastic sound he projects)?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Tim Bishop

Ken or Arnold, what do you know about the DB John is playing in this clip (....in addition to the fantastic sound he projects)?

I think it's Ray Browns old bass that is pictured on the cover of the Oscar Peterson Album "We get Requests". Ray had another Bass before that one that's now in the Toronto area with a Symphony player. Ray told me he sold it becuase it was too delicate for the road. The Bass John is playing is an old German Orchestra Bass from the late 19th century (in my opinion, not humbly.. lol). We see a bot of these basses and often they are called French because the look nicer than the rub in the mill Factory German stuff.

.. quoted by Arnold above; Yeah, first I was attempting to bow the melody to "My Romance". I look up and Paul Ellison is standing next to me. I exclaim, "Paul, I don't really do this!" (play the bass). Then the three of us are playing a fast blues, and I open my eyes because I notice the guy next to me is SMOKIN! And it's John Clayton! Holy crap!!! What key were we in? Only at the ISB...

Actually Arnold and folks, we were playing the 'Blues' when Paul walked in. When John happened by, we were doing ''Greater Love' hence the reason I mentioned I needed help with the changes. Playing the 'Blues' is breakfast for me. I would not have asked for help if that were the case..

Just a slight correction in my own defense. Arnold is still sore from getting his butt handed to him on the Golf course.

Of course I know the changes to the Blues.. any key..

[Arnold Schnitzer]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

Arnold is still sore from getting his butt handed to him on the Golf course.

I did not have my butt handed to me. We were teammates, remember? If we had not been teammates, I would have had my butt KICKED. I'm not sore. Eagerly anticipating the Schnitzer vs. Smith Father/Son tournament. Place bets, anyone?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Arnold Schnitzer

I did not have my butt handed to me. We were teammates, remember? If we had not been teammates, I would have had my butt KICKED. I'm not sore. Eagerly anticipating the Schnitzer vs. Smith Father/Son tournament. Place bets, anyone?

Is your house paid for? My son was on the Varsity golf team in HS all 4 years..

Ah...

from Arnold's Talk bass post; Monday afternoon, after getting up at 5AM, 5 hours in the truck, setting up, and probably 3 miles of walking to get around this gorgeous campus, Ken Smith and I got drafted into a golf game with the Cincinnati boys. Well, here I will publicly eat crow, as I disbelieved Ken's boasting about his golf prowess. He kicked my ass! Fortunately, I have many, many excuses, and a lightning storm put me out of my misery after only six holes. But I digress...

I was just repeating what you posted on TB. I would never ever go around telling people how I had to carry the whole team (Arnold, Nick Lloyd and myself).

lol.....

[Tim Bishop]

Originally Posted by Arnold Schnitzer

Eagerly anticipating the Schnitzer vs. Smith Father/Son tournament.

Would love to see some video excerpts of this.