edgar meyer
 

I just heard some clips from the Bottessini concertos. Meyer did them up with Yo Yo Ma and Joshua Bell, they kick ass. Any other upright bass fans out there?

Yes, although it's played in a different type of music. (Jimbo Wallace of the Reverend Horton Heat)

I've heard about the heat, and never heard any of their stuff. Are they any good?

Not really a bass fan, but I did hear a couple bass players discussing Dragonetti once when I was in high school. Due the way they were saying it (just a hint of North Carolina drawl), I at first thought they were referring to someone named "Dragon Eddy." I dunno, I thought it was an OK name for a bass player, even in an orchestra.

upright basses
 

I am a school orchestra director, and teach kids to play bass! I saw Joshua Bell live a couple weeks ago .....
AWESOME!

Are they any good...is the Pope Catholic? :)

Of course, that's just me. Some people don't like rockabilly mixed with punk and crooning.

Re: upright basses
 

Ahh, good job... looking back I don't know how anybody could do it, but I'm glad they do. I still get a lot out of playing in an orchestra.

I was fortunate enough to have seen Charles Mingus play at a free concert in a Kansas City park during the final year of his life. Awesome, amazing, superb. What an incredible talent the man was. He made that bass fiddle sing.

I'm sorry, you saw Mingus? Hot damn, that guy was a bad-ass. He could play like a fuckin riot. Dragonetti was cool too, I haven't heard any of his pieces yet. I saw Edgar Meyer play at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival with Tony Rice and Bela Fleck, that was cool except Rice was drunk or something, he just sorta strummed along. Not exactly what I expected form a guitar virtuoso.

Shit...completely forgot about Mingus...own one of his CDs too.

Yeah...it was awesome. Mingus, a drummer and a guy on horn. Jazz stripped to its essentials. I don't remember who the horn player or drummer were, but it was mesmerizing.

Kansas City used to bring tons of major players in for free concerts in the parks during the 80's. I saw Joe Pass before he died, and Chick Corea and Gary Burton came several years in a row.

joe pass
 

yeah, I saw joe pass play at U of Conn. with Leo Kottke. Both were un-freakin-believable! Leo Kottke is a damn fine guitar player.

I've seen Kottke several times...mind-bogglingly good, and the only performer to have had his voice described as sounding like "geese farts on a muggy day."