Double Bass Christian McBride on Saturday Night Live

#61
Bruce Calin said:
As someone with two daughters and who went through the teenage and young adult times with them, I believe some of you should lighten up a bit. Every age has their own music. It may not be to our taste, but it doesn't matter. It's their music, and what others may think is irrelevant, at least to them. I realize it's an old song, but Christmas tunes are different anyway. They're fair game for anyone.
On a side note, I've probably played this tune hundreds of times, but I don't recall ever doing it in E, as Ms. Eilish does.
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I've been playing it in E when playing solo piano gigs the past few years. Gives it a nice light, innocent, plaintive quality. Had been playing in Eb for most of my life, and still do with most groups, but compared to E, Eb sounds thick, a little deader, and more maudlin. It's amazing how much effect a key has on tunes. Bill Evans played ballads in a lot of sharp keys few other cats did.
 
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#63
The first thing I noticed is Christian gobbling up all the gigs, haha. The next thing I noticed was the key. I think they played it a little slow, Christian played great, great sound.

The first pass I thought she sang pretty well but upon further listening it wasn’t that great. She can sing. It’s just the reality that singing this song or any standard is really hard to do well. If she took a faster tempo it might have been easier but she obviously has loads of confidence and no one was going to tell her to pick it up a bit.

All these current singers are just fine for pop music. It doesn’t speak to me but why would it? I’m in a different place. And I have spent most of my time seeking out the best of the very best for my listening and soul nourishment. I eat enough candy as it is. But these singers must sound so different to young ears with 2023 concerns. Wading through east village party girls at night in tiny dresses it becomes pretty obvious that our day to day concerns are very different. They soundtrack their lives as they see fit.

I more than occasionally put down my studies and go down a Smiths rabbit hole. Still listen to the Police in awe and stare in wonder at Nirvana’s MTV unplugged performance. Of course I think these are miles above any Taylor Swift song. The Beds Too Big Without You is a masterpiece compared to one of Taylor’s similarly themed break up songs. But what are you going to do? That was then, this is now. More and more I’m so glad I grew up with the music I had. I suppose an eighty year old feels the same about their doo-wop records. So Wop or WAP? Everything has its place. And most young folks do not really know the old music, the great singers, the incredible arrangers etc. To their ears Billie’s performance is amazing. Fair play to them.
 
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#65
Neon Scribe said:
Christian McBride backed up Billie Eilish on "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" on Saturday Night Live this week. Lots of players could have nailed this gig, but Christian got the call and did a great job. Thanks to Billie and her team.

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I’m lukewarm about her but that was a beautiful vocal performance. Christian seemed a little lacking in his usual exuberance until he flashed a modest smile after his last note. I’m guessing he was feeling a little constrained in that sweater.
 
#66
Garagiste said:
I’m lukewarm about her but that was a beautiful vocal performance. Christian seemed a little lacking in his usual exuberance until he flashed a modest smile after his last note. I’m guessing he was feeling a little constrained in that sweater.
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Yeah, he didn't seem super enthusiastic about the gig, but he was pro, served the song, and got to hang with the SNL band and what not I suppose.
 
#68
Opus_Pocus said:
... A better analogue would be like a Perry Como christmas special.
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Not Perry Como, but last night a Tony Bennett xmas disc came up in our rotation at home. I listened to his vocals a little more closely than I usually do and wasn't surprised that there was not a breath to be heard. Bet he wasn't screwing up his face either! :D

And the other day on NPR they were interviewing some guy who just released an xmas album. I believe he was originally known for some music in the Twilight movies. They played a bit of a very breathless rendition of some slow xmas classic, after which the host said, "Wow!"

Just personal taste, but I know which this old fogey prefers.

I really appreciated CM's playing b/c it really showed this sort of bass accompaniment at its best. Each note was perfect, it added to the overall sound, and it didn't detract from the star. In contrast to BE, CM made it look effortless.
 
#70
Honestly, I’m just amazed at the attention this performance got from the DB side of TB. I hate Christmas music and did way to many Christmas gigs in mediocre places with ok talent. Next year: Nada, nunca, nyet! Next year, I’m going back to my usual self complaining self asking why there aren’t more klezmer bands playing Hanukkah music or songs about the war on Christmas. Just MFHO. Carry on.
 
#72
SteveC said:
Yeah, he didn't seem super enthusiastic about the gig, but he was pro, served the song, and got to hang with the SNL band and what not I suppose.
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I'm not sure about this... He proudly posted pictures of himself and BE on FB (in his ugly Christmas sweater, no less) and raved about working with her. He did the same thing last time he played with her a few months ago.
 
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#73
Thanks to this forum - and CMcB! At this morning's jam, for the 1st 2.5 hrs there were 6 of us, and I made a point of concentrating on keeping it as simple as I could. Just really fun to have this opportunity to work on that "live". Then for the next 1.5 hrs, there were only 3 of us, so there was more room to fill - tho it still was generally best to just keep a simple, solid groove. Thanks for the discussion to encourage me to refocus.
 
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#75
Ed S said:
Thanks to this forum - and CMcB! At this morning's jam, for the 1st 2.5 hrs there were 6 of us, and I made a point of concentrating on keeping it as simple as I could. Just really fun to have this opportunity to work on that "live". Then for the next 1.5 hrs, there were only 3 of us, so there was more room to fill - tho it still was generally best to just keep a simple, solid groove. Thanks for the discussion to encourage me to refocus.
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There's a great story Dave Holland tells about jamming with Miles, and Dave was all over the fingerboard ripping chops to keep up with everyone else. He goes on to say that during a break in the jam, Miles walks over to him and says, "Hey kid, we need a bass player on this gig."
 
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#77
I guess I'm a little late to the game since I only noticed McBride played with Billie Eilish just last night (6 months after the original airing). I'm a big fan of his and thought it was pretty cool for him to have done this. Truth be told I like his electric bass playing more, but that's more a preference in music than a comment on his playing.

Eilish's music doesn't do anything for me, but I do respect her. She isn't a train wreck and doesn't rely on sensationalism to sell her product.
 
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