Steely Dan's 'Glamour Profession' Killer Bass Riff

Acoop

Acoop

Feb 21, 2012
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#1
Steely Dan's classic Glamour Profession is a 7.5-min long epic made of pure Gold and woven tightly together with Anthony Jackson's brilliant playing and it's what makes this song shine. His lines are counter to the vocals that just pulsates the groove. There should be a class taught about Anthony's groove on this tune. ...
But while enjoying, another listen, I discovered this hidden gem at the 3:57 mark. ... Anthony does almost a full bar of a descending bass line to get out of the solo and into the bridge. ... I hear it as a bridge. ... But, I don't think Steve Gadd heard it coming because he picks it up right at the end of his line. ...

 
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#2
Acoop said:
Steely Dan's classic Glamour Profession is a 7.5-min long epic made of pure Gold and woven tightly together with Anthony Jackson's brilliant playing and it's what makes this song shine. His lines are counter to the vocals that just pulsates the groove. There should be a class taught about Anthony's groove on this tune. ...
But while enjoying, another listen, I discovered this hidden gem at the 3:57 mark. ... Anthony does almost a full bar of a descending bass line to get out of the solo and into the bridge. ... I hear it as a bridge. ... But, I don't think Steve Gadd heard it coming because he picks it up right at the end of his line. ...

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Acoop, Anthony's playing on that tune is superb. IMO he's the GOAT on electric bass

Have you seen this? You need good headphones because it needs to be turned up.



He drops in a couple of his signature reharmonizations at 2:28 and 2:57, and at 11:08 you get a close up of another of his favorite devices: 16th note passage, skipping notes up the lower string (in this case the E), while bouncing alternate notes off an upper open string ( in this case the A ).

This tune is just a primer - there's brilliant playing throughout the entire concert.
 
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#3
Acoop said:
Steely Dan's classic Glamour Profession is a 7.5-min long epic made of pure Gold and woven tightly together with Anthony Jackson's brilliant playing and it's what makes this song shine. His lines are counter to the vocals that just pulsates the groove. There should be a class taught about Anthony's groove on this tune. ...
But while enjoying, another listen, I discovered this hidden gem at the 3:57 mark. ... Anthony does almost a full bar of a descending bass line to get out of the solo and into the bridge. ... I hear it as a bridge. ... But, I don't think Steve Gadd heard it coming because he picks it up right at the end of his line. ...

Click to expand...

I agree. AJ is a master of crossing the barline.
"I.G.Y." (Donald Fagen - The Nightfly) has similar magic.
 
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#4
Glamour Profession was released before I switched from guitar to bass.
I remember thinking that the bass player just played an entirely different song within a song.
One of favorites of all time.
 
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