Funk fusion jazz solo and latin electric bass

"Sunrisin" Blog

The tracks on the album were put together over a period of time using a variety of techniques. Read on for a track-by-track account and the basses featured.

Track 1
Sunrisin’ (Hughes/Isaac)

• Mike Isaac – 6 string bass collection style fretless bass
• Peter Hughes- Electric piano/synths
• Steve Buckley – Guitars
• Ian Goodall –Drums

This tune/ track began its life with winter evening sessions back in about 2000 where Pete Hughes and myself sketched out the various elements of the tune in Cubase using sequenced drums and Keyboard parts. These files lived in my computer for quite a while and were revisited after I had moved from Manchester to Devon in 2002.

Around December 2003 I decided it was time to put all of my existing sketches etc together and make an album. At that point I had a real old school set up which was used to give birth to quite a few tracks on the album. It consisted of a Fostex DMT8VL 8 track hard disk portastudio synced to an Atari ST running Cubase and an Alesis SR16 drum machine. This became my modus operandi at the start of the project.

The sequenced files were transferred from my humble P333 computer onto two tracks of the Fostex. I then started to replace the sequenced material with live bass and guitar. The bass used on this track is a 6 string fretless Bass Collection style import Bass with EMG HZ humbuckers and a John East preamp. The interesting Bass part in section A which has a call and response element with the piano was written by Pete Hughes.

I visited Pete Hughes in Manchester, took the 8 track with me and recorded the synth flute licks and Rhodes solo one evening. Steve Buckley came down and added his guitar parts to replace mine. I then booked a session at Trident West Studios in Torquay and transferred all the audio onto their Mackie hard disc recorder and had Ian Goodall overdub the drums.

At this point I had replaced all of the sequenced material with real instruments while re-writing and developing the composition in the process. I then purchased an up to date PC and a Tascam VS 428 audio card/controller. All the audio files used in the studio were then loaded into this PC from data CD and mixed using Cubase VST 5. This process of replacing sequenced material is similar to techniques used by Donald Fagen on “The Nightfly”, “Kamakiriad” and Steely Dans’ “Gaucho” album.

This tune has a bright, sunny vibe and is reminiscent of the music of British band Shakatak which were very popular over here in the early 80’s, also a hint of Jeff Lorber in there courtesy of Pete.

Track 2
Afternoon tea (Isaac)

• Mike Isaac – ’75 fender jazz bass, 6 string bass collection style fretless, Tobias 6 string bass /guitars
• Max Turnbull - Piano
• Neil Yeates – Trumpet
• Ian Goodall – Drums

This track was realised using the PC later in the project.

While in the studio adding tracks to previously recorded material Ian Goodall said he had always wanted to record a slow funky shuffle. We had some time so we set up a click and I played along with my ’75 fender jazz bass implying a kind of II V vamp using both pickups and the thumb mute technique.

At the time my old jazz had a pair of Seymour Duncan classic stack pickups and a “Zoot bass” 2 band eq circuit designed by John East. It has an all maple neck and ash body and is HEAVY.

I’ve had this bass since 1988, it’s a constant and continues to see off its rivals.

Ian and I grooved for around 7 minutes or so on this ½ time almost reggae feel shuffle. Later that day after Ian had packed and gone Tim-Powell Morris the engineer suggested finding the most groovinest 16 bars and constructing a very long loop.

This was done and the rest of the track was created around that Using Cubase VST 5.

Initially I added some keyboard and rhythm guitar chords then the octave patterns and arpeggio parts using a Tobias Toby 6 string bass. I later revisited it and came up with the fretless 6 string melodies and breaks.

The very talented Max Turnbull came to my project studio and replaced all my keyboard parts and added some lovely solo piano breaks. I then sent these files to my old Salford University friend Neil Yeates who is a great jazz trumpeter. He recorded two tracks of trumpet for me to sift through.

From this I juxtaposed the trumpet melodies heard and added a few melodic breaks here and there using the fretted 6 string bass.

This one's got a nice relaxed, hypnotic groove and is the ideal accompaniment to a relaxing cup of afternoon tea (one sugar).Thanks to Ian for starting it all off!

 Track 3
Mikey J (Isaac)

• Mike Isaac – ‘75 jazz Bass/electric piano
• Steve Buckley – Guitars
• Paul Harris – Organ
• Simon Willescroft- Alto saxophone
• Andy Treacey – Drums

This was created using the Atari 1040 STE, Alesis SR16 drum machine all synced to the Fostex DMT8 VL 8 track. The form and composition of this one was planned before I began recording and I may well have written some of the grooves and themes back in Manchester, to be honest I forget!

I programmed the whole tune into the drum machine and recorded the bass and electric piano parts followed by myself playing the melodies on guitar.

I scored these melodies for guitar and sax for future sessions.

I sent a recording along to another Salford University alumni, drummer Andy Treacey. At the time Andy was a full time live member of “Faithless”. I arranged to travel to London with the 8 track and get Andy to put some real drums on the tracks using my original parts as a guide. I could only use two mics to record the drums due to the limitations of the DMT8VL. I used an AKG C1000s as an overhead and an Audio Technica dynamic in the bass drum. The result was plenty ambient thanks to Andy’s living room and the snare was a little quiet. I made the most of it once was I transferred it to PC later in the project. Technical hassles aside the prize was to get Andy with his rock steady timing and great feel, sorted!

While at Andy’s I managed to get Simon Willescroft to add the written alto sax parts and a great solo to the track. We used to play in bands together in Manchester and since he has toured with Tony Hadley, Level 42 and Duran Duran.

Steve Buckley added his great lead and rhythm guitar playing on one of his trips down to Plymouth. All this was transferred to the PC based system and Paul Harris added his inimitable organ vibe to the track to finish it off.

It’s a funky little rhythm and blues tune with a cheeky melody and a hint of that Steely Dan groove.

Track 4
Late at nite (Isaac)

• Mike Isaac – Bass/keyboards/guitars
• Christina Shergold – Vocals
• Ian Goodall – Drums

This one was written in Devon using the PC based system; initially I used some programmed drums in Cubase and replaced them with Ian Goodalls’ interpretation in the studio. Great feel and rock steady timing as always! I met Christina when she was singing in church and really liked the sound of her voice.

When she recorded this she was only 17 and was very complimentary about the version I gave her to learn from. That had me doing all the vocals, how kind!

I Used a Westone Quantum headless bass with flatwound strings and passive electronics on this one. I used the neck pickup and it gives a fat, supportive tone, ideal for grooving such as this.

I like the movement from minor to major within a groove that is essentially pretty static, it reminds me a little of “Nights over Egypt” by the Jones Girls a later TSOP offering from the early 80s

The tune is a repetitive modern RnB sort of vibe with a hint of 90’s acid jazz.

“Sure feels good!”

Track 5
The Journey (Isaac)

• Mike Isaac – lead guitar/Basses/keyboards/funky guitar
• Max Turnbull – Electric piano/synth strings
• Steve Buckley – rhythm guitar
• Simon Willescroft- Alto saxophone
• Andy Treacey – Drums

This one began life as a sequenced sketch in 2001 on my old P333 / Cubase set up back in Manchester. The bulk of it came out in one mad rush of creativity when I came up with the basic changes, drum groove, bassline and a tune, overdubbing as I went. The original tune was eventually replaced when my wife, Debbie pointed out that it sounded a lot like something else – “Forget me nots” by Patrice Rushen …

(it did!).

I came back to it in early 2004 and I started from scratch using the original as a sketch. I used the Fostex 8 track / Atari ST / Alesis drum machine setup.

At the time I had an Alesis Nano-piano module and a midi controller keyboard.

I used a combination of recording and planning on paper to create the arrangement with it’s key changes and different sections. Once I had programmed the drum machine, recorded all the guitars, basses and keyboards; I was ready to replace them (not the bass!) with other musicians. I wrote some parts out for guitar and saxophone. Andy Treacey and Simon Willescroft (nice solo mate!) added their great playing and interpretation on the 8 track on my trip to St Reatham.

(go figure!)

Later Steve Buckley added his rhythm guitar part using a great sounding Fender Telecaster. All the audio was then recorded as wav. files at Trident West studios and later transferred into the PC based system.

At that point Max Turnbull came in and added some harmonic savvy to the basic changes. I recorded his piano part as audio and midi. This enabled me to edit his contribution and construct the string parts you hear on the track.

I then rewrote some of the melody lines and recorded them on an Ibanez RS 125 guitar. Finally I added the bass solo at the end using my Hamer Cruise bass 5 string fretless with EMG pickups.

The other basses used on this track are my old ‘75 jazz using the neck pick up and an 80’s Tokai Jazz Sound fretless with EMG pickups.

From a compositional point of view this is the most satisfying track on the album.

It has strong basslines with a lazy almost reggae feel at times, recurring motifs, points of rest and some key changes.

It also has a second 6 bar bass figure / melody which is introduced on its own and then continues as a countermelody under the sax solo.

I am also quite pleased with the bass solo and it came pretty quickly this time (read on …)

Track 6
The Jazz (Isaac)

• Mike Isaac - Basses/keyboards
• Neil Yeates – Trumpet
• Steve Buckley - guitar
• Pete Nicholls – Drums

The genesis of this track is very similar to “the Journey” but it’s even older, late 90’s I think.

Using the P333 back in Manchester the main groove and the melody lines later played on bass and trumpet where written into Cubase using a midi keyboard. I eventually came back to it and started to re-work and develop it using the Fostex 8 track / Atari ST / Alesis drum machine setup.

I recorded Steve Buckley playing rock guitar licks all the way through the track with the intention of using selected licks and motifs. I later came back to them when the whole thing was transferred to PC.

The whole thing was transferred as wav. Files when Pete Nicholls added the real drums in the studio.

Pete’s a great funky drummer and a solid bloke who has been working with me in a couple of bands since I moved back down to Devon.

The bass part, melodies and solo were all recorded using my ’75 jazz bass and the track is named after it! These parts were done at the 8 track stage,once the drums had been recorded the whole thing was transferred to PC. I sent a stereo mix to trumpeter Neil Yeates and asked him to double the melody played on bass and to do a couple of takes playing solos and licks.

I then edited these parts and juxtaposed them with the bass melodies and guitar licks. The whole tune is really a build up to Neil’s amazing solo which is just awesome! And the way it ends…

Before mixdown I added a few funky electric piano parts here and there instead of the usual rhythm guitar.

I expect you can here the influence of the Marcus Miller / Miles Davis pairing in this one particularly the “Tutu” period.

I was initially going to call it “Miles in the Sky Now” or should it have been “Slappers’ Delight?”…

Track 7
Summer of ’76 (Isaac)

• Mike Isaac – Basses
• Steve Buckley – Guitars
• Max Turnbull – Electric piano
• Ian Goodall – Drums/percussion

The main theme and changes for this one where written back in 1994. It used to be performed by the group “Lyrica” in Manchester which featured the brilliant Dave Walsh on drums, Pete Hughes on keyboards and Simon Willescroft on Saxophone. A very nice band as I recall. It’s basically a samba and when I revisited it I wrote a second melody part played here on fretless bass and came up with some new solo changes. The whole thing is a lot “smoother” than the “lyrica” version.

I began to record the new version using the Fostex 8 track / Atari ST / Alesis drum machine setup. After programming the drums and recording bass, keyboard and guitar parts I wrote out some music for Steve Buckley.

Steve recorded all the guitar parts including the fantastic solo heard here on one of his visits using his Gibson L5 jazz guitar. I asked him if he could do a “Larry Benson”, what do you think?

As usual the tracks were transferred when Ian Goodall added his terrific Samba drumming and percussion parts and subsequently the audio went onto the PC.

At this stage I replaced the bass part with an Ibanez BTB 6 string to get some lower notes and added all the fretless bass parts using my 80’s Tokai Jazz Sound bass which by then had a Seymour Duncan “Basslines” vintage jazz bass pickup in the bridge position.

The licks at the start pay homage to Stevie Wonder’s “Songs in the Key of life” and the bass solo and double tracked parts are my tribute to the great Jaco Pastorius.

“Songs in the Key of life” and Jaco’s groundbreaking first album came out in 1976 and there was an extended heatwave here in the UK. I was lucky enough to visit the USA playing football (soccer) as a 13 year old with my local youth club as part of the bicentennial celebrations going on at that time. Happy days and lots and lots of sun…

The bass solo took all day and around 60 (yes 60) takes, I wanted to get a solo I could live with without resorting to editing or dropping in etc.

Thanks to my dear old mum for all the cups of tea.

A bit of repetition (which may be a good thing) and a few fluffs here and there but an honest effort (sounds like a school report!).

This one’s a bit smooth, a bit fusion and a lot samba.

Holiday program theme anyone?...

Track 8
I’ll be waitin’ (Hughes/Isaac/Marcial)

• Mike Isaac – bass/synths
• Maria Marcial - Vocals
• Peter Hughes - Electric piano
• Steve Buckley – Guitar
• Pete Nicholls –Drums

I met Maria when I was working as a lecturer at MANCAT ( Manchester college of Arts and Technology) in 1999.

She was always singing and I loved the sound of her voice.

Pete Hughes and myself had written a tune on the old computer and I wrote some words for it and got Maria in to come to my studio sing it. I think at the time I was syncing the P333 pc to a Sony 4 track mini disk recorder. It was Ok but we decided to do it a second time, this time I gave Maria cart blanche to interpret and re-invent the melody as she felt it. This was a good move and she transformed the song to what you hear now and got a much deserved writing credit in the process.

Some time later I transferred the backing to 2 tracks and all the mixed vocal parts to another 2 tracks by syncing the Mini disk 4 track to the Fostex 8 track.

Later this was moved into the pc after the drums had been recorded by Pete Nicholls at Trident West and the original backing track was replaced bit by bit. The ’75 Jazz bass was used again on this one and it sits in the mix nicely as usual.

The new parts made it sound more contemporary as the original had a very 80s vibe particularly the keyboard sounds (DX city!).

A catchy soul / RnB number with a little chromaticism in the changes, nice…

Track 9
October (Isaac)

• Mike Isaac - Bass/electric piano/rhythm guitar
• Steve Buckley – lead guitar
• Max Turnbull - Piano
• Paul Harris – Organ
• Simon Willescroft- Alto saxophone
• Andy Treacey – Drums

Here is another tune that used to be performed by Lyrica. I have a recording of it with a very fusion meets progressive rock coda with Dave Walsh taking a very adventurous drum solo.

For the album I reworked it using the Fostex / Atari / Alesis set up with more of a smooth jazz vibe in mind.

After demo-ing all the parts and scoring for guitar and saxophone I added the drums and sax at Andy Treaceys ’’St Reatham Sound”

Steve Buckley added his guitar parts and later Paul Harris & Max Turnbull added their various keyboard parts once the song had been transferred to PC.

I used the ‘75 jazz bass on this one with both pickups wide open and a little bass boost on the preamp. I had initially recorded it with the Ibanez BTB 6 using the thumb mute technique but this sounded a little odd in the mix so I replaced it.

A funky little tune with a little hint of fusion in the melody and some great solos from Steve Buckley and Simon Willescroft to close the album.

I dedicate this one to Autumn ½ terms and recharging ones batteries

And finally

I hope you enjoy the album and I look forward to writing and recording the next one. This time I’ll only use one platform and a little studio work for the drums, so It won’t take so long (honest!)…

I’ll also have a CD of solo bass pieces recorded soon.

Join my emailing list and I’ll let you know when it’s available.

All the best and keep grooving

“If you can’t sing it…”

 Mike