Show Notes
"It's here, it's here! It's Christmas time again, and the Upright Citizens are back with more of their favorite Christmas recordings and memories. Let's get in the spirit with sounds from some of our favorite bassists including John Clayton, Charlie Haden, Milt Hinton, Gary Peacock, Larry Grenadier!" Upright Citizens Xmas Party 2023 Playlist Interested in more music advice? Check out the Open Studio courses and online practice community that is Open Studio Pro...where you'll find regular live guided practice sessions and masterclasses by Open Studio Artists like Reuben Rogers, Bob DeBoo, Peter Martin, Adam Maness, and many more.
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More from Upright Citizens
You’ve got 15 minutes. Maybe it’s a borrowed bass in a new hall before soundcheck. Maybe it’s your own bass at home, with life about to catch up with you. Either way: what do you actually practice?
You got the call. The music is deep, the deadline is short - you've got maybe a day, maybe a car ride, before you're expected to play it like you've known it for years. In Episode 2 of Upright Citizens, Bob and Reuben break down how professional musicians actually learn new music fast: not through some trick, but through a specific way of listening. They react to Ulysses Owens Jr.'s "Better Days," Bob tells the story of learning an entire live set on a six-hour drive to Fayetteville with zero charts, Reuben tells his own story of jumping into Gerald Clayton's trio on a day's notice, and they break down the exact order of what to listen for - form, feel, key, and the lines that actually matter - plus why it's okay to mess it up along the way. Click here to watch a video of this episode.
You're playing all the right notes - the changes, the time, everything. So why does your bass line still feel like it's just not dancing? Bob and Reuben break down the 'one thing' that separates a bass line that swings from one that just sits there: note length. They react to an unreleased Ron Carter duo track, Reuben tells the story of the studio session that changed how he thinks about note length forever, and they connect it all back to the physical mechanics of your right and left hand - on both upright and electric. Click here to watch a video of this episode.
‘Practice in all 12 keys’…It’s advice we often hear, but do we really need to???
"Any musician always dreams of getting to play with their heroes, and we also have our own unsung personal heroes in our lives as well. Join Reuben and Bob for a candid discussion about what it's like playing with their heroes, and how their personal mentors have changed their lives forever for the better." We hope you enjoy this conversation and we'd love to hear your thoughts. Reach out to the Upright Citizens anytime at [email protected] and let us know what's up. Peace!