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Edwin Hurwitz (edwin)
New
Username: edwin

Post Number: 8
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Tuesday, December 24, 2002 - 7:01 pm:   Edit Post

I found a CD copy of Moving Target, by Gil Scott-Heron, today. 20 years ago or so, this and other albums by this band with the Secretary of Entertainment (those of you who saw Gil in those days will know what I mean) Robert Gordon on the bass changed my musical and personal life. This album has some great Alembic tones on it, especially Black History/The World. Sadly this is the only picture I have of him, (from Reflections, also a great album),as I didn't bring my camera to the shows I saw. Everyone owes it to themselves to check out this music as it covers all the bases-groove, spirit and a message that can save the world!

Edwin
Robert Gordon with Maple Series I
Jerome Edwards (jerome)
New
Username: jerome

Post Number: 10
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Tuesday, December 24, 2002 - 11:17 pm:   Edit Post

Is That Jazz
dgcarbu
Intermediate Member
Username: dgcarbu

Post Number: 199
Registered: 6-2004
Posted on Thursday, January 20, 2005 - 9:12 pm:   Edit Post

This is one to revive...
musashi
Junior
Username: musashi

Post Number: 32
Registered: 5-2004
Posted on Thursday, June 04, 2009 - 7:56 am:   Edit Post

Thought I would post this here, too. (I originally posted this under "Famous Alembics" in the misc. section.)

Robbie Gordon has been a tremendous influence on myself and others. He is a master of both slap and fretless bass. He is a fantastic musician and the link below is but the tip of the iceberg.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bc4LvadyXCc&feature=related

(Message edited by musashi on June 04, 2009)
musashi
Junior
Username: musashi

Post Number: 33
Registered: 5-2004
Posted on Thursday, June 04, 2009 - 8:16 am:   Edit Post

Here's another one, a little more Alembic bass...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfy6ig4koPM
funkyjazzjunky
Senior Member
Username: funkyjazzjunky

Post Number: 436
Registered: 5-2007
Posted on Thursday, June 04, 2009 - 10:04 am:   Edit Post

Thank you for sharing this.
musashi
Junior
Username: musashi

Post Number: 35
Registered: 5-2004
Posted on Friday, June 05, 2009 - 9:52 pm:   Edit Post

My Privilege.
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 8155
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Sunday, June 07, 2009 - 4:41 pm:   Edit Post

Cool videos; thanks!
edwin
Senior Member
Username: edwin

Post Number: 439
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Thursday, June 11, 2009 - 12:06 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks for these! Brings back some memories, for sure. Are these from an available DVD? It looks like a pro shot video.
tbrannon
Senior Member
Username: tbrannon

Post Number: 1043
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Thursday, June 11, 2009 - 6:18 pm:   Edit Post

Edwin,

The performance looks to be on the Black Wax DVD. I googled 'Black Wax DVD Heron' and got a ton of options for purchase.
musashi
Junior
Username: musashi

Post Number: 41
Registered: 5-2004
Posted on Thursday, June 11, 2009 - 7:42 pm:   Edit Post

Yes, it's from Black Wax.
chrisalembic
Member
Username: chrisalembic

Post Number: 64
Registered: 3-2009
Posted on Monday, August 24, 2009 - 1:19 pm:   Edit Post

Black Wax is a great DVD. Besides GSH's words and music there is lots of Alembic Bass sounds and views on there.

Robert Gorden is such a "funky old school bassist". Whatever happened to him? Does anybody know? I only know him from Gil Scott Heron's music and always loved that stuff, even some years ago when I was around 15 and didnt have a clue at all about what GSH was saying. But hey that music was grooving!!
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 1619
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Monday, August 24, 2009 - 3:40 pm:   Edit Post

I just remembered this is an alembics and their artistes thread so I will move my posting elsewhere.

(Message edited by Jazzyvee on August 24, 2009)
chrisalembic
Member
Username: chrisalembic

Post Number: 66
Registered: 3-2009
Posted on Monday, August 24, 2009 - 4:13 pm:   Edit Post

Sup Jazzyvee!! This is a Robert Gordon Bass clip thats a bit more recent.. well its from 1990 I think.. so almost twenty years lol...dunno if you can call this recent.. anyway he is playing some sort of jazz style bass here, as opposed to the alembic.. but i still think that his jazz sounds very alembic-like..

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncgveCAlRnQ&feature=related
musashi
Member
Username: musashi

Post Number: 54
Registered: 5-2004
Posted on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 - 11:01 pm:   Edit Post

Robbie Gordon is, to me, THE seminal cat.

Everybody who slaps more than octaves is his son or daughter.

He released a solo album, "Still Growin' (Hollywood Records), and he worked with several Brit Acid Jazz comglomerations: Brand New Heavies; James Taylor Quartet. Last I read, he is based in the UK, and still appears with Gil Scott-Heron, on occasion.

Rob is absolutely Badass. To me... MK got a lot of what he does from Robbie Gordon.

I consider Mark King and Jonas Hellborg my musical older brothers, but Robert Gordon is the father of us all.

I wanted to add, per this edit, that Rob was (and perhaps still is) playing a Jaydee bass that had a Fender jazz bass profile). This would account for the sound discrepancy. John Diggens at JayDee Supernatural basses really did have down the Alembic Series I bridge pick-up sound (with the right sound engineer)...

(Message edited by musashi on August 25, 2009)
chrisalembic
Member
Username: chrisalembic

Post Number: 67
Registered: 3-2009
Posted on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 - 10:08 am:   Edit Post

Thanks for the info Musashi. Good to know that Robert Gordon is still out playing. Lets get him to join the club here and chat!
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 1670
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Monday, September 14, 2009 - 1:34 am:   Edit Post

I bought the Black Wax dvd last week and was watching Robert intently. I love his style and was interesting to see him way back then using that double thumb plucking technique.
Musashi, I live very close to where Jaydee basses are made and have a guitar to take to John Diggins in a few weeks time when he gets back off holiday so I will ask him a little about that connection with Robert Gordon and that bass.
jazzyvee

Jazzyvee
musashi
Member
Username: musashi

Post Number: 57
Registered: 5-2004
Posted on Monday, September 14, 2009 - 9:00 pm:   Edit Post

Hello Jazzyvee,

I'd be interested in hearing (reading) the details. Thanks. I'm pretty sure the bass pictured on Robbie's solo album, "Still Growin'", is a Jaydee.

Also, is the song, "The Bottle", included on the "Black Wax" DVD?
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 1675
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Tuesday, September 15, 2009 - 3:05 am:   Edit Post

Can you email me a pic of the cover as I can't find anything on-line with the album pic.
Yes The Bottle is on the dvd

Jazzyve
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 8731
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Tuesday, September 15, 2009 - 10:00 am:   Edit Post

Jazzyvee; here is one.

[edit] And here is a slightly different one.

(Message edited by davehouck on September 15, 2009)

(Message edited by davehouck on September 15, 2009)
elwoodblue
Senior Member
Username: elwoodblue

Post Number: 851
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Tuesday, September 15, 2009 - 4:03 pm:   Edit Post

Dave,
FYI...your first link takes me to "Yahoo ,japan"
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 8735
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Tuesday, September 15, 2009 - 6:13 pm:   Edit Post

Wow! Me too!
Ok; here's another one like the first.
musashi
Member
Username: musashi

Post Number: 58
Registered: 5-2004
Posted on Tuesday, September 15, 2009 - 8:05 pm:   Edit Post

Great, Dave, that you have it. My CD is in storage, but I think there is a reference to Jaydee basses in the liner notes.
edwin
Senior Member
Username: edwin

Post Number: 459
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Saturday, October 03, 2009 - 1:06 pm:   Edit Post

I'll have to check his newer stuff out. My first introduction to him was standing about 10 feet away at the Rusty Nail in Sunderland in 1981 at a GSH show after getting Reflections shortly before. Later on, I saw him playing a P bass at shows in Boston. I missed the Alembic, but it still sounded great.

Danny Bowens, who preceded Rob in the GSH band and is heard on some fantastic recordings, was also an Alembic player, although with a very different tone. Great player as well.
musashi
Member
Username: musashi

Post Number: 83
Registered: 5-2004
Posted on Sunday, August 15, 2010 - 2:55 am:   Edit Post

More of the Secretary...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLElKbR-njg
serialnumber12
Senior Member
Username: serialnumber12

Post Number: 798
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Sunday, August 15, 2010 - 4:13 am:   Edit Post

Good video musashi aint nothing like seeing & hearing an alembic being featured!
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 2082
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Sunday, August 15, 2010 - 1:27 pm:   Edit Post

Nice clip there. Does his bass have a chorus or something like that on it?

Jazzyvee
hankster
Advanced Member
Username: hankster

Post Number: 243
Registered: 6-2004
Posted on Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 6:26 pm:   Edit Post

Sounds like a chorus and, at points, some kind of envelope or auto-wah thing to me. Great stuff.
mario_farufyno
Senior Member
Username: mario_farufyno

Post Number: 480
Registered: 9-2008
Posted on Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 1:50 pm:   Edit Post

Guys, I'm so thankful for you'd introduced me Gil Scott Heron's work. Can't believe that I've never heard about him, this man is amazing...
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 9540
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Monday, August 23, 2010 - 9:28 pm:   Edit Post

Nice clip Musashi! Cool horn break along with the great bass.
jacko
Senior Member
Username: jacko

Post Number: 3134
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Tuesday, April 10, 2012 - 4:58 am:   Edit Post

The BBC showed a compilation of 70's Old Grey Whistle Test clips on friday, one of which was Gil Scott Heron with Robert Gordon on bass. Excellent stuff. the programme is still available on BBCi player - there's some pretty cool music on this show..

Graeme

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