Posted by Marco P. on November 11, 2001 at 10:16:36:
In Reply to: Re: Ray Brown, Al McKibbon (etc) must have switched to steel strings for a valid reason! posted by Jim on November 11, 2001 at 05:12:30:
: PS Is Al McKibbon still with us / playing? He sounds great on that early 60's Phineas Newborn video.
I had the honor of playing with him at the Hollywood Bowl last August for a Shirley Horn trio concert with strings. John Clayton was conducting, I was in the orchestral bass section and Al was subbing for Charles Ables, who couldn't make it at the last minute. Great human being, still playing his ass off!
I also tried his bass...it must be 300+ years old, a dream to play...he strings it with thomastik spirocore **solo** gauge, tuned a step below... and wasn't he the one who had created a legendary sound on gut? Well...good food for thought!
Marco