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Neal Miner - NYC Jazz Bassist

Interview with NEAL MINER

Welcome to the final instalment of our series of interviews and performances with some of the most exciting bass players on the New York scene. In this week's episode, we meet one of my personal all time favourite bassists, Neal Miner. Known for his hard-swinging bass lines, rich bass tone, and tasteful solos, Neal is one of New York's most in-demand bassists. From his high profile gig with jazz superstar Jane Monheit, to his regular club gigs at venues like Mezzrow and Smalls, Neal is out there each night playing his best music, then getting the subway home!

There’s also a very special solo performance at the end of the video of a classic jazz standard that you don’t want to miss.

Huge thank you to Neal for joining us to 'talk bass'. If hope you enjoy this one as much as I did, please join us in the comments section on YouTube to keep the conversation going.

Timecodes

00:00 Introduction
00:53 Neal's regular gigs
02:46 Qualities for top level jazz gigs
03:57 Jazz bass innovator, Tommy Williams
05:08 Studying classical music
07:34 Walking bass influences
08:45 Transcription
10:02 Teaching walking bass
11:14 Guts and walking bass
12:10 Strings
16:05 Amps & pickups
19:38 Right hand technique
21:52 Articulations
28:40 Intonation and gut strings
30:55 Gut String Records
34:42 Dennis Irwin
37:51 Upcoming projects
42:24 Solo Performance

Find Neal Miner Online

Website
Facebook
YouTube
Gut String Records - Facebook Page

Discussion LINKS

Neal Miner playing C Jam Blues (Geoff’s favourite video!) - YouTube
Jane Monheit - Website
Mike Melito (drums) - Website 
Grant Stewart (sax) - Website
Joe Magnarelli (trumpet) - Website
Jeb Patton (piano) - Website
Bob Cranshaw - Wikipedia
Ray Brown - Wikipedia
Paul Chambers - Wikipedia
Doug Watkins - Wikipedia
Red Mitchell - Wikipedia
Ron Carter - Website
Paul Chambers - Wikipedia
Tommy Williams - Wikipedia
Scott LaFaro - Wikipedia
Israel Crosby - Wikipedia
Sam Jones - Wikipedia
Orin O’Brien - Website
Fred Zimmermann - Wikipedia
Franz Simandl - Wikipedia
Oscar Pettiford - Wikipedia
Don Palmer
Percy Heath - Wikipedia
Jimmy Blanton - Wikipedia
Thomastik Spirocore - Website
Golden Spiral (strings)
Pirastro Oliv - Website
Juzek double basses - Wikipedia
Irving Sloane Bass Tuning Machines - Website
Dennis Irwin - Wikipedia
Underwood Pickups - Website
DPA Microphone - Website
Peter Washington - Website
John Webber - classical bass teacher
Meyers Pickups - Website
Christian McBride - Website
Omer Avital - Website
George Mraz - Wikipedia
Lee Konitz and Red Mitchell, I Concentrate on You (album) - YouTube
Michael Kanen (pianist) - Website
Ari Rolland - Jazz at Lincoln Centre, YouTube
Dennis Irwin - Neal’s tribute video - YouTube
Slam Steward - Wikipedia
Jane Monheit, Home (album) - YouTube
Ian Hendrixson Smith, Live at Smalls (album) - YouTube


interviews with Jazz bassists

See this gallery in the original post

Behind the Scenes

Photos copyright - Discover Double Bass © 2023


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