Alain Caron (Le Band, UZEB, Mike Stern)
Mark S Fraser
Ottawa jazz festival this very evening. I have quite a bit of UZEB
material but I haven't heard the solo project yet. I don't need to
ask if it's any good but is their any musicians of note on it?
Paul Brochu maybe? And why won't Caron and Stern release an album?
I've never gotten a chance to see them live and I'd live to here
that group.
SMenashe
play live was at this years NAMM show in Anaheim, CA. (EDEN booth) It was
for a total of 6 songs over 3 days, (a couple of which were duets with
Gary Willis). It just whet my appetite. I found out later that he was
playing after the show at a tiny club with Michelle Cusson and the Wild
Unit...
I am very interested to hear about the Stern Caron project. Maybe that
explains why one of the tunes on the CD is dedicated to Leni Stern, a
great guitarist and Mike's wife. Please post more details, and if anyone
knows of US tour dates......POST IT!
BTW, the Le Band CD, which I special ordered and just picked up yesterday
has been played exclusively, no less than 15 times through, on my 2 CD
players. It is phenomenal. Buy it.
-Steve.
Action Software Company
article only please) with other basse players who have knowledge or
interest in Alain Caron, the great electric basse player from Montreal.
Formerly with UZEB, Alain now fronts his own band, Le Band, and
recently was on tour with guitarist Mike Stern.
Among my favorite AC solos are:
Bull's Nostril Blues (Live at Bracknell)
Fretless (You Be Easy)
Penny Arcade (Fast Emotion)
Fast Emotion (Fast Emotion)
Hangin' Out (You Be Easy)
Donna Lee (World Tour '90)
Don't Be Bop (World Tour '90)
and many others...
Action Software Company
Ottawa jazz festival this very evening>>
You are in for a treat. The CD "Le Band" features Alain, Gerry Etkins
(keys), Jerry De Villiers (guitar), and Magella Cormier (drums).
Although I have heard that the line up has changed.
Let me know who you saw at the Ottawa jazz festival.
<<And why won't Caron and Stern release an album?>>
They might, if we're lucky :)
Allan K Richardson
: I am a basse player in Honolulu who'd like to correspond (in this
: article only please) with other basse players who have knowledge or
Hey, man, are you an expatriate canuck? Or rather Quebecois? I don't know
too many folks who spell it like this :-).
: Bull's Nostril Blues (Live at Bracknell)
Great chord work, eh? Unfortunately, to my ear Paul Brochu sounds a
little green on this album. In particular he does'nt seem to swing very
easily, IMHO. But I like the more recent stuff alot (like Don't Be Bop)
: Fretless (You Be Easy)
: Penny Arcade (Fast Emotion)
: Fast Emotion (Fast Emotion)
: Hangin' Out (You Be Easy)
Ya know, one of the things I really dug about UZEB was the way they
developed from album to album. When Fast Emotion came out I got it as
soon as I could. Ditto for You Be Easy. But both albums sound very dated
to me now. In part this is due to changes in production and fashion, but
I think that the band (UZEB, not Le Band) got noticeably better with each
release, so as soon as one came out, I put the last one away, for the
most part.
Also, on a more subtle note (har, har) I did'nt really like Spacey
Country, off of Between the Lines, very much when I first heard it, but
my band at the time wanted to do it. It really grew on me and, although
that was many years ago, the tune is one of those that has embedded
itself in my brainstem.
: Donna Lee (World Tour '90)
: Don't Be Bop (World Tour '90)
A: and many others...
No Shit!
P.s. I've been thinking that i'd really like to take a lesson from AC. If
there are any folks from La Belle Province out there who have any idea
how I might contact him or his mgmt organization I'd appreciate some advice.
ciao, Al
--
********************************
**Why is my radio lifting off?**
********************************
David Aitken
both with french names, neither of the ones you mentioned. It was a great
show - Alain doesn't try to sound good - he just is good. I tried comparing
the show with the Bela Fleck (read Victor Wooten) show I saw 2 weeks ago, but
I couldn't. Their playing is very different - I almost think Alain has more
class, and Victor more chops, but when you get that good, it's pointless to
make comparisons between people. Needlss to say, it was a bass--players
delight both times.
Dave Aitken
Mark S Fraser
it was Magella Cormier. Other than that all I can tell you for
sure is they all had french names. It was an outdoor concert and
it was kind of hard to hear but I don't think Gerry Etkins was
the keyboard player. And there was a great sax player too. Caron
needless to say was smokin'. Michel Cusson was the guitar player
from UZEB so it would be a rare treat to Caron sit in. Last Feb.
Caron play near here in Quebec with Leni Stern but I was unable
to make that show. Keep me up to date!
Ciao
Action Software Company
> Action Software Company (act...@lava.net) wrote:
> : I am a basse player in Honolulu who'd like to correspond (in this
> : article only please) with other basse players who have knowledge or
> ^^^^^
> Hey, man, are you an expatriate canuck? Or rather Quebecois? I don't know
> too many folks who spell it like this :-).
*** No, just like the it better. Eliminates any confusion with the
"fish". :-)
> : Bull's Nostril Blues (Live at Bracknell)
> Great chord work, eh? Unfortunately, to my ear Paul Brochu sounds a
> little green on this album. In particular he does'nt seem to swing very
> easily, IMHO. But I like the more recent stuff alot (like Don't Be Bop)
*** The chord work is great, but was easy to play. It's the extended
16th-note lines that were a major challenge to my technique. It took
months for me to transcribe and play that solo up to tempo. I think
Paul was pretty green back then. All *three* were really (the keyboards
are easy to forget).
> : Fretless (You Be Easy)
> : Penny Arcade (Fast Emotion)
> : Fast Emotion (Fast Emotion)
> : Hangin' Out (You Be Easy)
>
> Ya know, one of the things I really dug about UZEB was the way they
> developed from album to album. When Fast Emotion came out I got it as
> soon as I could. Ditto for You Be Easy. But both albums sound very dated
> to me now. In part this is due to changes in production and fashion, but
> I think that the band (UZEB, not Le Band) got noticeably better with each
> release, so as soon as one came out, I put the last one away, for the
> most part.
*** I see your point, and agree mostly, but I'm still really into the
solos on those early albums. For a basse player, Alain Caron is like
Shakespeare. "If music be the food of love, play on." The solo on
Fretless is incredible. To get that type of fluidity (a la Allan
Holdsworth) on a fretless basse is just too much. I almost died when I
heard it. I still can't play it. Most everything else is playable, if
you can hack the shed time necessary. I only play fretless basse, so I
can't play any of the "killer slap" stuff he does with Le Band.
> Also, on a more subtle note (har, har) I did'nt really like Spacey
> Country, off of Between the Lines, very much when I first heard it, but
> my band at the time wanted to do it. It really grew on me and, although
> that was many years ago, the tune is one of those that has embedded
> itself in my brainstem.
*** Yeah, I didn't realy care for Between the Lines either.
> : Donna Lee (World Tour '90)
> : Don't Be Bop (World Tour '90)
> A: and many others...
>
> No Shit!
*** When he plays the head to Donna Lee, up an octave on the upright --
Wow!
> P.s. I've been thinking that i'd really like to take a lesson from AC. If
> there are any folks from La Belle Province out there who have any idea
> how I might contact him or his mgmt organization I'd appreciate some advice.
*** He's a great guy. I had an opportunity to talk with him (and Michel
Cusson) for quite a while at the Spectrum in Montreal. My girlfriend
and I asked if we could go backstage after the show, and believe it or
not, Alain invited us to come join the party. He gave me some great
chromatic excerises to work on. And when I told him my "You Be Easy"
record was scratched, he mailed me a new one.
To contact Alain Caron, call Daniel LaFrance at (514) 948-6112 in
Montreal. He's a real nice guy, if anyone could arrange a lesson, he
may.
Aloha,
Mitch
Mark S Fraser
line? I learned that one and it's been one of my favourite UZEB
tunes ever since. And you are also definitely correct that some
of the tunes on early UZEB albums sounds really dated. If I get
any info on AC's whereabouts I'll let you know. Where's UGUELP?
Ontario? Is that where the vetrinarian medecine program is?
OOops? sorry that's UGUELPH not UGUELP!
CIAO
Richard Buz
>
>Among my favorite AC solos are:
>
>Penny Arcade (Fast Emotion)
>Fast Emotion (Fast Emotion)
>Hangin' Out (You Be Easy)
>Don't Be Bop (World Tour '90)
I saw Alain and Le Band last night. They played a bunch of stuff off the
new CD. There was one piece which I think was called "Slam The Clown" which
is sure to make your list.
Has anyone seen the UZEB transcription book? I saw it advertised in Bassics
magazine a few years ago. I'm curious to know what's in it.
---
________________________________________________________________________
Richard Buz, PhD Voice: (613) 991-2380
Satellite Systems and Technologies Fax: (613) 990-0316
Communications Research Centre E-mail: rb...@entropy.dgrc.doc.ca
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
________________________________________________________________________
Action Software Company
> I am very interested to hear about the Stern Caron project. Maybe that
> explains why one of the tunes on the CD is dedicated to Leni Stern, a
> great guitarist and Mike's wife. Please post more details, and if anyone
> knows of US tour dates......POST IT!
Alain Caron plays on all tracks of the Leni Stern CD titled "Like One".
Rich lewis
95 NAMM Show. AC was there and they played a cool set.
Action Software Company
Rich lewis <rich....@trw.com> writes:
> I had the pleasure of video taping Michel Cusson's Birthday party at the
> 95 NAMM Show. AC was there and they played a cool set.
Sounds great, Rich. Why don't you write us a few paragraphs that
describe it for us.
:^>
Allan K Richardson
: In article n...@malasada.lava.net, act...@lava.net (Action Software Company) writes:
: >
: >Among my favorite AC solos are:
: I saw Alain and Le Band last night. They played a bunch of stuff off the
: new CD. There was one piece which I think was called "Slam The Clown" which
: is sure to make your list.
Is this on the shelves yet (if so I'll surely have to go to Toronto to
get it) or were they just previewing the material at the gig?
: ________________________________________________________________________
: Richard Buz, PhD Voice: (613) 991-2380
: Satellite Systems and Technologies Fax: (613) 990-0316
: Communications Research Centre E-mail: rb...@entropy.dgrc.doc.ca
: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
: ________________________________________________________________________
--
Richard Buz
>Is this on the shelves yet (if so I'll surely have to go to Toronto to
>get it) or were they just previewing the material at the gig?
Hi Al. I was under the impression that the CD has been recorded. I tried to
order it through a place here in Ottawa, but it wasn't listed on their computer
yet. I guess I'll just keep trying every couple of days. If anyone else knows
anything, please post the information.
Jim Johnson
If anyone knows of any Alain/Le Band tour dates in the US
(North East), please post them.
--
Jim