Couple weeks ago I ran across a Major Holley CD. I knew who he was, but had nothing by him. He was an upright bass player known for humming along, or scat-singing along with his bass. His guttural singing sounds almost like he’s playing his bass through a distortion pedal. Unique sound.
Or so I thought. In reading up on him, in the liner notes and online, I discovered that he stole (or borrowed) this technique from Slam Stewart, another bass player only slightly older than him.
And they’d actually done a series of albums together. I guess they encouraged each other, and were good friends.
Downloaded a collaboration album, ordered another from Germany, and downloaded a Slam Stewart album. Wow, great stuff.
Other musicians have sung along with their playing, and it’s generally considered an affectation to be avoided: Pat Metheny. Keith Jarrett. Jeremy Steig. Ian Anderson. Jack Nicholson’s sister in “Five Easy Pieces.”
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