Jul 31, 2022
And now back to my conversation with ace bass player Jimmy Haslip! Having been the producer or co-producer on more than 190 recordings, and having recorded over 400 records, Haslip continues to thrive on the road and in the studio.
His latest project is a trio record that came together during the pandemic shut-down period, when long-time friend Barry Coates, who plays a unique synth guitar, shared music he was working on with Jimmy. From there came virtual sessions with drummer Jerry Kalaf, resulting in New Dreams. Tune into Podcast 922 for more details.
Part Two of my conversation allows us to go back into his history as a recording artists, producer, and arranger having worked with the likes of jazz artists like Al Jarreau, Lee Ritenour, Billy Cobham, Pat Metheny, George Duke, Branford Marsalis and the Jeff Lorber Fusion to pop. rock and soul stars like Rod Stewart, Joe Cocker, Chaka Khan, , Crosby, Stills & Nash, Anita Baker and Bruce Hornsby.
Here we discuss some of my favorite recordings in which he was involved. Musical selections for Podcast 923 include:
-"Magnolia" from Yellowjackets' 211 album Timeline. The track was co-written by Jimmy and keyboardist Russell Ferrante, and features a guest guitar from fellow founding member Robben Ford. Jimmy spent 34 years as a regular member of Yellowjackets, leaving only when the travel commitments became too great for him.
-""Candleglow" from singer Michael Franks' 2018 release The Music in My Head. The track was produced and arranged by Haslip, and features his bass as well.
- An edited version of "It Must Be Jazz" from the quartet of the late Allan Holdsworth, Alan Pasqua, Haslip and Chad Wackerman, from the 2009 Blues for Tony double album. Jimmy co-wrote the tune with the other band members. Jimmy has a hand in organizing a new album of previously unreleased material from this quartet, to be titled Protocosmos and released this fall.
Part Three of my conversation with Haslip will be released later this week. Then we talk about his beginnings as a player, his practice regimen, and how he came to play bass on a session with Kiss.