Contrabass Digest

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2001-10-29

From: "Jay and Adrienne Easton"
Subject: Re: [CB] they might be giants
Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2001 09:02:15 -0800

> From: Grant Green
> Subject: [CB] Mink Car
> Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2001 11:41:15 -0700
>
> My copy of "Mink Car" by They Might Be Giants arrived yesterday. An
> interesting disc, with a wide variety of styles. My daughters would sing
> along to one track, and then for the next track say "Dad, what *is* this?"
That sums it up pretty well! ;-)
This isn't their most consistant album, but it's still fun.
> Track 12 ("Older") is the only one with sarrusophone (and rauschpfieffe),
> but it is prominent at the beginning and end of the song. Scott Robinson
> plays the sarrusophone, and sounds like he's using a double reed.

I know it's a few days late, but as a longtime fan of They Might Be Giants, I wanted to share a few items of low-note interest. One half of TMBG, John Linnell, is an occasional low-reed player. Various tracks by the band include his bass clarinet and bass saxophone. Of particular interest (at least to me) are these songs:
From "Apollo 18":

"She's Actual Size" Instrumentation is voice, sparse piano, and several overdubbed bass saxes.

"Hall of Heads" Linnell appears to have sampled his bass sax, and used a keyboard to extend the sound into contrabass range.

"Dinner Bell" No bass sax here, but probably the best counterpoint ever from a pop band.

Several of their tracks have bass clarinet, most prominantly on "Cabbagetown" (a b-side from a single) and "Michigan" from Linnell's wonderful solo album "State Songs."
Also of interest are "The Edison Museum" - voice, harpsichord, and 4 bass saxes it's from the album Long Tall Weekend, and you can hear a sample (or download it) at http://www.emusic.com/aasearch.html?rtype=search_art&searchterm=they+might+be+giants&cid=emusic .
If you don't know this band- they're quirky, creative, and lots of fun. Sort of like kids' music for adults.
To quote Grant-
Enjoy!
Jay Easton
www.jayeaston.com
---------------------------------------------------------
From: "Spencer Parks"
Subject: Re: [CB] they might be giants
Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2001 11:43:09 -0600
This band is great. I've always appreciated the low reeds that they've used.
Spencer
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