Customer Reviews
GREAT BOOK & 2 CD SET! FOR BASSIST ..AND MUSIC FANS! 
2008-07-16
James Jamerson is one of the top bassist of all time and this book will give bassist some insight to his genius. I never learned to read music, but I was born with an exception ear! I remember a long time ago, going for a job in a pit orchestra. The musical director was not all that impressed with my playing on the first day, because I didn't read music and I kind of fumbled through the rehearsal. I went home that night and learned the entire show from a tape. On the next rehearsal, when we started to play the opening number, the conductor stopped in the middle of the song, looked at me and said...."Turn up the bass!" ..this made me very happy, as I always felt a little inferior not being able to read :-)
The book covers Jamerson's story and shows many of his classic bass lines for those of you who do read. It's no walk in the park, but it's time well spent and will take your playing to another level.
The book comes with 2 CDs full of Jamerson's bass lines and many top bassist playing their favorite Jamerson tunes. It's all very interesting for musicians and non musicians alike and well worth the price! I never knew how much this guy influenced my playing until I really sat down and listened to him! What a great talent!
A must for Motown Fans 2008-05-18
Very good book if you don't have the DVD. Fills in many details not in the film. A must have for Bass Players.
Jamerson the Great 2008-04-06
I'm one of those Bass Players who discovered James Jamerson late in my bass playing life. Any young (or old) aspiring bassist should have this book. The 2 cd's that come with it are worth the price alone. Some of the greatest bass players on earth (McCartney, Entwhistele, Pallidino,Bob Babbit,Chuck Rainey..) paying homage to Jamerson and playing some of his famous bass lines. The great thing about it is that when played through headphones you get the bass in one ear and the rest of the mix in the other. I have actually listened to just the bass mix multiple times and marvelled at the Bass Lines. A must for any young Bass Player.
The book has some great stories and pictures and compliments the CD greatly.
Don't give singers all the credit! 2008-03-10
I've always been a fan of Motown but of the singers, now I'm starting to realize I shouldn't give the singers all the credit, it was the producers, songwriters, and musicians who made the artists become hits. If it wasn't for the unique, special Funk Brothers who knows if the Motown artists would have become as successful as they did. It doesn't matter how good of a singer a singer is, if the music ain't right, the singer ain't gonna sound good. Its that something special about the Motown Sound that sparks something in our minds, hearts, and souls, the music complimented the singers excellently. James Jamerson was just a handsome, wonderful, real, interesting, talented person. Its sad he had to get recognition after he passed on. It seems the only way to become a legend is to die first then people appreciate you more, well this book taught me to love and praise people while their alive that's what keeps them going. All James wanted in his last days was recognition and to know he did make a difference in the world of music. This book taught me to appreciate the musicians, songwriters, and producers, the people behind the scenes, who made it possible for the music to become timeless, sometimes we give the singers too much credit.
It was interesting for me to read most of the Funk Brothers didn't even like Rock N Roll or Soul music, they were really jazz fans and wanted to play jazz, so it shows how gifted they were to still play soul music effectively even though it wasn't their cup of tea. Another reason why Motown sound is so appealing and fresh is because the Funk Brothers laced different genres of music into the soul music and tried new things with the music creating the Motown Sound, a sound in its own class.
Motown 2007-08-13
My husband is love with this bass gautairist, and love this book and DVD combo.
An absolute must for any aspiring bassist 2007-08-01
Bassist James Jamerson was the embodiment of the Motown spirit and groove - the invisible entity whose playing inspired thousands. His tumultuous life and musical brilliance are explored in depth through hundreds of interviews, 49 transcribed musical scores, two hours of recorded all-star performances, and more than 50 rarely seen photos in this stellar tribute to behind-the-scenes Motown. Features a 120-minute CD! Allan Slutsky's 2002 documentary of the same name is the winner of the New York Film Critics "Best Documentary of the Year" award!
Amazing!!! It's ALL that!! 2007-05-04
Thorough, well-researched biography of James Jamerson - the man who changed how musicians view the bass. What an amazing life and a tragic end for a musician of immense talent.
Warning - the section of tunes in the back of this book will make you want to burn your bass!! He was THAT good.
Can't really write more - gotta go practice.... That's how much this book will inspire you to go play. A MUST HAVE for your bass library.
Play bass? Buy this! 2007-03-20
Amazing learning tool filled with lots of great info and transcriptions.
Great for bass players and motown fans 2007-01-05
The book arrived in excellent condition and in a timely fashion.
Difficult, but oh so worth the pain 2006-11-09
I've learned an incredible amount from this book. Mostly it is about constructing a bass line and syncopation. This cat played some *hard* music. No tab, which is actually a good thing since it helps my sight reading chops. The bass playing on the CDs are outstanding. This book has become the focus of my instruction for the last few months with my teacher. It will likely remain the focus of my instruction for the coming six months.
I don't really listen to Motown music. But this stuff really made me appreciate the musicianship going on behind the singers.
