JAMES JAMERSON /// For Once in My Life

Stevie Wonder's version of For Once in My Life, written by Ron Miller & Orlando Murden, bass by James Jamerson, recording and graphic score by Jack Stratton.

[@User-jk8wq]

I knew Jamerson was a good bassist from Ain't No Mountain and What's Going On, but only from this did I realise he was a genius bassist.

[@kayvancooten4657]

It's not so much what he does, it's more about what he doesn't, if you get my drift? I'm so glad you reached!😉😁👍🏽❤🎶

[@patg912]

Gladys Knight and the Pips version of I Heard it Though the Grapevine did it for me

[@TheOwlHead]

Show me a bass line anywhere that can beat it

[@user-ho8wl5fb2p]

Darling Dear (the jackson 5)@@TheOwlHead

[@achmadramadhan1550]

the absence of chordal instruments just showed the beast out of the bassline

[@elephantgrass631]

Even with everything else it still shows it.

[@braydenfrederick7879]

Gotta love Mr. Rubber neck Joe tho

[@nickbee1291]

Imagine walking through a park and hearing some folks absolutely ripping this tune on an ocarina and acoustic bass?

[@hadiffnazhan862]

Probably a u-bass would suit that situation because of how adorable it is and the bouncy upright-like tone

[@hadiffnazhan862]

Great match for ocarina

[@JesseClaus]

And one solid steady Castanet:)

[@josephdresda4180]

It Would Remind Me Of Disneyland At Night With The Neon Lights On 💕✨💕

[@connorhayes2374]

I’m on it

[@sandywinnnerman2156]

The line moves like my stock portfolio. Once again art imitates life.

[@renanalves7271]

I am just crying , this is simply beautiful , can’t explain

[@bh9090bh9090]

When someone achieves the artistry and humanity we know is in all of us, the admiration and respect for it is a thing of beauty.

[@johannaroll6494]

Totally. Goosebumps every single time!

[@matthewbrenes699]

Thinking about Jamerson's life story and how it got really hard for him in the end. Then you listen to this baseline and picture his smiling face. Kind of makes you want to cry.

[@Precision202]

All done with one finger on a precision bass. Amazing. A truly gifted player.

[@zimberlin9978]

Imagine this. Vulf collaborating for music education software for kids. Like "Sesamestreet x Vulf" style. I'd buy that. As a 30 yr old

[@tomcutts9200]

I'd like to see "Jack Stratton Teaches Sight Reading", done in the style of Mavis Beacon.

[@Jaegurmangensun]

James Jamerson basically epitomizes the phrase "man, the myth, the legend." Nobody else like him. Such a revolutionary player for his time. DAT. POCKET.

[@southpause]

I was a halfway decent 18 year old bass player in a rock cover band in 1968. With the group attempted to learn Stevie’s “ I was made to love her”, I listened to the bass line, promptly gave up the instrument and became a guitarist. After listening to Jamerson’s bass line on this track, I’m convinced I made a good decision. The man is clearly a genius and I’m left wondering if he played it the same way twice.

[@guitarbizzar5524]

The texture of his lines just makes my ears melt. Just beautiful

[@patg912]

He changed the way of bass playing,,,,He not only keeps the bottom,,but playing bass with unbelievable melody!

[@duartebriz]

These bass lines (James Jamerson) are just awesome. They are a tune by themselves.

[@MrDaddyjay69]

Isolating Jamerson's bass lines are always so enlightening. He was so amazing. Thank you for posting this.

[@JoeNaeem]

James Jameson walks in the valley of counterpoint he just wades through counterpoint

[@paulmayerpiano]

0:37 is genius. I always loved Jamerson, even as a kid before I even knew what that name meant. When it comes to bass playing, he'll always be what a Capital and a period are to a sentence - the first and last. Jamerson is to bass what a red Ferrari is to sports cars. The most fundamental, iconic, archetypal idea that is so deeply connected with its "meaning" that it's practically synonymous. You basically can't have electric bass playing as we know it without Jamerson.

[@joelaurino1448]

Absolutely perfectly said!

[@unieon]

I had to rewind back to that very same place to witness what I think I'd just heard, incrediable feel with creativity!

[@mikeuy5450]

Just got into Stevie Wonder and I was boggled why does the bassline sound something familiar. Alas! Thats why: Jamerson. And played on one finger. Mind-blowing.

[@JarodJesus]

This saved my life. I'm crying, thankyouforthis

[@KiatHuang]

Thank you Vulfpeck for the isolation and beautiful visualisation of one of Jamerson's legendary basslines. Great job.

[@BMSMisFits]

I'm playing this this weekend in a Stevie Wonder tribute show!! Such an incredible line of Jamerson's

[@kayvancooten4657]

Excellent & indeed so very hypnotic. JJ, what a genius he was! You're the man!👍🏽❤🎶

[@pumukliboti]

Jack, how about a third episode for "Darling dear" of Jackson 5??

[@SHdrummerguy08]

I saw this video once on facebook 5 years ago, and i have spent the last 3 years trying to find it again, and here it is

[@paolozak3014]

James Jamerson was a giant

[@dennisnichols3432]

🤴🏿King James The Bass 🕺🏿💯🚀

[@karmajunkie108]

love this! its amazing! its the space between his note choices that the funk gets woven into the groove. love hearing it this way. James never ceases to amaze me.

[@bradsims5116]

I love these bass line animations.

[@matthewweaver7633]

i could cry watching this

[@nobleza1959]

Thank you very much James! . Excellent work!

[@JamesJamersonIsAGod]

Amazing, love this visualization

[@johnnybell8793]

Awesome... James (the hook) Jamerson... thank you for all u did! As far as not playing the same thing twice... McCartney rarely played the same lick twice... well done. Cheers

[@edburns00]

That is delightful and appreciation deepening.

[@jeromerimson]

One Mohamed Ali / One Michael Jordan/ one James Jamerson!

[@goovialisticprofunks]

One Pavarotti, one Jimi Hendrix, one Charlie Chaplin,

[@joeyb4ever]

Great record, inspired bass, nice presentation. Thanks.

[@mejsjalv]

Such a melodic style. It stands on its own as a very cohesive composition.

[@johannaroll6494]

Totally - which is the definition of counterpoint.

[@pauloffborba]

Really, really really awesome! Great work!!! 👍

[@mintlp]

Jamerson Genius! ❤️

[@SomervilleBob]

This is mesmerizing. Thanks. The visual helped follow it.

[@sappe2267]

James Jamerson was the most remarkable bassist of all time!

[@michieleybergen2586]

Give Me a Gig!!!! This is truly awesome!!!!

[@richardwilliams8507]

Please make more of these for songs they are amazing!

[@metallicarocks911]

The thing that made Jamerson such a genius, was that he was able to take a improvisational approach to his basslines, a thing that, until that time, musicians felt was only a solo-only tool to playing music. Jamerson was able to intimately and innately hone in on the use of timekeeping and chord tones (As well as 'wrong notes') to execute his playing style. The reason why his improvisational approach as a bass player is hailed as the truest form of bass playing, is because of his such deep pocket. All his notes would sound disjointed, except the syncopation truly brings out the musicality in his playing... One thing I found in music is that anyone can get away with bloody murder (Overplaying, too much dissonance, wonky timekeeping, etc.) as long as you can execute it with conviction. Jamerson had that in spades, as a lot of classically trained jazz musicians like him did.

[@rozsomak002]

just. wow.

[@mnky47]

jack you gotta show the world how to make these, I need more JJ isovisuals

[@allegronontroppo1]

agree

[@justinmaree1364]

Jamerson changed my musical life

[@ksbayer]

This is amazing! Great job.

[@rizzbot7613]

Awesome. Pure genius.

[@dave3124]

Wow !! Brilliant man,

[@followyourbliss101]

really cool to visualize the bass line notes and intensities. thanks for that!

[@BassGod1225]

Probably nailed it on the first take .

[@shanebromfield2192]

He played What's going on first take on the floor of the studio hammered.

[@dbass9767]

OMG the key change! Genius!

[@leoscar5]

Whoever you are, I really need for you to create and post more of James Jamerson's music in this graphic format. Please. Thank you. (Ideally with the original music, but you do you.) Jamerson was Genius.

[@leftpastsaturn67]

Unbridled genius.

[@soulfinga100]

Yeah Jack...superb mane!

[@lordundhimself1310]

Please do "What's Goin' On"! My favorite Jamerson piece

[@chazinko]

Makes me want to have heard any other takes from the original sessions. James Jamerson was a genius!

[@kayvancooten4657]

Please check out this Funk bro excellence. 👍🏽❤🎶 kzbin.info/www/bejne/rnPIZKygf7GZoJo

[@chazinko]

@@kayvancooten4657 Thanks bro - that was dope!

[@bipinpaudel2945]

aesthetically pleasing visuals.

[@sylart57]

That was insane!!!!😳

[@kayvancooten4657]

That's kinda how i write my own music..brilliant!

[@MrBubba171811]

Beautiful. It's on Jamerson's best bass album (arguably), Stevie's "For Once In My Life". Sweet.....

[@DaveBassDotCom]

Outrageous. : )

[@233dlb]

Love it

[@ofprey]

This is addictive!

[@Scotttyist]

Incredible sense of timing.

[@bourgeoisbrats]

Indeed. You have to have impeccable time to do this. He was an upright bass player, so he knew how to use all the chromatics and passing tones in the correct place. Listening to his bass playing always reminds me of watching a high-wire, trapeze artist. Swing out, swing back, swing out and let go (on the 1st beat), flip/twist in the air (sometimes slow, sometimes medium, sometimes fast), grab hold of the other swing that was swinging before you grabbed it :-)

[@Ed-Mace]

AMAZING! Do you have I was made to love her? ...and we all know it was James on that bass too.

[@schoolofrockcolumbia3726]

fantastic

[@rambr0vids]

Sick!

[@claSlayer]

wtf i've listened this isolated bass track from like 6 yrs and i've realized just now that was uploaded from vulfpeck channel

[@rahadik.8072]

mantep bangett gan basslinenyaaa

[@tylersmith7925]

This grooves so hard at .75x speed. Also the deepness of his intricacies become more clear. So many layers, in there hah. Then on half speed it’s like oh shit were pregnant

[@86TrapHouse]

With terrible audio quality

[@ASSman864]

0.75x is a bop

[@ayyyawn]

So cool

[@FreakazoidsAsteroids]

Is this the bass isolated from the original track or a very well-programmed patch mimicking the original line exactly? I only ask because it's even more incredibly consistent and immaculately timed and phrased than I ever imagined it to be. Love the graphics, too. This is how I visualise bass in my minds eye when I'm playing.

[@RonShwanzy]

recording and graphics by Jack Stratton as you can read in the description

[@FreakazoidsAsteroids]

Rom .Sen Thanks for taking the time to reply. The term 'recording' leaves a lot of room for ambiguity, hence the specificity of my question. Did Jack Stratton prepare the recording (i.e did he process the multi-track)? Did he record the bass? Did he record a programmed rendition of the bass-line, prepared from a transcription (this seems most likely to me)? Similarly "bass by" is ambiguous. We all know that JJ performed the bassline on the original recording. We all know that the many permutations in the line came from his creative ingenuity. Does that mean he recorded THIS bass though? This bassline is by Jamerson, but not necessarily this performance. For me (and probably a few others who have commented here), these are important questions...not least because nobody else appears to have been able to lay their hands on the original multitracks. I would like to know whether James Jamerson's playing was really this impeccably consistent, or whether this consistency is the result of processing (it sounds very compressed) or due to it being a programmed rendition of the original, incredible line. I hope this helps to spell out the nuances of my original question - perhaps they were too subtle.

[@ricoboogie2086]

John the Bassist I haven't got much to add to this comment, other than to give it a +1. I too, would be very interested to learn more details about how this particular performance came together.

[@Vulf]

John the Bassist i transcribed then played the line on a similar setup as jamerson (p-bass with labellas and mute). in the latest videos i just animate to the original track.

[@RonShwanzy]

well, i have a lot to learn :) thank you for the information! realy, I'm not ironic!

[@robinmiller7958]

Nice!

[@toniperez1323]

Soothing

[@falanajerido875]

Wow he was a genius

[@golds04]

Bach probably would look similar. Man- nobody like JJ except maybe Jaco. Ty. Great post.

[@sniffinggluewontkeepfamili3387]

Bump this at my funeral plz

[@nfernandez003]

I enjoyed this. How long did it take to put this together?

[@crlujan]

So good. Would love to hear it with the drums.

[@sarameiragootblatt1819]

Can you please make more of these videos? If I may request: lovely dear by Jackson five (another great james jamerson’s bass line)

[@falanajerido875]

I agree

[@SergioMerlin]

yeah thank you so much!! :) how do you do the video? :) great!!

[@Radagast27]

Neat!

[@JamieLeeon]

i like your timing...especially at 1:23..

[@sonofkikkoman]

dat groove

[@aaronpearson2168]

I always thought this was Nate playing. Nate and James are both really good. Two of my favorites.

[@booognish]

The best

[@Ontonaut]

Stevie Wonder was great, as is this whole song. But just the bass line and melody are enough

[@throwitinthebinUnt]

howd you make this? soo good

[@jacobanteau6020]

The right ear slaps

[@nrrgrdn]

Thank you for this beautiful minimalistic cover. Please release more of these kinds of videos. Minor detail: At both @1:43-1:45 and @2:13-2-15 an extra bass node was played not displayed in the graphics. Does anyone know if the code, which I presume to exist, for generating the graphics from the score is open-source and available?

[@eddypalogrande6090]

Who else just came from Scott's Bass Lessons? :)

[@joninawhitecoat]

Heyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

[@PaoloC.]

here

[@ryanperron8309]

Eddy Palogrande yeah man

[@willlllllllllllllz]

Guilty 🙌🏾

[@TheChadPad]

Me! :) a little late, but I'm present lol

[@abhinavkhokhar362]

The whole screen starts moving to the right after seeing the whole thing huhuhu

[@dcborgeson]

The whole room's going left-to-right now! But it was worth it!

[@jacksonwoods5692]

What do you call the sound that plays the melody in this? Is it a computer effect or is it more like a slammin ass vintage synth lead?

[@nishanthdass4172]

That's a sine wave with portomento and some vibrato. Has a very quick release and a short attack time. Its probably from a synth.

[@nikcrosina]

Its tanto. Look it up

[@dansaunders1655]

WOODY GOSS ON THE OCARINA

[@kenmorley2339]

😅😅😅

[@ciclismo1450]

They say if you get groovier than this you explode

[@mcjam]

Mesmeric.

[@Button215]

Stevie couldn't have written the music for the bass. JJ just composed it in the studio. You've got to do the same for Lucky Scott (Curtis Mayfield's bassist.) Now I've got to go back and listen to the entire Motown catalog

[@bigsad7524]

The most 🔥 elevator music

[@peepsieD]

fun video, is this MIDI?

[@-dash]

Was this made in after effects?

[@sonnyb4180]

Anyone got the transcription of this???