[Dixielandjazz] electric contrabass

[James Kashishian]

Our bassist uses a "stick" electric contrabass.  It looks just like a
normal bass, but there is no acoustic chamber to it.  It's just a stick.
It sounds extremely like the real thing when the real thing is amped.
This thing won't sound at all without an amp.  

It's very good on a small stage, but its real advantage is in
travelling.  We flew to the Mediterranean Island of Mallorca yesterday
for a gig.  He held the thing between his legs in his seat!  Not a word
from the flight crew.  Try doing that with an acoustic bass!!

As I've mentioning the gig of last nite, we were hired to play before
and after a dinner for 25 people who had been flown over by a large
company.  They were taken on a catamaran during the day, while we (the
band) lounged around a five star hotel pool (actually we had a choice of
3 pools!), then we spent 2 & a half hours eating lunch (free!), then had
a 3 hr. siesta & a bit more swimming!  We played during cocktails in the
gardens before dinner, had a great steak dinner while the clients were
eating a buffet, then played for dancing for an hour and a half.  A
champagne buffet breakfast & a flight home today.

We were given top notch rooms (free) overlooking the bay of Palma.  I
was given a suite, becoming to my status of trombonist/singer/presenter
of the band (I think it really was an accident!), which I proudly showed
to the other members in the band!    :>    Of course, I'm the same
member of the band that flew to Chicago in a BED in first class because
the pilot turned out to be a fan of the band.    :>   :>   :>

A good gig, and extremely well paid.  Meanwhile, our friend on DJML Tom
Wiggins was winding his way through the hot streets of Vitoria on foot
in Northern Spain at a Jazz Festival.  Me?  I prefer the hotel &
swimming pool.  Tom can have the festivals!!   :>

Jim (enough bragging for one nite) Kash