Do you know what the bass pedals are midied to? You've got to get the sustain just right on the bass patch (usually acoustic bass) when you play 'toe only' (heel and toe is nearly impossible with spinet pedals). I had one of the first (aftermarket) sustain units on my old C3. It had TOO much sustain and never sounded convincing with the Hammond bass pedal tones. Not many guys played pedals, most being converted piano players (including Jimmy Smith) and the 'left-hand bass' with an 'attact' pedal hit (usually 'A') became the order of the day. A few, like Groove Holmes and Don Patterson, could actually play pedals but they were the exceptions. I almost always doubled the left-hand bass with the pedals which allowed me to use my left hand to more easily work the drawbars and 'comp' when required. After years and years, it becomes almost automatic. At this stage, arthritis has me only doing pedals on slow tunes. Oh well.

As for Alan getting boring after a bit, that can happen with anyone unless you're a hard-core fan (I am, btw). That's why Rock concerts are mostly show and short on substance. The only entertainer I've ever seen that didn't get at least a little bit boring after awhile was James Brown. If you could sleep through a James Brown show, you've probably got a sleep disorder .

Speaking of visuals, that's the other thing that Alan and others like him bring to the table; from a musical perspective, they're fun to watch. There is little doubt about who's doing what. Of course, it depends on whether the audience came to see an entertainer 'entertain' or hear a musician 'play'. As usual, different strokes for different folks.

chas

I'm guessing, but the bass is probably from the Emu sampler or, it might be a bass tone from the SY-77, which has a wicked acoustic bass...the same one that was in the DX-7 and used on thousands of recordings.

I've been a fan of Alan's for quite some time, and he never fails to inspire me to play (or attempt) the arrangements he puts together.

Having that total freedom away from full auto-accompaniment sure makes a difference, especially in jazz and probably blues as well. He can change directions (such as go into double time) at will, something you can't do very easily with a style, although I have a few homemade custom jazz ballad styles that will allow me to do that to some extent.

Watching Alan play, he manages to make it look almost easy...the bass line is the glue in his case...witness when he's playing very little right or left hand. Also, his brass and string phrases are amazing and he changes between keyboards very smoothly, even more noticeable when he's playing behind a singer. It's hard to believe he gets so much orchestration...almost sounds multi-tracked at times.

I find it harder playing full piano with bass pedals than I do with double keyboard (or organ) manuals...go figure. It's like my left hand is in the wrong place, or at the wrong angle.

Ian

PS...this is real nice...

Chas, I looked around as thorough as I could, but could find no info on the source of Alan's bass sound. Whatever it is, the sustain length is perfect. Maybe it's a modified sound?

Ian

Thanks, and you're right, it IS perfect. Sounds so much better than mine on the KeyB and THAT even has a built-in 'string bass' sustain on the pedals. Oh well, we'll just have to hunt him down and torture it out of him .

chas

Alan McPike main job here

Yes, Yes, Yes!!!

This gentleman makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up . His style of play is just right and his arrangements are just so so tasty !!

I don't see any mention of price on the Standardtrax site. They are great,

I got an email from Alan a few days ago, and here's his gigging setup...


top - korg trinity - no midi
middle - Korg tr61 - midi-ed to an Emu E5000 ultra
bottom - Yamaha kx88 midi-ed to Emu and Roland Jv880
pedals - Roland PK5 midi-ed to Emu for bass
Alesis sr16 for patterns - Boss DR880 for sounds.

Ian