Mark King in his home studio (I think).Getting some wonderful tones out of his Series 2.
 
Apologies if this is a re-post
 

Never seen Mark King tapping before,which he does briefly at 0:30
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sR9ZOSwi8XU&feature=related

Thanks for that, as you say great tone, hearing his bass really naked like that gave me an insight into getting close to that tone which I have now managed with sig electronics. Some careful dialling.
Jake

I read an interview where he said he was pretty much a 'turn everything up full and see what happens' kinda guy,but I always suspected there was 'some careful dialling' going on.
 
(Message edited by bassfingers on March 05, 2009)

too nice coco bolo serie II and too nice sound and too nice play and too nice.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93VqyeUz8Z8&feature=related

Found this one, I didn't see it posted anywhere, so here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYIjNDINGxo&feature=player_embedded

I love MK.Here in the states, not enough bass players know about him.The usual response from guys when they hear him is wide eyes and who' THAT!!.He is so much more than Level 42.

Sounds more like Stanley Clarke than Stanley does!

LOL!

I do like Mark King, I would not say I'm a big fan of his although his playing is remarkable. What I find interesting that I've never seen or heard of Mark King being invited on-stage to play/sit in with other premier bass players or jazz-funk musicians. I recall Allan Holdsworth played with Level 42 but I do wonder if Mark has ever done gigs with Allan doing Allan's music?  Not that I'm trying to push Mark over JJ at all. Just a curiosity thing.  
 
Maybe you can enlighten me.
 
jazzyvee

> > > > Well, you know... not every musician might want to play other guy's music. There are guys that only like -or feel comfortable- playing their stuff. Take me, for an instance., if Allan Holdsworth calls me to play his music with him, I'd politely say no... (but that's because I would get lost by measure 6, and also not to spoil work from JJ!!), hahahaha!!! > > >

I actually didn't think about musicians only wanting to play their own stuff. But that may be one of the reasons.
 
Jazzyvee

Here is a good quality recording and a clear view of one of his alembics.
 
Jazzyvee

I would love to play with Allan, but I'd do it in my own way. I don't mind flailing badly, I would just want the experience!
 
I experience Mark as more of a pop bass player who has incorporated some of the flavors of jazz players into his music. Throwing him into the deep end of jazz wouldn't be fair. However, I've had the same thoughts about other players. I know that John Scofield played in Phil Lesh's band, but I'd love to hear it the other way 'round. Of course, he's got Steve Swallow on the job a lot, so that's sort of close. I hope, though, when I get into my 70s, that I'd be willing to stretch myself.
 

I like and respect Mark King a lot. I think he made a huge contribution to raising the profile & awareness of the electric bass over here in the UK when Level 42 burst onto the scene. Its fair to say that Stanley Clarke was a big catalyst in the development of the young Mark King - but most of us here of a certain age could lay claim to that same thing!
 
Strangely enough some musicians seem to gain a huge profile, a kind of long term general appeal to the masses - whilst others are symptomatic of a particular time & place...they burn extremely bright but fade with time.  
 
I think MK probably falls into this category - but I think he is a bass great all the same.
 
For the record I'd love to play with Allan Holdsworth - but the word on the street is he doesnt really want to play with me lol!