What it takes to be a session legend with Gail Ann Dorsey
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- čas přidán 8. 03. 2018
- So today you’re in for something suuuuper different from my usual Friday lesson releases…
But don’t panic… you’re going to LOVE this new video.
It features a VERY special guest… someone who’s played bass for the likes of David Bowie, Lenny Kravitz, Tears for Fears, The Indigo Girls, Gwen Stefani, Seal… I could go on and on…
Simply put, they’re a true session legend.
The AWESOME Gail Ann Dorsey.
And the cool news for you is she came down to the studio in NYC to hang out and let me quiz her about their musical journey, what gear she uses, what it was like to work with David Bowie (and how she got the call in the first place), rehearsing with Lenny Kravitz and what the schedule is like when rehearsing with big artists like that…
And yeah… I filmed the entire thing for you!
It’s ok, you can thank me later ;)
This is a super rare opportunity to learn from someone who’s done it all! Ready to jump in?
As always, see you in the shed…
Scott
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Gail Ann Dorsey. She is simply as cool as it gets.
So articulate, eloquent and humble. She is such a legendary and iconic artist. Amazing singing voice too.
Seriously badass, to play in Bowie's band you had to be top class!, let's face it he could afford the very best!
Yea she really is cool as a cucumber. And dang she can play.
Saw her during the Reality tour and absolutely fell in love, not just with her performance, but her entire pesona and her and Davids interactions. She is one of the most beautiful musicians I have ever seen perform.
She have a very beautiful voice.
Beautiful to say the least. She has A VOICE !
@Oly Spart, yes I noticed that too, right away!
It reminds me of a time when American women used to have nice - or at least not annoying - voices.
She talks like Hendrix. Lol.
@@AtticusStount 🤨
It amazing how self-deprecating and humble Gail Ann Dorsey is. Although she is a side person, she has super star level talent.
does indeed.
Great singing voice too. She’s amazing.
She’s playing with top ppl so she better be a top level player...
What a pleasure to listen to a person who has lived and continues to learn.
So humble and sweet!
Thank you Scott!
"Get your shit out of the way. Serve the song." Amazing advice everyone needs to hear.
I’m not a musician, but I enjoyed this conversation SO MUCH!
Gail is amazing.
Gail is one of my favorite bass players, and have you ever heard her sing "Under Pressure", with Bowie?? Just Spectacular!!
Legend of a woman. A role model for musicians that survive on doing session work. Her work ethic is what I think sets her apart. Thank you for doing this interview with her.
I have a love for killer musicians who are humble, does something to the heart...
According to the Bhagavad-gita, humility is the first sign of knowledge. It shows that we understand how limited, small and dependent we are. The opposite is pride, which is very unattractive
@@jurjenvanderhoek316 amaanitvam is one of my favorite sanskrit words. It poorly translates into English, but the lack of need, lack of craving for exogenous validation, is truly a skill to develop (as Arjuna clearly did).
I now understand why Bowie added "Lovely" to her name.
Every gig on stage and in studio best friend we wer love you G
Saw him live, and he loved his band members deeply. There was nothing but love.
What a terrific interview!
Gail Ann Dorsey is a killer musician and she's so articulate, knowledgeable, and funny. Scott Devine does a great job here, too. He's a pretty chatty guy but was smart enough to let Dorsey speak and not spend the whole time trying to interrupt her and talk over her (*ahem* I'm looking at yooooouuu, Chris Matthews!), so good on him for that. It's the mark of good interviewer.
I really, really enjoyed this immensely. Thank you so much for doing it! There are so many interviews out there in the media that frankly are rather dull. This wasn't one of them. I loved it. This is one of the very best SBL videos I've seen.
Ahhh thanks Sam! I'm pretty new at the interviewing thing - so it's great to hear some good feedback :)
There are certain other interviewees that *ought* to be interrupted a little more often, LOL. For example, if the thing is really dragging, knowing how to pick things up is a useful skill. It wasn't necessary for this piece, however.
i tell people to interrupt me. ADD
@@devinebass And you doing really great here, the first interview i'm watchin from you, and i enjoyed it a lot and you made me discover a very good artist. Thanks man keep doing
@@devinebass So true. You were attentive and curious. Most 'professional' interviewers are too busy thinking of their next clever and misplaced question. Your reticence was a reluctant and welcome blessing. Never change.
Can see why she and Bowie had such a great music relationship. Such a lovely person.
What a great interview. Bass players are always the real musicians in any band. Her singing under pressure duets with Bowie were sublime..I've watched them all many times. So down to earth and humble..wow.
Real ? How about Integral ?
The "real" musicians?
Insecure much, mate??
I'm a multi-instrumentalist (yes that includes being a bassplayer) and *everyone* in a band is an integral part of that band's sound.
If you're, as bassplayer, the only real musician, you must be very busy, right? Since you're the absolutely only one playing music?
You wouldn't last 5 minutes in my band.
She's just beautiful on so many levels.
She's so humble oh my God, just blows my mind with this load of humbleness! Couldn't be much more humble, just look at that,
- unbelievable!
I loved this interview. What a pleasure. You did do a great job as an interviewer but TBH, I doubt you could go wrong with Gail, she's just so open and human. Loved hearing about her early days with Bowie. What a journey. What genuine musicians, both Gail and David. No wonder their music was such magic.
I love Gail so much. Not only is she an impeccable and tasteful musician, but she is a great performer. She can hang back and let the star shine, or she can step up and give the show. And what a voice. Listen to Bowie’s “Seven Years in Tibet” where suddenly, on the last build, she starts to belt and her voice just rises above the heavy mix. And then there is the wonder of her duet with Bowie on Under Pressure, where she gets to be both Freddy Mercury and John Deacon. I saw her and Bowie do that number both in 1998 and 2004.
I went to the 2004 tour also, and holy moly her rendition of Under Pressure was absolutely haunting. She is one of the greatest of all time.
That would be Mercury and Roger Taylor who did the highest vocal parts for Queen.
Don't know if it's been deleted but her album, The Corporate World, was very underrated. Also, she played and sang the chorus of Midnight Train To Georgia, live with the Indigo Girls; one of those moments where the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.
yes on the recording but rabbitfish means Bowie live; I saw that 04 tour too
I saw Bowie on his Earthling tour in 1997 and when they did "Under Pressure" and she was singing the Freddie part, it was jaw-dropping. Also saw the Reality tour in 2004, his last.
She's 55 years old here. Amazing.
I had the good fortune to see Gail playing with Bowie during his '04 tour in Colorado and Ohio. She was fantastic, great sound and groove, and was an excellent pair to Bowie on stage. They both set a high bar for professional, charismatic interaction with the crowd. And at the Ohio show they did Under Pressure, and Gail sang Freddie Mercury's part. And she nailed the high run...it was awesome. I never knew her story though - thanks for sharing Scott!
How could he interview her without falling in love from the start. Oh Gail you are a lovely & beautiful Artist.
The great thing about her that I absolutely love is: No matter her amazing technical skills, when she plays and sings it NEVER feels like showing off. It's always about her just being there, putting her heart and soul into making the songs work as best as it can be. That's a rare talent, which creates musical magic. And I think these iconic artists that she worked with really recognize that.
She's one of my absolute favourite musicians
Love her. Fantastic bass and voice. Watching her and Bowie do under pressure live brought me to tears. She's just the fucking coolest.
The best rendition of Under Pressure, and that's saying a lot considering who else has performed it.
That tour with Bowie and NIN she went on was maligned at the time but it’s INCREDIBLE. The set starts with one of the artists playing and then it moves into songs with Bowie and NIN performing together, then gradually transitions into the other artists set alone. Fans of both bands weren’t happy because it was so different. But it’s incredible and there’s high quality recordings of the set very worth checking out if youre fans of both of them. It was visionary stuff IMO
You're right. It's incredible. One of my favourite live recordings to listen to or watch. Their music is very different but they really compliment each other.
Such a brilliant and insightful interview, where the interviewee can actually be heard and treated with honour and respect. A lot of people could learn a lot from this. Gail is so humble, honest and one of the greatest bass players.
Always been a huge fan of hers as a bass player, it's great to see how humble, articulate and nice a person she also is!
🧡🧡🧡
What a delight as a person, and an inspiration as a musician.
This is the most interesting and informative discussion of all the Scott interviews I have listened to. This artist as engaging as she is talented.
I heard from two different people who dont know each other saw her with bowie and couldn't stop ranting about how amazing a vocalist and bass player she is. Bowie knew talent.
In addition to being a great musician, Gail is an incredible backing vocalist. Her duets with Bowie while playing "Under Pressure" were special. Listen to her at the beginning of "If You Can See Me," one of the most underrated Bowie cuts ever from his "The Next Day' CD.
What an expressive articulate lady I have always admired she was excellent playing with Bowie just the two of them grazie Mille ciao
I met Gail in 2002. Have had a huge crush on her since. Beautiful human being.
...wow she's great ....honest , genuine , humble professional....and beautiful inside and out .....cheers Gail 🍷🍷
'And so I just thought, "I'm going to have to play the bass."'
- My thought when I saw this woman rockin' out next to Bowie 😶
She's truly amazing! That bass line in Bowie's "The Stars Are Out Tonight" haunted me for days.
Thanks for watching Jan
i love that Bassline and had to play it all the time on my bass.
You know, Bowie worked with talented and famous people, great guitarists like Belew, Ronson, Slick and Gabrels but I can't think anyone better to carry on the legacy than Gail Ann Dorsey. I just love the chemistry they had on stage and her bass lines are at least as important as the guitar tracks on the albums she played. I just love her. Thanks for a great interview!
Love hearing her story...always fascinating to hear how people craft a life in music.
Awesome interview Scott. One of your best, at least for me. Gail is such a legend. This video is a must see, definitly.
Never normally comment but what a fabulous human. A joy to listen to, great interview and your respect for her was clear. Great job!
why you never normally comment?
Omg I love her. I remember seeing her with Lenny on the GnR tour 2 years ago and was wondering who she was. She's my new inspiration. She's so humble and smart and sensible and down to earth. 😊
I love Gail Ann. I saw her a couple times with Bowie. So awesome!!!
I love this interview, it was just simply very genuine. I am not even a bass player, but a guitarist, still I am always finding my self on bass sites. There is just something about the bass.
im not even a musician but love to listen to her history
yes man, i am bassist since my 14.years old, now im 38, theres something about that instrument that keep me in love, i understand you, i think you probably got same feeling, you are a bassist in your heart, but you just dont know it, let the love flows
@@espartacus001
Yes it has so many aspect, it usually leads the groove in the song, it tightens it. It's melodic and percursive at the same time.
That is actually true and well put. I guess I am a bassist in my heart. Since I write the basslines for most of my songs and it is usually when I am satisfied with the basslines then I feel Ihave something concrete.
@@Atlas65 yeah, and the sound of a good one is amazing, and the size is perfect for me, guitars are good but a litlle bit small, at least for me
Guitar guy here. Folk, you are absolutely right. We guitarist play around with our toys, but bass ans drum just hold the whole construction of rythm and pace the way to the music building. And sometimes, they play around too, even better than we slingers! 😉
Gail is an amazingly talented and kind person.
I’ve enjoyed this interview so much that I watched it twice in its entirety such a humble talented and lovely lady.
Never heard of her until I watched this interview. Needless to say, I am a fan just listening to the conversation. Definitely going to search out some of her discography for a closer look. Thanks, Scott!
LOVE TEARS FOR FEARS! Love Gail Ann Dorsey. I met her up in the Catskills. Very sweet humble lady. God Bless. :)
Fantastic woman. And how awesome she looks! She must be in her 50s, and she's looking like 15 years younger!
DoubleDee73 I'm 35... she looks younger. 😢
Scott! I really appreciate you man for being such a cool musician for taking the time to teach and educate us, I was happy the day I found your channel I've learnt so much since that day, I always love to see your interviews ever since Victor Wooten.... Thank you brother and many blessings to you.
Scott - thank you so much for this! Lovely lady, amazing player, gorgeous voice. Had the honor of seeing her with Bowie multiple times, and love what she does.
Super super super lovely person . Super super interview !!! Perfect !!! Gail Ann ,you are a great great inspiration ! !!!!
I cannot stop watching the BBC and Live by Request videos from the early 2000s. Just incredible.
What a great interview. Classy lady with a great history. I loved Tears for Fears ...great to hear that Roland was a good guy. Had no idea she played with him. Also Lenny Kravitz. Very modest the way she presents herself with all the people she has played with. A real musician in it for the right reasons. The music!!! I love how she started out too...answering an ad for a bass player...very funny but also shows her determination which is probably why she is a working musician. Not afraid to take on new challenges. Hope I get to meet her one day!!!!
One of the Very Best Interviews on CZcams.. !!!!! Hands Down Great !!!!! Inspiration
I love her stage presence. So serene and accomplished. Thanks for this interview. I’ve seen Gail in different videos and only recently learned her name to look her up. I loved hearing her say she was listening to Bowie when she was 14. It’s so ironic that she didn’t want to be a bass player and ended up playing among the greats of our time. It’s hypnotic watching her play.
singing while playing bass is hard AF
Paul McCartney seemed very comfortable with it.
It depends on the bassline, but most of them are not written to be played whilst singing, so they're very difficult. Check out Bowie's live rendition of 'Under Pressure' with Gail Ann Dorsey singing Freddie's part whilst playing the bassline -- insane!
@@ThinWhiteAxe same with Cream and Thin Lizzy and Motorhead songs, not written for vocals and bass together
It is!!!
I agree. David Crosby once described it as "like trying to dial two telephones at the same time"
Great video Scott, this Lady is awesome!
Together with Tina Weymouth, Gail Ann Dorsey is a gem of a talent. An inspiration for me to learn and pick up the bass..fantastic singing voice also.
"And it's something in the water where I come from" (The Roots)
She´s an incredible artist! Big big respect!
She's a real Queen. Charming, elegant, outstanding musician and professional. LOVE her.
Thank you so much for making this video I enjoyed it so much. Wouldn't mind meeting Gail Ann Dorsey in person one day.
What an amazing video.
I'm in love with her now! What a woman! What a musician! ANd I love her voice so much, I've heard her singing fir several times, it was great!
Love this interview, as the questions were great, and she's a real treat to listen to. So calm and collected, but very honest about her inner doubts during the progression of her career. Absolute pro.
She's amazing. And her behind the scenes of the Bowie operation is so cool!
One of the greatest Stingray players ever. Class act
MrOrange I play one too
24:50. Her Stingray bass EQ setting -> light touch, big sound
What a great interview !! Love that she picked "Believe" as her favorite Lenny song....one of my faves also !!!
A great interview of a great player. She shows so much humility and a willingness to always put the music first. The insights she shares are priceless for any musician to learn and apply.
I saw her with the Bowie 97 lineup reality tour... I LOVED that gig and her contribution to it. Highlight of my life
She's an inspiring person!
A phenomenal guest, and an amazing dude interviewing her!
Great interview, great socks!!!!
This interview is REALLY an inspiration for me. I've been fiddling with the bass for a LOOOOG time and recently been resonating more with the idea of being a session bassist. I love how scary it can be and also the serendipity of its unfolding in your case Gail.I too have had other musicians seek me out for recording gigs and joining bands, even though I'm basically self taught and still have soo much to learn. Thanks. I admire you and thank you for being and doing you.
I enjoyed every single second of this. What a great musician, bass player, human being, everything. Total hero and such a lovely smile to boot. Thanks for doing this Scott, great job.
GAD, one of my favorite bassists and then there's her stupendous vocals like she did with Bowie on Under Pressure and some other songs.
She was BRILLIANT with David Bowie. So many different tones to play live, and she'd hit them all, along with many of her own sounds. So good.
I just sat through 50 minutes thinking it was 20. What an amazing bassist and person! Cheers Scott for letting her speak
This is the best interview you have done for sbl. What a wonderful lady and bass player; an absolute joy to watch this interview with Gail
I like that she emphasizes 'serve the music' ....that's why she gets the big gigs. So many players are so obsessed with the intricacies of 'playing' their instrument they lose sight of the music itself....cats like this are awesome musicians as opposed to just awesome players...there's a big difference....
shes amazing iv'e seen her with bowie play and sing killer backups while playing
This is an absolutely amazing interview! I could listen to Gail Ann talk for hours! I REALLY enjoyed her performances with Bowie. Some days I go online and watch videos of her performances with Bowie for hours...I never tire of watching her perform. She and Bowie had such a special chemistry...I get misty-eyed just mentioning it. I play her album, “I Used To Be” almost daily. She is an amazingly talented and extremely knowledgeable individual! Thank you for posting this video!
She's one of my favorites. Played with so many legends.She is a legend in her own right. So likable and humble too!
Beautiful, articulate, talented and funny. What a lady!
I saw her play live with Lenny last July in Vegas at a corp event in a large outdoor venue... that was my first intro to her playing, she played her red jazz. Awesome groove player with Lenny. Cool video here!
Thanks to your shorts I found this video 5 years after release. I'm new to playing bass.. I've been a guitarist for 29 years. What an inspiration Gail is. For someone just starting out on bass, listening to her talk about her life and then how she plays was so interesting. She seems like such a lovely and genuine person too. Thanks!
What a lady! So generous with her time and talent, and such gracious praise for otherns. Top notch Musician, singer, collaborator and entertaining storyteller on top of that!
Gail is lovely to listen too. My favourite Bowie song is Hero’s. Live version. Bowie is wearing a blue suit. Gail knows how to play and blend right in with David.
I used to watch the Tears for Fears video for “Goodnight Song” all the time, and I was always impressed by the bassist in the video, her playing and atmosphere. Had no idea it was Gail Ann Dorsey. That just came full circle, haha. So cool.
cheers Scott, what a great interview, what a legend Gail is. I could listen to her all day long... cheers rob
I'm so happy I found this interview. Gail's always been a favorite of mine. Such a lovely and talented lady.
I adore this woman- she's phenomenal!
What a cool lady. Scott hell of an interview that was sir.
Great interview. Ms. Dorsey, thank you for sharing your experiences with us. Scott, thank you for having this awesome channel through which it can be shared.
I remember her and David playing and the way he promoted Gail was pure love. Damn I love that man.
Can you believe this lovely lady is 55? She could pass for 20.
55? Jeez she does look way younger
What an amazing Lady
I'm not so sure; she has clear skin and vigour, but there are so many women that look more attractive later in life than when they than when they were young.
She's beautiful!
Probably helps to be doing what you love for a living!
I am so Inspired, Thanks Scott and Gail, Now I must go play an instrument.
Go play Joe... make it groove! :)
Thanks Scott and Gail! I have to learn that believe song now, that was beautiful. I play a stingray as well. Seeing how humble she is and hearing her story was very inspirational.
She is so blessed! What a lovely warm and talented woman.
I love her bass playing on "Stay" by David Bowie. Earl Slick's guitar playing on that song is fantastic too!
A true legend, incredible musician, and my BIGGEST inspiration to grab a bass !!!
Goodness gracious, I love her voice! It's so incredibly comforting and soothing.
The most humble, talented and wonderful Woman! I was so fortunate as to meeting Gail on a tour with the equally amazing Jonatha Brooke in a remote part of Dk. What a treat to be around her most of the day to see her set-up, play the concert and talk loads.Thank you both for this wonderful interview!
She's great in every respect. A brilliant player.
What a voice
Edit: that was before I heard her singing voice, beautiful too!
This was a great interview! I loved hearing her unique perspective, and such a warm and passionate person to listen to!
I have listened to interviews of musicians and thought they were genuine nice human beings.
This was on another level, entirely.
They say music is universal and cuts across cultures.
Humanity is universal and Gail has tapped into that aspect of musical history.
I just saw a video of James Baldwin today, and I had watched dozens of videos of his speeches from 50 years ago.
I said he was not a good speaker. He was a good listener. He listened to Black People and their experiences of 450 years of oppression, and he conveyed that message.
Music is part of that experience.
Gail is the James Baldwin of the bass.
Scott, you just put the quarter in and stood back and let her talk.
She was conveying something more powerful than what note to play and what pocket to be in.
Merci.