Definition of a Slow Jam (James Jamerson, 1969)

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The music industry has gotten away from glorifying the "slow jam". Today, corny ballads pose as slow jams, but they leave out one important component: the jam! In essence a slow jam is a down-tempo love song that still maintains a prominent (even muscular) bassline and solid drum beat, with some degree of attitude attached. Cheesy ballads might pose as slow jams but they are only love songs. It takes a solid groove to make a slow jam. James Jamerson was a master of the slow jam groove.

Channel: Music
Uploaded: April 14, 2007 at 12:10 pm
Author: Brilliantbeing

Length: 0:02:41
Rating: 4.91
Views: 55,954

Tags: SmokeyRobinson mcclendonreport jamesjamerson slowjam themiracles fenderprecision bass

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Video Comments:
lowcountrycat (Saturday 15th of November 2008 03:29:25 PM)
"Couldn't groove" to a bluesy motown sound? Sure he could. I question whether you really know Entwhistle as a bass player.
bigtwnvin (Thursday 6th of November 2008 10:49:54 AM)
I'm a white guy (Italian actually) and I started playing the bass in '66 and toured with a high end "Vegas" type act from '72 thru '84. I traveled, recorded, performed then finally burned out. I fell in love with Motown bass players. Jamerson in particular. I admired the pure sound and the rhythmic syncopation he produced with drummers and percussionists moving scales tastefully through progression. Willie Weeks is another one of my favorites too.
tml1019 (Wednesday 5th of November 2008 05:23:16 PM)
thats not in the film its in the bass transcription book
fishnsticks (Wednesday 5th of November 2008 07:51:48 PM)
I'm sorry man, I forgot what I said.
tml1019 (Thursday 6th of November 2008 02:16:47 PM)
hahaha no worries, someone just mentioned something about geddy lee on th first disc of standing in the shadows of motown and you said you didn't remember that from the movie. I was just clarifying that he was talking about the bass transcription book and not the movie
fishnsticks (Thursday 6th of November 2008 02:26:47 PM)
Oh yeah!! Now I remember, but I think he was talking about John Entwistle? Ahh doesn't matter they were both on there ! lol Thanks man.
tml1019 (Thursday 6th of November 2008 09:36:28 PM)
thats right! it was john entwistle. at least things are cleared up. great movie and great book!!
fishnsticks (Thursday 6th of November 2008 09:51:28 PM)
Yeah! I saw the film! Didn't know there was a book on it! Now it's imperative for me to look for that book! Thanks for the info!
Eriogonum (Sunday 2nd of November 2008 10:50:40 AM)
Yep. You should be amazingly proud. Your grandfather is more responsible for the feel and cadence of popular music in the last 30+ years than any other musician I can think of. Emulated to death but never bested...
atl2maryland (Monday 6th of October 2008 05:57:33 PM)
I mean he filled up the gaps. before him bass players were playing more sparcely and I think he just added more of that melodic feel to fill the bottom up.