Pedal steel trio recordings (just bass, drums, and steel)?

David Rudolph · Post by **David Rudolph** » 20 Mar 2015 9:09 am

Are there any recommended pedal steel/bass/drum trio albums? Seems to be a rare combination.

Thanks!

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 20 Mar 2015 9:15 am

I don't think this list will be very long, if any at all. I've never heard of any. I did, however, play a club gig for a while that was just me, a bass player, drummer and a girl singer. Did that for maybe 6 months, every Friday and Saturday. Didn't sound real great, but people kept coming back.

Christopher Woitach · Post by **Christopher Woitach** » 20 Mar 2015 11:47 am

I have a trio like that, a jazz group. Our first concert will be in the fall, and will be recorded. If it doesn't suck, I'll post some tunes

John Swain · Post by **John Swain** » 21 Mar 2015 5:43 am

My first full-time steel job was drums,bass and a girl singer! I had been playing steel less than two years in 1976, when I was hired for five nights a week for about four months. Talk about diving into the deep end! All intros,solos,turn arounds, and about six instrumentals each night. Quite a learning experience.

Tom Campbell · Post by **Tom Campbell** » 21 Mar 2015 7:18 am

WOW...!!! Way to go!

How many years of "home playing" would it take to get that kind of experience???

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 21 Mar 2015 9:28 am

An infinity of it.
Like, 'take over for Brubeck on steel.'

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 21 Mar 2015 11:22 am

John Swain wrote:My first full-time steel job was drums,bass and a girl singer! I had been playing steel less than two years in 1976, when I was hired for five nights a week for about four months. Talk about diving into the deep end! All intros,solos,turn arounds, and about six instrumentals each night. Quite a learning experience.

I actually used a compressor as an effect to get that popping Tele sound to make it seem like there was a guitar player on stage. The part I found challenging was, having to play the rhythm guitar parts, AND having to fit in intros, fills, solos, endings, etc along with it, without losing the groove. Not something I would want to do again.

Len Ryder · Post by **Len Ryder** » 21 Mar 2015 11:35 am

Played for many years with steel, drums and a great rhythm guitar player. All three of us sang so it was no big load on any of us.

Robert Parent · Post by **Robert Parent** » 21 Mar 2015 12:23 pm

I also played many years in various bass, drum, steel groups... It really is not as uncommon as one would first think. A bonus is that the cash is only divided three ways!

Robert

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 21 Mar 2015 12:46 pm

No record yet? So we'll have to look forward to Cristopher's.

Stephen Cowell · Post by **Stephen Cowell** » 21 Mar 2015 1:12 pm

When I saw Jody Nix in the '90s it was two fiddles, steel, bass, and drums. They killed it, of course.

Frank Freniere · Post by **Frank Freniere** » 22 Mar 2015 9:51 am

The tenth and eleventh photos down on this thread from last year's Midwest Steel Guitar Festival feature the Nick Ascher Trio but alas, Joachim, I couldn't find any recordings.

Emmett Roch · Post by **Emmett Roch** » 22 Mar 2015 5:04 pm

Years ago when I lived near Barcelona, I had a trio for a while called "Twin Guitar Special" consisting of the amazing Mario Cobo on guitar, Mike Segura on stand-up bass, and me on steel. We played a little swing, some light jazz, and a lot of 1940's country music. We never recorded, but I wish we had.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 22 Mar 2015 6:37 pm

I did a duet thing with a guitar player in the early/mid 70's.

Glenn Demichele · Post by **Glenn Demichele** » 22 Mar 2015 7:39 pm

After I discovered this, I sent this link to all my buddies here in Chicago, and raving about it.
I don't know if the guitar player didn't show up, but who needs him? Ricky Davis kills.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjN5CDNPDDI

BTW, I just bought all of Miss Leslie's records yesterday.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 23 Mar 2015 1:12 am

Tom Campbell wrote:WOW...!!! Way to go!

How many years of "home playing" would it take to get that kind of experience???

Well, like John, my first gig on Steel was with a trio, I was 50% on Telecaster and the other 50% on Steel. I was the only guitar player, Steel or Tele...played Instrumentals, traditional country, R+R..etc..

How much experience ? Well not much for me ! Seeing I probably only played Steel for 2 years before I got the gig it was quite an adventure !

How much home playing ? I guess the answer was 4 or 5 days each week , in between 2 or 3 gigs each week!

I did that for about 5 years, we had a steady Fri night and a steady Sun night for many years.

Thats one way to learn songs and get seat time !

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 23 Mar 2015 7:03 am

I have seen a 3 piece where there was a bass, drums and a guy that played both steel guitar. He had his guitar mounted on a stand to where he could play steel and turn to his right and play the guitar, in the same song. He was pretty decent.

Steve Gorman · Post by **Steve Gorman** » 23 Mar 2015 6:19 pm

Billy Cooper has a recording of himself playing with just a bass and drums that is quite good. Not sure if its still available, you might try going to his website and hunting around, maybe contact him and he could send you one. By the way, the bass and drums seem to be a machine, but the steel playing is very good and the overall sound is pleasing.

Paul Wade · Post by **Paul Wade** » 24 Mar 2015 5:18 am

well i am about to do a 3 piece band up here in Wisconsin. my teacher back in the 80's did a three piece and it was great. a lot to take in. will let you know if it works or not .

p.w

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 24 Mar 2015 10:23 am

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the Curly Chalker Trio yet. Here's a great tribute from Stan Hitchcock:
http://www.bhtvmailer.com/bhtvnl/0110/SH_shadow.html

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 24 Mar 2015 2:25 pm

Geeze...brings back memories. I am so glad I got to see "Curls" play before he left us.

Dan Burnham · Post by **Dan Burnham** » 24 Mar 2015 8:24 pm

Most of Zane Becks Recordings were trio with the exception of:
12 + 14 with Julian
and another one with Bobby Caldwell

Dan

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 25 Mar 2015 4:33 am

Jim Smith wrote:I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the Curly Chalker Trio yet. Here's a great tribute from Stan Hitchcock:
http://www.bhtvmailer.com/bhtvnl/0110/SH_shadow.html

Thank you, Jim. What a great song!

Stuart Legg · Post by **Stuart Legg** » 25 Mar 2015 10:38 pm

plug your steel in and play play some chords to get the key and timing and then BIAB takes over and plays the bass and drums as you play.

Paul Wade · Post by **Paul Wade** » 27 Mar 2015 6:15 am