funk

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What a Weekend!

Wow…what a weekend! The I.R.E. show on Saturday night at Smith’s Olde Bar left me speechless. I’ve never felt that much energy and had that much fun on stage, so THANK YOU! If you missed out, I do not know what to tell you other than you missed a good one, so be there next time.

This week’s bass loop video is more laid back and chill than usual, but I love the melody and the chord changes. Making these videos every week has been a lot of fun and a learning experience. I usually record the videos on Monday, and there are some Monday’s that I get home from work thinking there is no way anything I play will work. But it turns out if I sit down and make the video, it usually turns out pretty good. Some weeks it was hard to motivate myself to make a video, but at this point, making the weekly videos has become a good weekly habit for me. I am now trying to add more things to my weekly schedule to create more good habits for myself. I recommend you try to do the same because it feels good fulfilling your own wants through actions! E-mail me and let me know what good habits you would like to create for yourself, and watch this week’s video below and leave a comment.

Stay Funky,

Professor John

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July 5, 2018 Bass Loop

I am posting this week’s video a day light since yesterday was Independence Day here in the United States. I spent the day RELAXING….it was great. This past weekend I.R.E. played both Friday and Saturday night at the Boogie in North Georgia. We had a great time and listened to some wonderful music. The highlight was having Bill Fleming sit in with us on his pedal steel guitar. He makes any song sound better with his tasteful playing, and I am blessed he invited us to his property this year.

This week’s bass loop video is a funky little loop with some slap bass, funky chords, and a staccato funk melody. I think it turned out pretty good, but watch below and leave a comment to let me know what you think!

Stay funky,

Professor John

 

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Hear the Funk Sizzle – June 20, 2018 Bass Loop

I am back on schedule! This week’s bass loop video has a lot more solo slapping in it than normal. I am still getting used to the smaller string spacing on my 7 string, so it can be a little rough at times. Make sure to watch and leave a comment on the video below!

I am 3 edits away from finishing all the music for Sophomore Sizzler. I’ve been listening to the album to and from work the last couple weeks, and I am pumped to share it with you. It is funky all the way through, and I really enjoy how the album flows together. I can definitely see the improvement between my first album and this one which is awesome!

Before I can release the album, I need to get some cover art done, and I want a funky yellow suit. Do you have any ideas of where to get one?

PS.  IRE will be at Huey Luey’s in Sandy Springs on Friday from 7-11PM.  Here’s the Facebook event page:  https://www.facebook.com/events/223156905152273/

Free Music:  www.professorjohnmusic.com/free

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June 8, 2018 Bass Loop

I thought that after vacation I would be refreshed and ready for a new week of funkin’ and bassin’, but it was hard to get back in the swing of things! I uploaded this video to my YouTube on Friday, and I realized I did not send an e-mail about it, so here it is! Check out the bass loop video at the link below, and leave a comment with what you think.

This past Saturday I turned 30 years old! It feels like a big milestone although I have a lot left to do in life and in music that plan to continue on sharing with you. I celebrated at a free festival in downtown Atlanta that brought the funk with some of my favorite bands Voodoo Visionary and Kung Fu. Check them out, they’re funky. In my thirties, I want to be more open to all people who come from all different walks of life, to treat every individual with the respect as if they are royalty, and to spread love and peace through more funky music.

Stay Funky,
Professor John

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May 23, 2018 Bass Loop

What a weekend it was at Alphapalooza 2018 in Gruetli-Laager, Tennessee! I.R.E. played the headlining set on Saturday, and it was a blast. We all had a great time playing music, listening to some of my favorite local bands, and partying around the fire all night long. The property was beautiful! Check out my Instagram (@professor_john) for some pictures.

Now on to this week’s video…it almost did not get made! As much fun as I had at Alphapalooza, our band van broke down in Palmer, Tennessee on Sunday morning, it was raining, and we were all feeling pretty rough. It definitely threw a wrench into my plans and my schedule, but we had the van towed (very expensive) and fixed. I was very tired, but I did record the video on Monday and got all the editing done before this morning. Although I was tired, this loop is has one of my favorite melodies from all the loop videos so far. It is simple, but it just sounds good. Check out the video below and leave a comment to let me know what you think.

Stay Funky,

Professor John

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Happy Belated Mother’s Day!

I hope everyone had a great Mother’s Day whether you are a mother or celebrated your mom! I love and appreciate my mom so much…she had to listen to so much bad bass playing! In this week’s video, I really wanted to make something that had a beautiful melody for my mom, so I did and I like how it turned out. This might be one of those melodies that turn into a full song.

The air conditioning was out in the new place, so I decided to wear a wife beater (we really need to change that name) and get the fan in my hair for this video to stay less sweaty. I hope you enjoy.

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My Cinco de Mayo this year was a blast. Every year there is a golf tournament to memorialize a friend who was lost way too early, and this year it happened on Cinco de Mayo. I love seeing old friends I have not seen in a long time and picking up and talking like no time was lost, and we raised a bunch of money for the Atlanta Music Project. The Atlanta Music Project provides instruments and instructors to underprivileged kids in Atlanta. The kids performed a couple songs on Saturday, and it was awesome.

This week’s video is just based off a funk groove a came up with on the spot. Let me know if you like it!

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New House, New Video

I finally moved everything out of the old house and into the new one, so I have my 7 string back for this week’s video. The video this week is based off improvising off a groovy bass line.  Check the video out below and make sure to subscribe to my channel!

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Rough Day, New Video

I woke up today with a terrible pain in my left calf.  It felt like my muscle was trying to rip itself out of my skin. I googled it later (basically like going to the doctor), and I think I had a nocturnal leg cramp.  I need to drink some more water because that is definitely one of the worst ways I have been woken up before.

How about some good news?  Last week’s “No Update” did motivate me to finish the album.  I am working on getting the final levels right in the mastering, and it will be finished.  I am trying to figure out a way to get the album out to you while I am working on the cover art, so you can at least hear some of the tunes.  If you have any ideas, shoot me an e-mail.

This week’s video is really cool.  I used fuzz and octave effects to make the sounds, and since I am not usually an effects guy, I was surprised at how much I liked the final product.  Check it out below and comment with what you think.

Stay Funky,
Professor John

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Keep on Movin’

You will notice a change of scenery in this week’s bass looping video.  I moved in the majority of my studio stuff over the weekend, but I still have a lot to clean and move.  I am learning a lot about my girlfriend’s family since moving here like her uncle is a country musician that loves playing Telecasters!  He let me know about a Fender bass amp from the 1970s that was hidden down in the basement, and he’s letting me use it.  It’s pretty cool.

This week’s video was put together very quickly.  I knew the bass line that I wanted to play, but the rest was very improvised, so I hope it isn’t too all over the place.  Let me know in the comments below the video!

Stay Funky,

Professor John