VideoTree sign-up: http://www.jmdl.com/trading Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=unsubscribe A couple of years ago I discovered Marco Mendoza, who is the greatest bass player (next to Jack Casady) I've ever seen live. His group Straightjacket often backs up the headliner at the little La Ve Lee jazz club I frequent. I've seen him with anywhere from Kenny Rankin to Jeff Pevar to Otmaro Ruiz to Pancho Sanchez and he absolutely blew everyone's mind everytime. He is also one of the most humble and sweet musicians I've ever met. His background parallels Carlos Santana's in that they both started out as teenagers in little clubs in their native Tijuana, Mexico. He can sing, too! Here is more information on him from bassplayer.com where he is compared to Jaco: MARCO MENDOZA - L.A. MONSTER "The next time you visit Los Angeles, skip the Universal Studios tour and catch Marco Mendoza and Straight Jacket. In a town where jaded indifference is a birthright, the incendiary power-soul-fusion trio has been nailing audiences to the back wall for five years with familiar R&B, jazz, and rock tunes covered in ways you'd never imagine. Consider the swamp-rock classic "Suzie Q": While Renato Neto's synth-horn blasts summon Earth, Wind & Fire and Joey Heredia's timbale solo evokes Tito Puente, Mendoza makes his fretless Fernandes 6-string simultaneously sound like Jaco and a synth bass. Add Marco's soulful, over-the-top vocals and the tune becomes a ska-inflected acid-R&B trip�not exactly Creedence Clearwater Revival! Straight Jacket's tight interaction, humor, and abrupt feel changes are captured on Mendoza, Heredia, Neto, Live in L.A. [Audiophile Imports, (410) 628-7601; www.cyboard.com/audiophile.html], recorded at the group's weekly club gig at La Ve Lee. "This trio is so compact, we can move things very quickly," says Marco, who is sometimes confused with Twisted Sister's Mark "the Animal" Mendoza. "We like to keep it very open; it's amazing what you get when you make that available. That's part of the magic." In addition to its steady L.A. gig the group has been touring Europe, Scandinavia, South America, and Canada. Although influenced by Jaco�the CD features a cover of "Teen Town" (which Marco doubles vocally)�Mendoza has developed a unique fretless voice. Muting, front-pickup plucking, and an unusual right-hand technique that borrows from his early classical- and flamenco-guitar days combine to create a deep, staccato style that brings to mind a Mini Moog synth. Mendoza flavors his lines with clever volume effects, selective two-handed tapping, harmonics, strummed chords, and octave slides, and he often doubles his bass parts with percussive vocal sounds. "Years ago I couldn't afford effects, so I started playing around, just having fun with different sounds," he explains. Marco plays fretted and fretless Fernandes 4's, 5's, and 6's, strung with LaBella Super Steps, through Eden WT-800 heads and Eden 410XLT and 210XLT cabinets. Recent credits include touring and recording with Thin Lizzy (taking over for the late Phil Lynott), Blue Murder's Nothing but Trouble and Japan Live [Geffen], and an upcoming Whitesnake disc on EMI. He can also be heard on the Cranberries' remake of Fleetwood Mac's "Go Your Own Way" and Pat Boone's controversial In a Metal Mood [Hip-O]. Switching from his chops-intensive fusion bag to slamming eighth-notes with a pick poses no problem for Marco. "My roots are in rock & roll�but playing different styles keeps you fresh. Whatever you learn in one style can be applied to others, which I find challenging." Even with his large palette of techniques, Mendoza never overplays; instead he knocks you over with his commitment, sense of fun, and passion for the music. "Eleven years ago, when I got clean from drugs and alcohol, I was given another chance to really appreciate what God has given me. I feel so grateful to be doing what I do. When I perform I remind myself it's a privilege. I try to stay in touch with that." �Ed Friedland
