Homeskoolin’ Bonus….”Session Man Plays A Country and Western Ballad”

A day in the life of Larry.

[musicproductioncentral]

G string is a little flat. Are you drunk here?

[phildohogne]

I am 72. I loved the L.A. studio scene, but I crashed and burned in a car wreck (kind of my version of Hank Garland). Most of my friends went to Nashville in the late 70's and 80"s- they could feel the jazz wind blowing in a new direction. I came back to St. Louis and in time forgot that liminal space created in the studio- it is very spiritual place. Thanks for reminding me. You always bring me joy and personal change. All of this from a Bone and a beer. I got to see Tedesco and Roberts record quite a few times, and with the exception of what amazing sight readers they were (they had few equals at that) you are their equal in every way. Also, you are much more original and unique. Yes guys and gals you are right, he is really as good as you think and somehow doesn't really seem to know it. And then again he does- that is part of the charm.

[jasontremblay]

Yes, these field trips are the best and my mom didn’t even have to sign a permission slip.

[joshellyson]

You will never know Uncle Larry just how great it is to be "inside" a real, top tier session, seeing just how it works, technically, but maybe more importantly, humanly. Thanks for taking us along for the ride.

[willdroogsma]

Uncle Larry - these session videos highlight (to me) why you're a first-call studio stud. You can obviously shred your ass off, but I'm always blown away by these session vids because they show one thing session' musicians seem to have in spades...

Fundamentals executed at an elite level.

*Strumming to build the song, but not too hard so that the guitar chokes out
*Crystal clean arpeggios
*Strumming right in the pocket
*Hammer-ons in just the right spots
*Tasty add9 chords

It's all there - and it's translates through a iPhone video. Magic.

Keep em' coming!

[jonnyrace]

This is why you call Bukovac. Very few guitar players could pull off such a relaxed, yet incredibly accurate performance with so much feel and nuance. Not a note buzzed or fluffed. And he’s probably only known the song a few minutes. The world is full of one dimensional shredders who would fail at this in the first 4 bars.

[raymckenzie]

Hey Tom. For what it's worth, I don't know you, but after day of struggling, feeling insecure, angry, afraid and out of touch with the average human walking the planet it's comforting watching and listening to our favorite Uncle Larry. You make a difference my man. Thank you.

[stevenbryan]

"Nobody's ever won track MVP on a Synth pad"
Now that's a T-shirt!

[dannyriccardo-kornpet]

I’m glad you take us on class trips. I’m also glad that Will tried to look macho with an open handed slap and naughty words on the Oscars. That takes some heat off of the Foo Fighters and the grieving Hawkins family. … The lyrics to Under Pressure are the sort of thing that make me believe in Divine Inspiration — like, literally God grabs the pen and says, “Let me have a try at that.”

[jipes]

I love how Tom is playing sweet and dinstinct bass while strumming it's so delicate and well balanced Amazing !

[StevenRoby]

I'm not usually a fan of 1-5-6m-4, but when Uncle Larry plays it on a Bone, it sounds heavenly!

[danielsoley]

Uncle Larry you just constantly go next level, super Kool

[garydavidson]

Amazing how I can "hear" the emotion of the vocals in his headphones just from the way he's playing.

[philroselle]

That Martin sounds incredible! So do you!

[legionofbarry]

You're fuckin' brilliant and so in command of the session and your playing.

[jonnybeck]

I could play off that sweet simple lovely prog for hours...
What a great way to practice varying pick attack (as well as a hundred other things)
Thank You Uncle Lawrence!!!

[zb]

Came back to this video yesterday and spent half the day picking over a 1-5-4-6m-5 progression somewhat similar to what you did there. Thanks for the endless supply of ideas.

[zb]

Put on my reading glasses to write this at 2 am or whatever the fucking approximate time it is. DUDE. It is so very much refreshing to see how you and your co-workers are having an enormous metric shitload of fun on your day at work. DUDE.

Also: This stuff sounds incredibly good. I will never ever again complain about a song with three or four chords throughout as long as I can't play as beautifully and consistently like this.

And Buk said: I'mana fucking nail this thing.

And then, Buk nailed the fucking thing.

[hoagyguitarmichael]

Hey Uncle Larry. Under Pressure is a great tune. They did at least part of it at the Power Station in NYC. I know because my band was recording demos there and our producer was managed by Bowie's management, so he took us to meet Bowie and Roger Taylor in another part of the studio. My encounter with greatness—other than hanging with you at 2nd Gear that is ;-)

[almostintheband]

Makes me smile watching you do your thang. Beautiful.