Steve Messick

Transmissions From Planet Bass

Released on February 22, 1999
Catalog Number: SMMD-1001

Transmissions From Planet Bass is jazz bassist Steve Messick's debut album featuring Pacific Northwest artists Jay Thomas, Travis Ranney, John Hansen, David Franklin, and Jon Wikan. In addition to arrangements of well-known jazz standards, Transmissions From Planet Bass contains two compositions by Steve Messick: "I Love You Too", which is a new melody on the changes to Cole Porter's "I Love You," and "Blues For Janet," a modified jazz blues with syncopated interaction between the horns and the rhythm section.

Sprightly and tuneful--yet never smooth--Steve Messick's compositions recall an era when jazz routinely fused the artistic explorations of bebop with the catchiness of R&B. As performed by his band of fellow Seattle musicians, these tunes spark some fine improvisations and spirited interplay. (Download.com)

Bassist Steven Messick leads his quintet through a list of originals and standards in a classic hard bop style on Transmissions From Planet Bass. Sounding somewhat like Scott LaFaro, Messick favors a fuzzy, soft tone and straight-ahead arrangements reminiscent of Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers' mid-'60s recordings. Adding suitable fire and interest are the trumpet and tenor jousting of Jay Thomas and Travis Ranney, respectively. While there is nothing here that hasn't been heard before, it is done well and should appeal to traditionalists. Fans of the group One for All should check this out. (Matt Collar, All Music Guide)

The grooves of Seattle-based bassist Steve Messick and friends in Transmissions From Planet Bass, a fine straight-ahead exploration of mostly well-known tunes including jazz standards from the pens of Duke Ellington, Thad Jones, and Jerome Richardson. (Stuart Kremsky, IAJRC Journal, Spring 2000)

Track List

1.	Groove Merchant — 6:19 — Jerome Richardson — Arrangement by Steven M. Messick
2.	Sophisticated Lady — 6:25 — Duke Ellington, Mitchell Parish, Irving Mills
3.	I Love You Too — 5:55 — Steven M. Messick
4.	Jersey Bounce — 6:46 — E. Johnson, D. Platter, T. Bradshaw, R. Wright — Arrangement by Steven M. Messick
5.	Blues For Janet — 6:48 — Steven M. Messick
6.	A Child Is Born — 7:55 — Thad Jones — Arrangement by Steven M. Messick
7.	Someday My Prince Will Come — 8:58 — Frank Churchill, Larry Morey — Arrangement by Steven M. Messick
8.	Jeannine — 5:44 — Duke Pearson — Arrangement by Steven M. Messick
9.	Cotton Tail — 6:22 — Duke Ellington
10.	Old Devil Moon — 6:10 — E.Y. Harburg and Burton Lane — Arrangement by Steven M. Messick

Musicians

Steve Messick - double bass
Jay Thomas - trumpet
Travis Ranney - tenor saxophone
John Hansen - piano (on tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10)
David Franklin - piano (on tracks 4, 6, 8)
Jon Wikan - drums

Production

Produced by Steve Messick
Production assistance from Patrick Shaw
Creative assistance from Scot Ranney

Recorded by Jay Follette at Ironwood Studios, Seattle, WA, May 22, 1998
Mixed by Jay Follette at Ironwood Studios, Seattle, WA, August 1, 1998
Mastered by Jay Follette and Floyd Reitsma at Ironwood Studios, Seattle, WA, August 1, 1998

Artwork by Daniel Johnston
Graphic Design by Doug and Misty Messick, MD Media
Photography by Dale Tendick