Customer Reviews

Pondering the Sushi

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Norm Stockton has put together a teriffic album. If you are into bass guitar, this is a must have album. If you are into Jazz, the album is a must have. If you are into sushi .... well you get the point. The closing track, "giavonna marie" is a moving bass and drums duet (with a few added instruments)that can't be beat. Unlike some solo type bass, this is more solid than flashy, but he intermingles various slap techniques seamlessly to create a work of art. The drum work, by David Owens is equally adept.

I bought this album as part of my search for excellent bassists who I can emulate in my own playing. Of all the ones I have, this may be the best because Norm rarely departs from laying down a solid beat, the most important part of playing bass... and uses solid technique, rather than flash, to impress even the most casual listener.

One more thing... Norm plays an MTD bass.... giving his sound a richness that I believe is truely unique among bass guitars today.

Norm's combination of bass licks, accessible music and delightful surprises will hook even non-bass junkies. Don't miss the liner notes. They tell you that there is more to this man than music.

A must get.

The electric bass has come a long way in 25 years and the instrument is more fashionable than ever. Lots of aspiring new technicians are quick to learn the chops of Jaco, Stanley et al, but it takes more than great technique to make great music.

No problems here then, because Norm Stockton is a great bass player with real musical feel. Pondering the Sushi is a great first release.

It kicks off with The Race and its nod to Marcus Miller, with some fat, meaty tone on the slap and pops. If you love Marcus, you're gonna love this.

Stockton can play uptempo or laid back. His version of The Police tune, Roxanne, is simply gorgeous with a beautiful slap melody solo at its heart. The grooves move from jazz to latin to smooth with ease. Larry Williams superb muted trumpet hints at Miles, but this album is never merely an imitator.

It hooks you in and maintains the interest level throughout and Stockton's tone is to die for.

Get the impression I like this? You will too ... so buy it now, you won't regret it - then you can go tell all your friends you discovered him first.

A very accessible album without being so pop/smooth jazz that Norm's amazing musicianship is compromised. A bass player of abundant talent and gifts, many times musicians of Norm's caliper get lost in the musicianship and loose site of strong compositions and melodies... this album has retained all those great features while providing top notch playing that will keep you more than satisfied. You will NOT be disappointed!

Although written by a bassist, the tunes are catchy and very accessibile -- i.e., it'snot just a bunch of hectic flashy modal improvisation that only music gods understand and appreciate. He's clearly a very talented bass player. A plus for any bassist looking for inspiration on bass playing. What I enjoyed most is his last tune in the CD (song #13), which is not strangely not named in the CD notes. It's a track with him playing the bass against drums -- that's is. But I can continue to hear the tune in my head after listening to it! It's very melodious and tight, and clearly masterful. Whether you are looking for bass-inspired tunes, or just good melodious jazz fusion music, you should give this a try. [...]

All I can say is WOW !
The first track I heard was 'the race' which was included in a german bass sampler (Hotwire's Bass Talk 7). Listening to this album I can hardly tell which track I like best. From rather laid back tracks like 'Ill return for you' or 'giavonna marie' to the fat 'a tender namm moment', each and every of them is a stunning experience.

If you're a jazz and/or bass guitar fan you better hit that ol' Add to shopping cart icon ;)

PS : Waiting for your next project, Norm !!!