Foley (musician)

Foley (born Joseph McCreary, Jr. 1962) is an American bassist and drummer who is best known as the "lead bassist" with Miles Davis from 1987 until 1991.[1]

Music career

Foley was born in Columbus, Ohio, where he began composing and recording his own music.[2]

According to author George Cole, Davis gave Foley advice late in Foley's tenure with his band that changed the bassist's musical approach:

Ironically Miles died at the time when Foley was beginning to feel happy about his playing in Miles's band. "I didn't enjoy any performance with Miles for the most part until the last seven gigs before it was over – I started playing that gig," he says, "we were at Venice airport one night and he told me to play half of what I normally played. It really fucked me up the whole day and then I went on-stage and tried it and I began to realize that's what would make me phrase. That was the night I started to learn how to play."[3]

In 1993 he played a lead bass solo on Mint Condition's R&B Top 40 hit "So Fine" and the interlude track "Gumbo" from their album From the Mint Factory.

In 1993, during his time at Motown, Foley released 7 Years Ago...Directions in Smart-Alec Music. The album included "If It's Positive".[4]

The Cité de la Musique showed a Miles Davis exhibition from October 16, 2009, to January 17, 2010, that included Foley's "lead bass".

Technique

Foley tuned his bass nearly an octave higher than a standard bass guitar and processed it through various effects, allowing him to sound like a lead guitarist.[5]

Discography

As leader
  • 7 Years Ago ... Directions In Smart-Alec Music (MoJazz, 1993)

As sideman

With Miles Davis

With Kenny Garrett

With Mint Condition

With Lenny White

  • Lenny White Live (BFM Jazz, 2013)

References
  1. Franck Bergerot: Miles Davis de A à Z. Castor Music 2012, p. 140f.
  2. last.fm: Foley
  3. books.google.de: The Last Miles: The Music of Miles Davis, 1980-1991
  4. "If It's Positive" music video on YouTube
  5. Cole, George. "Miles's Musician Profiles: Foley," The Last Miles, 2005. Last accessed March 6, 2006.
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