Different perspectives

Two very different bassists, two very different perspectives on music making. John Lodge, bassist for the Moody Blues for over four decades, tries to play every show just like the original recording. Edgar Meyer, the celebrated acoustic bassist who has played with everyone from Bela Fleck to Yo Yo Ma to James Taylor, sees each opportunity to play as a chance to reinvent himself to a degree.

Lodge has played with basically the same people since joining the Moody Blues in 1966: Mike Pinder left the group in 1978, but the remaining quartet stayed intact until Ray Thomas's retirement in 2003. The repertoire has also remained much the same, from "Tuesday Afternoon" to "In Your Wildest Dreams."

Meyer, on the other hand, is one of those restless spirits who effortlessly crosses musical boundaries. He's played with James Taylor, Yo Yo Ma, Sam Bush, Joshua Bell. He's done pop music, bluegrass, new age, classical. He says he looks for interesting people with whom to play, regardless of the genre. "It comes down to the personality of the players," he said.

Maybe that's the difference. Meyer wants to broaden his horizons and work with interesting people. Lodge has found his niche and wants to enjoy it at the expense of new horizons. After all, he wrote "I'm Just a Singer in a Rock and Roll Band."