Best Bassist

Subject: Best Bassist
From: GUEST,Homey
Date: 10 Nov 07 - 06:20 PM

Is this guy the best guitar bassist ever or what?

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: David C. Carter
Date: 10 Nov 07 - 06:36 PM

In the jazz field it has to be for me Charles Mingus.

In rock,Rick Danko of the band, was no mean son of a bitch on frettless bass.

Cheers

David

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: GUEST,irishenglish
Date: 10 Nov 07 - 06:38 PM

Very good, but I can think of several more-Jaco Pastorius, Victor Wooten, Dave Pegg,right off the top of my head.

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: GUEST,geno99
Date: 10 Nov 07 - 07:15 PM

the only good bassist is a dead one, IMHO...just remember, the bass only has 4 strings, so being best at the bass is still only the equivalent of being mediocre on any other instrument...

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: GUEST,geno99
Date: 10 Nov 07 - 07:19 PM

haha, only joking. Really I like Mark King of Level 42. He gat the funk!!!

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: GUEST,irishenglish
Date: 10 Nov 07 - 07:23 PM

geno, don't forget that most bass players these days play a 5 string, and sometimes you will see an occasional six string as well. Couple of others that spring to mind though are Roger Glover and Chris Campbell from the Silver Bullet Band

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 10 Nov 07 - 08:06 PM

Dik Cadbury

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: Bert
Date: 10 Nov 07 - 09:02 PM

Our own Gutbucketeer.

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 01:18 AM

herbie flowers..

never plays a note a song dont need ..

always plays the most precise right note in the right space with the least effort
to make a song sound better than any pop star ever imagined they could claim credit for..

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 03:23 AM

Danny Thompson.

eric

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: Severn
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 05:28 AM

The late Ray Brown

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: fat B****rd
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 06:03 AM

Yes to Ray Brown, Danny Thompson and Charlie Mingus. Herbie Flowers is excellent but he did write "Grandad".

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: David C. Carter
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 06:12 AM

I heard he co-wrote it with a gentleman by the name of Ken Pickett.

But I could be wrong on that.

David

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: cptsnapper
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 07:07 AM

Lee Abbott of Magna Carta

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 07:08 AM

No, not keen on what that guy is doing.

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: van lingle
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 07:31 AM

If you like electric bass players maybe youtube has got some Stanley Clarke (played with Return to Forever)or Jaco or Jennifer Batten. I ditto Danny Thompson whose musicality and all around ability on acoustic upright is mind boggling. Also Gary Peacock, Scott LaFaro and the late Paul Chambers among many others.

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: Capo da Monty
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 08:52 AM

Olly Blanchflower was a great double-bass player.
Saw him a few times with Melanie Harrold.
Is he still gigging?

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: number 6
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 09:27 AM

The late Jaco Pastorius, pre mentioned in this thread.

I'd like to add Charlie Hayden (quite obviously) and Jack Bruce for his extraodinary contribution to rock bass players.

biLL

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: GUEST,irishenglish
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 11:15 AM

Only reason I didn't mention people like Mingus and Danny Thompson is the original question asked for bass guitar players, not double bass. But I can think of no two finer for that then Mingus and Thompson!

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 11:33 AM

I saw Jack Bruce's "Lifetime" shortly after the demise of "Cream" and the sound was the biggest mess I ever heard.

Bass needs space (like the P-funk).

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: number 6
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 12:37 PM

Saw Cream live once ... and seen takes from their last concert at the Albert Hall .... some of the finest live (rock) bass playing I ever witnessed let alone heard.

The bass needs to get out and be played sometimes ... stand out front ... let loose from from just laying down the back beat.

Never really did care for P-Funk myself.

biLL

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: patriot1314
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 02:15 PM

Jack Bruce or the late Gary Thain for me

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: fat B****rd
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 02:20 PM

Quite correct, sir. Electric bass players. Norman Watt Roy from The Blockheads.

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: number 6
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 03:43 PM

correction to my post above at 11 Nov 07 - 09:27 AM .

Charlie Haden, not Hayden.

biLL

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 04:54 PM

If you want legends, how about Les Hurdle?

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: oggie
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 05:12 PM

IMHO he is not the best by any means. If you want that style of bassist check out Billy Sheehan (largely responsible for that rock bass solo style) or Stu Hamm (who wrote the textbooks).

Other than that I agree with a lot of the names nominated above,

Steve

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 05:28 PM

Well, Steve, if you are dissing Les, Les always told me he was resonsible for "discobass" and the resulting tendonitus in bass players. But he was also reponsible for the fat and slow basslines under some Tom Jones stuff, and a whole lotta other stuff too. Tone was in the left hand then. Indeed I'm not sure but I think he Wombled some of the time as well....

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: topical tom
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 05:47 PM

Stephen Barry, formerly of the Stephen Barry Band.

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: GUEST,redmax
Date: 12 Nov 07 - 05:07 AM

Colin Hodgkinson (Back Door), Jack Casady (Jefferson Airplane/Hot Tuna) and Tim Bogert (Vanilla Fudge/Cactus).

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 12 Nov 07 - 05:40 AM

Jack Bruce

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: redsnapper
Date: 12 Nov 07 - 06:01 AM

Jaco Pastorius without a doubt.

RS

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: oggie
Date: 12 Nov 07 - 08:51 AM

Richard, I was replying to the question posed in the original post, not "dissing" anyone.

Steve

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: GLoux
Date: 12 Nov 07 - 10:01 AM

There are so many great bass players already listed but I have to add another...Tyrone Brown is a great jazz bass player.

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: Les from Hull
Date: 12 Nov 07 - 10:44 AM

The electric bass guitar is not a solo instrument. Anybody who plays one alone for more than 2 bars should have their botty smacked. A best bassist should understand the role of the bass guitar in music. That's why the best bassist is Jack Bruce. I learnt all I ever knew about bass playing from Jack's playing. Unfortunately, I never learnt all he knew!

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: Brakn
Date: 12 Nov 07 - 12:36 PM

Anyone remember Stevie Amazing?

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: PoppaGator
Date: 12 Nov 07 - 12:59 PM

No mention yet of Paul McCartney? I think he was historically important, if nothing else, as a real innovator in the development of rock bass playing (and I think Jack Bruce would concur!).

Three more great ones not previously mentioned:

Donald "Duck" Dunn ~ Stax/Volt house band (aka Booker T & the MGs).

James Jameson ~ of the Motown "Funk Brothers."

George Porter Jr. ~ The Meters, Wild Tchoupitoulas, etc.

And a big "amen" to prior mentions of Mingus, Stanley Clarke, Jack Casady, Jaco, and my favorite singing bass player of all time, Rick Danko.

Rick would deserve consideration as an all-time great bass player even if he had never sung a note, and he'd also be one of the greatest vocalists ever recorded even if he had never touched an instrument.

For years, my sons have been trying to sell me on the merits of Les Claypool (the guy featured in the video at the top of this thread), and although he is obviously highly skilled, I think he falls well sort of the "musical genius" category ~ while many of bassists mentioned in this thread really do rate such very high praise.

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: Wesley S
Date: 12 Nov 07 - 01:46 PM

For electric bass - John Entwistle. Discussion over as far as I'm concerned.

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: GUEST,Ermintruder
Date: 12 Nov 07 - 02:17 PM

Bruce Hall, Jon Wetton And Gary Strater. Can't think of a folk bassist who isn't overrated.

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: GUEST,irishenglish
Date: 12 Nov 07 - 02:38 PM

Les from Hull,
What a shame that you think just because of the traditional role that the bass has played in electric music that the few people who have stood up and decided that the bass doesn't have to be limiting should be smacked! Jack Bruce is great, but anything that can make a sound can be a lead instrument. DId you ever think that most of the guys that have been mentioned are good because they stood around just keeping plodding time? No, they decided to do something that stretched the capability of their instrument, and since most bass players are former guitarists, can you blame them! Dave Pegg has said that his amazing bass work on the classic instrumental Dirty LInen was not because he dreamed of playing a jig on the bass, but because he couldn't think of anything else to do! I don't know if that's true, but he single handedly did something with a bass that had never really been done, and for that he should be slagged because its more than two bars?

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: PoppaGator
Date: 12 Nov 07 - 05:18 PM

The bass has a well-defined role in emsemble musicianship, and the greatest bass players, to my mind, are great not because they play the bass as some kind of bastardized "lead instrument," but because they have found unique ways to maximize the contribution of their instrument in its proper role as an element of a performance's foundation.

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: rangeroger
Date: 12 Nov 07 - 08:16 PM

Michael Manring for a good example of the bass as a lead and even solo instrument.
rr

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: mrdux
Date: 12 Nov 07 - 11:31 PM

Scott LaFaro (played bass with Bill Evans and Paul Motian) and Ron Carter should be added. also Phil Upchurch.

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: Brian Hoskin
Date: 13 Nov 07 - 04:50 AM

Another couple of influential electric bass players not yet mentioned (probably because they fall even further away from folk and blues than most of the above) are Bernard Edwards (most noted for his role in the band Chic) and Robbie Shakespeare (most noted as half of Sly and Robbie).

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: Brian Hoskin
Date: 13 Nov 07 - 04:52 AM

On the other hand, if we were sticking to folk and blues and including upright basses, then I'm surprised no one has metioned Willie Dixon

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: Grab
Date: 13 Nov 07 - 12:15 PM

About now, the following joke becomes inevitable...

A scientific expedition disembarks from its plane at the final outpost of civilization in the deepest Amazon rain forest. They immediately notice the ceaseless thrumming of native drums. As they venture further into the bush, the drums never stop, day or night, for weeks.

The lead scientist asks one of the natives about this, and the native's only reply is "Drums good. Drums never stop. Very BAD if drums stop."

The drumming continues, night and day, until one night, six weeks into the trip, when the jungle is suddenly silent. Immediately the natives run screaming from their huts, covering their ears. The scientists grab one boy and demand "What is it? The drums have stopped!"

The terror-stricken youth replies "Yes! Drums stop! VERY BAD!"

The scientists ask "Why? Why? What will happen?"

Wild-eyed, the boy responds,

" . . . BASS SOLO!!!" -

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: PoppaGator
Date: 13 Nov 07 - 12:32 PM

Willie Dixon: Amen!

How could we have forgotten to mention him, for a whle week!

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 13 Nov 07 - 12:39 PM

I never had the pleasure of seeing Mingus in person. I know how good he sounded on records. I did see the late Ray Brown, playing with Oscar Peterson and Ed Thigpen on drums, in a club in Seattle in 1961 or '62. For me, Ray Brown's playing was a thing of beauty. I cannot recall ever seeing a person become one with his instrument in quite the same way. He could appear to caress the strings, with seemingly little effort, and all these wonderful, complex sounds would emerge. Of course, as a lowly G.I. on weekend pass, I was blissfully unaware of how highly regarded he - and they - were at the time. I just knew I was enthralled by what I saw and heard.

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: oggie
Date: 13 Nov 07 - 01:11 PM

The most charismatic bass player I ever saw was Phil Lynott. OK it's a bit of a cheat as he was also lead vocalist but onstage he was pure presence.

All the best

Steve

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: M.Ted
Date: 13 Nov 07 - 02:06 PM

For the record, Larry Graham is generally credited with inventing slap or pop bass technique--And the fact that bass can be effectively used as a solo instrument, doesn't mean that every one who plays a blistering bass solo (often literally blistering) is a genius.

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: GUEST,irishenglish
Date: 13 Nov 07 - 02:39 PM

I didn't mention Willie Dixon because the author of the original post asked for bass Guitar players, not uprights, which has already been mentioned. And no problem mentioning different genres of music though, or being a singer/bassist doesn't matter either!

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: number 6
Date: 13 Nov 07 - 03:42 PM

Willie Dixon .... one hell of a songwriter ( a 'great) and his contribution to world of music is undoubtably unquestionable ... though I feel he was a damned good bass player, I question should he be considered one of the "greatest" bass players?

biLL

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: Jeremiah McCaw
Date: 16 Nov 07 - 09:43 AM

Geez guys, with all the folkies here, and no-one's mentioned David Woodhead? Not as high profile as the many superlative bassists already mentioned, but definitely in the same class.

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 16 Nov 07 - 11:25 AM

In rock...

Jannik Top

and in Folk...

Johnny Mbizo Dyani

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: GUEST,Maurice
Date: 17 Nov 07 - 05:42 AM

Don't forget Jet Harris, who was a significant influence on later British bass players...Paul McC. has acknowledged this.

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: greg stephens
Date: 17 Nov 07 - 06:43 AM

I have met, and heard, a lot of superb bass players, but I think Mark King of Level 42 was the real standout grab-your-attention-sort of bloke. In the stand-up field, Pops Foster was something else.

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: Neil D
Date: 17 Nov 07 - 09:38 AM

Roger Waters

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 17 Nov 07 - 07:24 PM

errrrmm.. i know i've already 'big upped' erbie flowers

but surprised to do a search and find no mention in this thread so far

of


Rick Kemp !!???


..saw him playing last night


he's just turned 66.. and still in great multi talented form..



he's gotta be up there in the top 5 all time best uk bass players !!!

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: GUEST,irishenglish
Date: 18 Nov 07 - 11:22 AM

Ashley Hutchings and Pat Donaldson

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: Dita
Date: 18 Nov 07 - 01:05 PM

The boy frae the Lanarkshire folk clubs, it's easier to list who he has not played with, on bass guitar and upright bass

- I give you John Giblin

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: GUEST,Stephen Barry
Date: 18 Nov 07 - 04:11 PM

"Stephen Barry, formerly of the Stephen Barry Band."

What do you mean formerly? Do you know something I don't?

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: MC Fat
Date: 18 Nov 07 - 07:15 PM

Leland Sklar who plays with James Taylor the bass line on 'Whenever I See Your Smiling Face' is just double fantastic

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: Jeremiah McCaw
Date: 19 Nov 07 - 01:28 AM

Come to think of it, Bathiki Kumalo, the fretless wizard who contributed those sweet liquid sounds to Paul Simon's 'Graceland' album.

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: GUEST,Bob Ryszkiewicz
Date: 19 Nov 07 - 03:53 PM

Yikes! Best at anything, well, for me, more like different flavours of sound. Respect to all the above or below, depending on the direction you're reading this. Just to add Peter IND(British), Don Thompson(Canadian)...
And yes, Stephen Barry. I love ya! No, not like THAT!

bob

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 19 Nov 07 - 04:03 PM

the thread on Brit jazzers reminded me of a lovely lady - Annie Hawkins, with whom I was once lucky enough to share the stage.

a wonderful musician!

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: GUEST,Bob Ryszkiewicz
Date: 19 Nov 07 - 05:46 PM

Just thought to add one of my MySpace friends, Jorge "Perro" Bustos from South America. In the "ones to watch" category. A relatively new guy, electric bass, some interesting concepts, best? Well, let's see what happens...So many great players out there...bob

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 19 Nov 07 - 05:51 PM

For the folk crowd, I almost forgot the semi-legendary "Buck" Wheat, who backed so many well-known groups early on. While hardly a household name, he helped create the pulse behind such as The Kingston Trio. Hopefully others may recall more of his affiliations.

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: number 6
Date: 28 Nov 07 - 10:49 PM

Tal Wilkenfeld

She has to be one of the most extraordinary, vibrant young bass players I have seen/heard since Stanley Clarke. She a true craftsperson of the bass.

biLL

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: GUEST,Neil D
Date: 29 Nov 07 - 08:28 AM

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: number 6
Date: 28 Nov 07 - 10:49 PM

Tal Wilkenfeld

She has to be one of the most extraordinary, vibrant young bass players I have seen/heard since Stanley Clarke. She a true craftsperson of the bass.

biLL


    I just saw her last night on the Clapton special on PBS. She was backing Jeff Beck during what I thought was the performance of the night. I also liked Steve Winwood doing "Dear Mr. Fantasy" but Beck just shredded and Ms. Wilkenfeld added the perfect counterpoint to the type of avant-gard style of the set.

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: catspaw49
Date: 29 Nov 07 - 08:49 AM

Leather Tuscadero

Spaw

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: Marc Bernier
Date: 29 Nov 07 - 09:03 AM

Bootsy Collins, John Entwistle. Not to be compared as both were uncomparable.

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: PoppaGator
Date: 29 Nov 07 - 01:57 PM

I watched the Clapton "Crossroads" TV show last night, too, and was wondering about the young female bassist with Jeff Beck. Thanks for her name.

No one has yet mentioned Phil Lesh, a very unique musician at least as "incomparable" to any other bassist as Bootsy, Entwhistle, or anyone else. Discussion of the Grateful Dead on the recently-revived Festival Express thread reminded me that Phil certainly deserves mention here. He was a classical trumpet player persuing graduate studies in avant-garde composition when he hooked up with Jerry and the rest of the band, and then taught himself to play the electric bass ~ like no one had every played it before.

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: Marc Bernier
Date: 29 Nov 07 - 03:36 PM

I knew the minute I pushed send that there was no such word as uncomparable.

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: PoppaGator
Date: 29 Nov 07 - 04:10 PM

You know, I put the word "incomparable" in quotes because I thought I was quoting Marc ~ not to draw attention to his misspelling. I had read his post so quickly that I glossed over the individual letters, and didn't notice his mistake.

And I certainly know the feeling of clicking "Send" and then immediately wanting to take it back and fix some obvious error.

So, sorry about that ~ I didn't mean to be so mean...

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: GUEST,The Mole Catcher's Apprentice
Date: 29 Nov 07 - 05:23 PM

The English bassist Danny Thompson. played with Blues Incorporated/ Pentangle/Dizrhythmia/Richard Thompson/and others

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: mandotim
Date: 30 Nov 07 - 07:27 AM

I'd go for Danny Thompson; saw him with Richard Thompson a little while ago, and he was outstanding. In the folk world; Vicki Swann? Well known as a piper, but was Principal Solo Double Bass at the Royal College of Music. Not bad, then...
Anyone who wants to hear a really good, versatile double bass player 'up close and personal', drop in to the Wilkes Head in Leek any Monday night, and listen to Justin 'two string' Twigg. That guy is wasted on us...
Tim

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 30 Nov 07 - 10:12 AM

Paul McCartney is a terrific bassist. Think of the great raga-style bass lines on songs like the Beatles'Rain, the rolling psychedelic/vaudevillian line in Mr Kite, the heavy hard-rock dwell in Helter Skelter, the compelling drive of She Loves You.

Who was the bassist for Roxy Music on the song Out of the Blue? Simply one of the best examples of bass counter-melodies ever.

Mark Andes, the bassist for Spirit, also had a distinct and unique style.

Did anyone mention Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers? He deinitely pushes the limits of traditional bass sound and style.

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: Bert
Date: 14 Dec 07 - 10:30 AM

It's GUTBUCKETEER and Here's proof

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 14 Dec 07 - 11:45 AM

I think it's too bad we didn't differentiate between traditional upright double bassists and the modern era electric bass wizards. They are different animals, each deserving in their own right. The genres are so different, jazz/folk vs. pop/rock, for example, that comparisons are very hard to make.

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: Amos
Date: 14 Dec 07 - 12:19 PM

BTW, TJ, if you get a chance to catch Paul Hormick thestand-up bassist playing at the Prado in Balboa Park some evning, do so. He's a very talented guy. I think they play Thursday evenings.


A

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 14 Dec 07 - 01:06 PM

Amos:

I'll do that. My house is only a mile from the park. Thanks for the "heads-up."

T

Subject: RE: Best Bassist
From: PoppaGator
Date: 14 Dec 07 - 02:25 PM

There are quite a few very excellent bass players (mostly in the jazz world, I would assume) who play BOTH the electric bass guitar and the acoustic standup bull fiddle.

Observing their choice of instrument for any particular selection is interesting, and underscores the notion that the elecric and acoustic basses are, at least in some sense, different instruments.

On the other hand, there's a sense in which the bass guitar and the bass fiddle are the same instrument, and the washtub/tea-chest/gutbucket is another variant as well, along with that hybrid no one has mentioned yet (or have they?), the standup electric bass with a small solid-wood body standing up on an extra-long peg. All basses, all playing the same role in a musical ensemble.

You could even include bass horns (tuba/sousaphone). The stylistic line between the sousaphone and the electric bass has been muddied in recent years by New Orleans brass-band "sousaphunk" virtuosos like Kirk Joseph, who combine triple-tongueing technique with electronic amplification to make those big wraparound horns sound just like electric bass guitars when it suits their purposes.

There are even a few players who double on string bass (electric and/or acoustic) and tuba. Matt Perrine is perhaps the best-known/ most-recorded example of this breed.