JPF Home Page Forums Musician Gear and Techniques Bass and Drum Forum Bass Players: Who's your favorite bassist?

This is such a tough question . . . so many players have been influential. I'll try to narrow it down a bit. On the jazz side of things, I guess my main influences would have to be Ron Carter, John Patitucci, Paul Chambers, Jaco Pastorious, and of course Charles Mingus. Mingus was maybe more of an eye opener compositionally for me, but you cannot deny the incredibly power of his bass playing. The spontaneous time and feel changes that he and Dannie Richmond used to do . . incredible. Lots of bass player from Latin music have shaped my playing too . . . Cachao, Andy Gonzalez, Feliciano Arango, Juan Formell, Oscar Stagnaro. The percussive nature they brought to the bass, and the inventive lines they created are just so great. For those of you Jaco fans out there who haven't heard Feliciano Arango's work with NG La Banda, go now to Descarga.com and order En La Calle. Picture Jaco at his peak playing for years in Cuba . . . amazing. There are others that I feel sad about leaving off . . . yes, Jamerson was incredible, and thank god he is finally getting his due. I double the above complements about the book - if you don't have, get it! Rocco Prestia is another great groover. There are so many - thanks to so many bass players for their inspirational work!