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

Fav's: Bootsy Collins, John Paul Jones, Oteil Burbridge, Geezer Butler, Flea, Victor Wooten, James Jamerson, Tommy Shannon, Carol Kaye, Dave Schools...so many more...

Check out: Danyel Morgan of Robert Randolph and the Family Band and Ted Pecchio of Colonel Bruce Hampton and the Codetalkers...

A must see for any bass player: (I believe) is Gov't Mule's Deepest End DVD. There are countless great bass players who appeared during Mule's Deep End sessions - and those sessions alone have been very influential to me.

The DVD (and of course all the albums and live footage) of the Deepest End is one of the few times you can see different bass players from different backgrounds come together, each asserting and inserting their own flavor, technique, and style to Gov't Mule tunes. Most if not all are influenced directly from the originators of real bass playing...check 'em out - George Porter, Dave Schools, Mike Gordon, Flea, Les Claypool, Andy Hess, Roger Glover, oh God its endless. It demonstrates the unique individuality of each - perhaps it will help to give a more clear view of who you are as a bass player as well.

Peace and thanks!! Great posts!

If you got time check out my site and mp3's.
http://www.bigwithseed.com

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www.bigwithseed.com
"I don't know, don't really care,
Let there be songs to fill the air..."

I forgot Phil Lesh too, hehe.

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www.bigwithseed.com
"I don't know, don't really care,
Let there be songs to fill the air..."

Wow! everyone mentioned in this thread is terrific.

Maybe my favorite? Verdine White- Earth Wind & Fire
Must mention- Louis Johnson, Marcus Miller

Favorite Classic Rock- Squire,JP Jones, Ent

Fusion- everyones great ! - Jaco & Stanley
I saw both live, here in NY. Clarke was with "Return To Forever"

Most influencial - Paul & all the Motown players

My least favorite is - Me!

Peace
Sub

As a jazz lover, I always liked Major Holly. When he bows and sings at the same time his voice is reminiscent of Mr. Magoo's.

Gary King and Ben Brown are another couple of favorites from the NY studio scene of days gone by.

I once heard/saw bassist Christian McBride with drummer Lewis Nash backing up Oscar Peterson at the Blue Note. Such a happily small, intimate setting. Holy [naughty word removed] what a pair. When you hear people play that well live, up close, it kinda gets into your blood, leaves an impression deep in your DNA, like a disease you never wanna shake.

Did we mention Jaco Pastorious? Stanley Clark?

Hey for rock guys, that McCartney really is a class act, as a man, a bassist and a musician. Whenever I see him playing with a pick I think to myself, "hey, guys who use picks aren't supposed to sound that good." Actually I think he alternates between pick and fingers. But of all the Beatles, I think Paul had the broadest understanding of theory.

I think that Mike Dirnt is a fantastic bass player. He has a unique style, and "No one knows" is one of the most innovative bass lines I've ever heard. McCartney has got to be up there. You could go with any jazz bass player like Pastorius. Flea is a sweet slap player.

top 3 would have to be

1. Peter hook
2. flea
3. mike greenday

Did anyone forget to mention Stanley Clarke? I thought he was awesome on his performances with Chick Corea and a a soloist. Also, what about John Paul Jones of Led Zep? I give my nod to McCartney and Jack Bruce, which if it wasn't for his influece I would not have still the third bass i've ever owned, a 60's edition of the Gibson EB-0, still in very decent playing condition and not for sale!

I can't get enuff of Jaco.
Been groovin to Gary Willis too.

Wow, what a great collection of faves!

Bass 2x, I love me some Jaco too. Got to see him on his Word of Mouth tour at Vanderbilt University here in Nashville. One of the best concerts I ever saw.

Great Stuff!

Mike

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You have to practice improvisation. -Art Tatum

Mike Dunbar Music

Hey Mike. That's a great memory. I would have loved to have seen Jaco play live... I wasn't into fusion at the time. He was larger than life w/music, persona. Regret I missed him while he was here.

John Paul Jones, this dude seems so underated

Flea- A bit overated but Red Hot Chilli Peppers RULE!!!

Cliff Burton-Yeah heavy metal bass player that could drop house down.

Steve Harris- Iron Maiden rocks the socks.

Geddy Lee-pretty good bass play but what an annoying voice.

Greg Christian-Yeah the dude from Testament he has a sweet bass intro in Souls of Black and can play mad fast.

Tom Araya-Just cause I love Slayer so much

Hmm I might add to this list later...

All bassists mentioned on this forum are due their accolades and most of them were influences to me. Being nearly 50 years old and playing since I was 13 I have been amazed at the talent through the years and have enjoyed the music and awestruck by the virtuosity. My tastes lean more towards prog rock and the works of Chris Squire, Geddy Lee and Tony Levin are some of my favorites. If you have time check out the work of Dream Theater's John Myung. My all time favorite as well. He is a monster and they don't call him spider fingers for nothing. He has an instructional video titled Progressive Bass Concepts that is well worth a look at.

You have spiked my curiousity... but I can't find this album anywhere. Not on the site you mention under the artist listing for NG La Banda. Actually, I did find it one place, ordered it and never received it. Back to square one... anyone know where I can hear Feliciano Arango, the Cuban Jaco?

Well, I found a copy... the bass player sounds like the real deal, but the recording quality is so bad it's difficult to listen more than a few moments...

my favourite bass players have to be Bryan from the bouncings souls for sound and tone quality!!!

and for pure skill it has to be either #2 from anti-flag or matt

freeman from Rancid!!!

i just wish i could get their tone!!!

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why can i not get get a good tone??

Choppa Of TLK

Wooten, Hamm *played for Steve Via* and Getty Lee...

Sub Studio

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"I'll see you on the other side - 'cause no-one gets out alive..."
SideShowAnnie.com

(Eliot)

according to Wikipedia:
The distinctive opening notes of the theme song's bass line (performed by studio musician Chuck Berghofer and used over a shot of the New York skyline) remain one of the show's trademarks, and are still frequently played by bassists when warming up or performing sound checks before performances. (Les Claypool, for one, reports that the theme sparked his interest in bass guitar). A very similar sounding (if not identical) bass line can be heard at the beginning of the Fleetwood Mac song The Chain.

Thanks, Bass 2x, It was indeed Chuck Berghoffer who played the "Barney Miller Theme." Apparently, Ms. Kaye gets frequently attributed to it, here's a link to her FAQ's where she adresses it:

http://www.carolkaye.com/www/library/faq.htm

My mistake. Thanks again.

Mike

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You have to practice improvisation. -Art Tatum

Mike Dunbar Music

Who remembers crazy Ron Long - backed up everyone on an upright at the Troubadour in LA - found playing in traffic and on Venice Beach at 4am - and at Columbia Records???

I second Sub, (Mike Caro)! I get to hear up close in his studio now. WOW! So many styles at his fingertips. Slamming player with techniques to make your eyes pop out. Been on Michael Jackson, Celen Dion, Gloria Estavan, and many other albums for Sony/Columbia, including a number one dance song in Billboard with a band Sony put together with Sub on bass, (The Daou). I mention just about any song, from any era, and he plays them without more than a second of thinking. I don't get it! His recall is like nothing I have witnessed. With all those playing skills, and sometimes blinding speed, he knows when to keep it basic and simple and just groove,,,nailing the click track like a great drummer with all the fills in the world, but for a certain song will not use any, but play every second with intense precission.

Yeah,,,,Sub, not bad.

Bass2x has played some mean parts on my songs, and with just playing again for just over a year. He's into Jazz now on his own, so keep a watch.

John

Ok,
Did anybody mention Billy Sheehan. remember David Lee Roth's "Eat 'Em and Smile" Album. Sheehan, Vai and Greg Bissonette (sp?) , wow what a combo. Yea, Roth was Roth. Vai and Sheehan did some duo solos that were incredible. I do love Tony Levin. I believe I saw his work with Peter Gabriel.
Anyway,
For what its worth,
Tom

"John Paul Jones, this dude seems so underated"

John Paul Jones was one of endless rock, funk and jazz bassists who personally took lessons on electic bass from Carol Kaye.
Jaco, Sting and lots more give/gave her credit for what her teaching materials did in their bass education and influence.

Sting once said, I believe it was on Letterman a few years back that "I learned more about bass from Carol Kaye than is decent."

An absolute YES for Victor Wooten! Plus, lest we forget: Jaco Pastorius (a moment of silence please...). Then there is Chris Squire, Geddy Lee, Doug Pinnick, and (here's an obscure one for y'all): David Piltch.

I'd better stop now, this could go on, and on, and on...

Peace.

I'm primarily a guitar player, but am proud of the bass work I've done. (And no, I do NOT play bass like a guitar!)

I'll reiterate the props for: McCartney, Weymouth, and Kaye.

But one I have not seen mentioned yet is:
Peter Hook (New Order/Joy Division)

His playing has inspired a lot of my rhythm guitar stuff, although he is a bassist's bassist. Nothing spectacular, as far as virtuosity. In fact, he's quite the opposite; decidedly NON-showy. Kinda like the Edge of the 4-string.

But without his bass lines, Joy Division and New Order would not be half the bands they are. Just listen to "Love Will Tear Us Apart" for the quintessential Hook bassline.

Cool Stuff all.

Lately I've been listening to a lot of Michael Rhodes' work on the Vince Gill 4 cd set. Vince has him touring live. He's a great electric and upright player.

I saw Carol Kaye playing live on a couple of occasions, and had the good fortune to have a few private lessons with her. While there are many great bassists such as my early heroes Paul McCartney, Jack Bruce and Stanley Clarke, these demonstrated what CAN be done with the bass. It's Carol Kaye who repeatedly demonstrated what SHOULD be done. I know of nobody, dead or alive, who played with more TASTE and AUTHORITY. Those two make an unbeatable combination in my book.

Check out Joe Osborn if you think Kaye and Jamerson have good credentials!

Gary,

I just read your post about Alan Spenner and Superstar. Man, are you right!! Tell me more aout his work, if you would. I find the bass work on Superstar impossible to beat and hard to equal. What did he play? Did he ever pick? Was the bass injected into the board, or is a (I swear) a Guild amp?? By the way-- he's dead.

THOSE wre the days!!

Paul

One more enthusiastic reiteration for the groundbreaking bass playing of Paul McCartney. He's usually remembered for his songwriting, vocals and overall "Paul" image, but many forget how amazingly innovative and tasteful he was with a bassline. Many players get points taken away by playing "lead on a bass" but Paul was able to craft very melodic, contrapuntal basslines that still held down and grounded the music. Take another listen to "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" or "A Day in the Life". Not to mention what he did with Lennon's "Come Together"...

Carol Kaye is indeed a great, although I think Jamerson was better yet. And for rock, I still miss Entwhistle's thunder. Chris Squire is a one of a kind animal...he's going to open for Led Zeppelin in December. He's playing with Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman, Simon Kirke and Alan White. They'll perform Aaron Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man. Just imagine that one...

Two of my favourites Stanley Clarke and Mark King from level 42. Jazz funk takes bass playing to another level.
Who invented the slap bass style? I have been told that it was Stanley Clarke is this right?
I once helped set up gear for Return to Forever in Edinburgh 1973. (Chic Corea, Stanley Clarke, Al Di Meola and Lenny White)
Awesome band left me with a lot to think about. Stanley played five string bass. I had never seen one before let alone heard it being slapped.
Chic had a huge Korg synth with a large board full of knobs and sliders which actually "effectively controlled" the different sounds. I had never seen anything like it (1973 remember) I'd only seen mini moogs which were temperamental PLUS you never got the same sound twice.
I barely had time to watch Al on guitar and Lenny's awsome drumming. MEMORIES.
40 years later and we see boy bands lip sync Yuch!

I guess that I ought to pick someone like Geddy Lee or Roger Waters. I could probably name of many from metal acts also that I reveled in, like Cliff Burton.
But I like some Rush and like Pink Floyd somewhat better.
And listen to Metallica to shake out the cobwebs and clean my place mainly.
I like the musical era from the late seventies to the middle eighties the best.
No great names for bass players with most of who I like.
But that seems to be the same with most of the players of bands I like.
The bands that work more as a unit as opposed to the single player.
I hav'nt heard much John Wetton's bass playing with King Crimson.
Even if that may have been when he was at his peak as far as bassists are concerned.
But I sure remember him with Asia.

There are relly two types of players that we're talking about: those that stuck with one band, and studio players.

McCartney, like ANYTHING to do with the Beatles, is in his own classification. They had the world's ear and the unlimited resources of EMI. Listen... I mean LISTEN to Abbey Road. AND, can you even imagine walking the streets of London in the 60's??? Who would you bump into next?

The studio guys: Dunn, Kaye, Babbit, Osborn, Jamerson, Spenner...my God!! Now, 70% of what you see and hear today is an entertainer trying to look like god himself is speaking thru him as he picks nothing but eight notes in first position.

LISTEN to Abbey Road!!!

A friend just lent me the Eagles Farewell 1 concert DVD from Melbourne. I was never a big Eagles fan, but it seems the bass player, Timothy B. Schmit is one of those players that plays exactly what's right for the part and while playing, can sing a beautiful harmony. Not an easy feat to do.

Another one:
Nick Lowe

Not only a great songwriter (""What's So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love, & Understanding?", "Cruel To Be Kind", "So IT Goes", etc...) but listen to his bass playing -- awesome.

All great examples, wonderful players. I'm still amazed, though, at how few mention Victor Wooten.

Wooten is a monster, for sure. He said one of my favorite bass quotes, something like "A bass doesn't make music---you do."

Duck Dunn, the southern version of James Jamerson, played on all those great Stax Record recordings in Memphis in the 60's and 70's, and is still active today. Speaking of Memphis...I might be a bit biased, but my long-lost cousin Richard Cushing plays for a Jam-Band in Memphis called FREEWORLD www.freeworldjams.com
They've been the sunday house band at Blues City Cafe on Beale St for 20 years, and he's played sessions for such people as Levon Helm, Billy Preston, Joe Cocker ect. He's INCREDIBLE!
From the session end of things, how about Lee Sklar?

Victor played at a JPF show in Nashville one year along with Stanley Jordan. Nice guy! = )

There is no one I have ever seen who can play an upright bass like Edgar Meyers. He may be one of the finest instrumentalists alive (on any instrument). I would say he is currently at the very top of my list, because I cannot think of anyone else alive who could touch him on bass or anything else for that matter.

Here's Edgar Meyer and Victor Wooten jamming...on the same upright bass...at the same time...Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36nLYBuI1Ck

Hey Mike, that was hilarious! It really didn't demonstrate what either of them can do, but it was still very fun and impressive nonetheless!

For simplicity that works and supports the song - Sting and Adam Clayton. More on Sting really, because, during the early Police days, his lines sound complicated, but when you see him play, there's a lot of open strings and they're actually quite simple.

For sick bass playing, McCartney and Chris Squire, maybe Flea and Tony Levin as well.

Francois Rabbath
Edgar Meyer
Dave Holland
Barre Phillips

Check out these amazing double bassists who changed the way we percieve the instrument. Especially Francois Rabbath.

Cheers!

Getting back to Tom's nod to Timothy B. Schmidt---after getting the new Eagles album, I've been trying to get my Schmidt together. I've been listening to a bunch of Poco as well as Timothy's solo albums from recent years. Great stuff!

And great players y'all are bringing up. Please, keep 'em coming.

Big Jim i'm with you on Stanley Clarke...how the hell he did some of that stuff amazes me...he is to bass what Satriani, Vai, Van Halen are to guitar, only in the jazz world...but they don't out rip him in my eyes...and alot of his stuff was 30 years ago...Jaco Pastorius, is a ripper also... and i hear there's a guy in Nashville, known by his foot, that has some mean chops too...ha...mj

Hi Moker Yeah some player. Check out Mark King from Level 42 great band from the eighties. I know he was heavily influenced by Clarke but he has a more pop than jazz style. "Hot Water" is one of my favourite all time songs.

Yes to many in this list, if not most.

To add to the list...

Tal Wilkenfeld

A very young, very talented female player. Plays with Jeff Beck and has been talked about a lot in Bass Player Mag.

Thomas

Gee whiz, what an amazing thread, filled with the names of the greatest. May I submit Mike Brignardello for your consideration? He played in a band called "Giant" with the wizard, Dann Huff...and a check of his discography shows him playing on every major hit album coming out of Nashville for the past decade.

Also, if you want to see some great work, check out either Johnny Lee Middleton (Savatage, Trans Siberian Orchestra-West) or Dave Z (and I'm drawin' a blank on what that Z stands for) with the Trans Siberian Orchestra East...

Gee whiz, what an amazing thread, filled with the names of the greatest. May I submit Mike Brignardello for your consideration? He played in a band called "Giant" with the wizard, Dann Huff...and a check of his discography shows him playing on every major hit album coming out of Nashville for the past decade.

Also, if you want to see some great work, check out either Johnny Lee Middleton (Savatage, Trans Siberian Orchestra-West) or Dave Z (and I'm drawin' a blank on what that Z stands for) with the Trans Siberian Orchestra East...

After 5 years from the post I think JPF has one of the premier bass players. Non other than Mike Carro "Sub Studios". This guy can play anything from country to fusion.

John

You can't help being you and I can't help being me.