Author Topic: Best Bass Player of All Time (Read 1362 times)

bracheen · « **Reply #75 on:** December 25, 2007, 05:30:06 PM »

The debate should be about who is the second best bass player of all time. Obviously Jack Bruce is #1.
Hope all are having a great holiday and may your new year be even better than this one has been.
Sam

smuprof · « **Reply #76 on:** December 25, 2007, 06:08:51 PM »

If you haven't read Standing In The Shadows of Mototown, definitely worth reading - lots of great Jamerson information. While I agree with those who hold that you can't name just one, Jamerson delivered groove and funk at a level that others only caught up with 10 to 20 years later - and he did most of it under tremendous time pressure, making many of the lines up on the spot in the studio, rarely straight, and playing a beat up Precision with the action set high like an upright bass, never cleaning the strings or fretboard, and picking with only his right index finger. The latest versions of Standing in the Shadows come with two CDs of modern bassists interpreting Jamerson's bass lines - everyone from Entwhistle to Miller - and they are fresh, impressive and phenomenal today.

We are all fortunate to have so many superb players to emulate and the world's best instruments to practice with (no excuses )

Happy Holidays to All!

JFT

edwin · « **Reply #77 on:** December 25, 2007, 06:11:27 PM »

I know that there is a lot of controversy surrounding Carol, but I drove from Colorado to California to take a lesson from her (it was supposed to be an hour but stretched to almost 3) and found her not only to be completely lucid, but hugely knowledgeable, talented and extremely devoted to music in every way. The student who followed me was essentially a beginner, but is probably by now a very competent bassist. It was one of the musical highlights of my life. And, she can play like a proverbial motherf****er. Seriously. She was ripping off bop licks like they were nothing and it was way beyond anything she did for motown, etc. Like Mahavishnu Parker dressed in the body of someone's grandmother.

Edwin

hankster · « **Reply #78 on:** December 26, 2007, 11:57:17 AM »

If Carol Kaye is a little bit nuts, we could all use some of that. Her catalogue is unparallelled. Groove knows no geography.

Rick

811952 · « **Reply #79 on:** December 26, 2007, 03:00:01 PM »

If Carol Kaye is a little bit nuts, we could all use some of that. Her catalogue is unparallelled. Groove knows no geography.

Agreed.

John

briant · « **Reply #80 on:** December 26, 2007, 06:58:37 PM »

My cat is the best bass player ever.

richbass939 · « **Reply #81 on:** December 26, 2007, 08:35:03 PM »

John, you are right, I was referring to the Carol Kaye article. I don't know about how clear or nuts she is. I think anyone who gets and stays on the ground floor of session work in those days had something going for him/herself. Do I remember correctly that the article said she was living in the Denver area?
Craig has been snowy every day for a while. It has stayed in the -12 to +25 degrees range for a while too. A great time to stay inside and sip eggnog. Hope everyone else is having a nice holiday.
Rich

gare · « **Reply #82 on:** December 30, 2007, 11:03:47 AM »

This is a very entertaining thread. Alot of greats mentioned.
Even a mention of a couple of my favs..Bach and Cetera.
With so many styles out there, can there be one best ?
My recent favorite is Bill Kopecki, he never fails to amaze me when I see him.

Happy New Year to all !

Gary

David Houck · « **Reply #83 on:** December 30, 2007, 06:43:01 PM »

Gary; is this the guy you're talking about? (note: 11mb download)

gare · « **Reply #84 on:** January 02, 2008, 09:48:48 AM »

Yes Dave..thats the guy.
Havent seen that clip, looks like its a few years old. (he looks younger there)
Check this site: http://kopecky.8m.com/
The last 5 or 6 times I've seen them Bill was playing a 6 string fretless.
The music may not be to everyones taste, but all three brothers in the band are excellent musicans.

inthelows · « **Reply #85 on:** January 02, 2008, 03:50:39 PM »

I've got a question. So who's the oldest active bassist out there now that has their chops together that you like (or youngest)?
Any comments on Tal Wilkenfeld?
(Mod, please move as new thread if appropriate, thanks) NLP

David Houck · « **Reply #86 on:** January 02, 2008, 04:32:14 PM »

Previous threads on Wilkenfeld here and here.

lbpesq · « **Reply #87 on:** January 02, 2008, 04:45:14 PM »

I don't know about oldest bass player with chops, but one guy who has to be in the running for six-stringers is Les Paul. I think he's about 142 years old and still going strong!

Bill, tgo

inthelows · « **Reply #88 on:** January 02, 2008, 06:28:37 PM »

Thanks Dave. Les Paul may be 142 years old. He looks good and still plays a mean six. NLP

benson_murrensun · « **Reply #89 on:** February 08, 2008, 11:21:26 AM »

Did anybody give props to Mark Egan? Oteil Burbridge?