Bass Player Influences

[palembic]

Reason to pick up bass: Jack Bruce. After that: John Prakash, Buzz Burell and Larry Taylor. Here in Belgium: Evert Verhees.
 
PTBO
 
As I already put in a similar threat as this one back in the dark history of this jolly club: MacCa and JE were seen as a bandmember not as a bassplayer. Weird ...I know.

[Mike Monsalve]

Oh yes, richbass939.  I remember those crazy days as an 8 year old.
 
and years later get whacked out of my brain at some party and taking in Auntie Grezelda thinking this is one of the greatest songs ever  Not to mention I'm gonna buy me a dog and Circle Sky
 
And ... well .... I do own the Head movie on DVD.
 
and lets not forget Andy West of the Dixie Dregs.

[cosmicprune]

Thanks guys. There's a few new names here for me to go and check out, but the one who really leaps off the page because I've never listened to him is Jack Bruce. Where should I start - which tracks sum up his style the best?
 
I have to admit that I went through a period recently (while starting a family) where I played bass only rarely. I even went over to the dark side and played lead guitar for a while. My Alembic purchase has brought me back round again though, and there has been one very positive experience resulting from my dalliance with the skinny stringed instrument - I have discovered a fantastic tablature community site. It's all free and although it's aimed at guitarists there's a lot of bass tab on there too. The accompanying software shows tab and traditional notation and it plays back through the MIDI on your PC. You could do a lot worse than to start with Victor Wooten and Sinister Minister:
http://www.powertabs.net/pta.php?page=song,17847
 
(Message edited by cosmicprune on December 01, 2005)

[palembic]

Hi Simon,
 
I think you board another threat-worth subject How I went away and came back to it (huhuhu ...this is about bassplaying guys). Most of us non-prfessional playing musicians went though such a period. Family-matters were always part of it.
So I have to speak about the second influence too: the one that bought me back were Mark King and Bakithi Kumalo. This brought me off the Fenderish style of basses and moved my taste up to higher (money) levels.
 
About Jack Bruce: the first influence period I am talking about is his Cream period. So I suggest you start there.
 
PTBO

[jacko]

My earliest influences were Chris Squire, John Entwhistle and Dennis Dunaway. I saw Yes in '74 after having some ragtime lessons from my brother, realised the Bass was the most important instrument in the band, and put the guitar away for good. Spent most of the 70's working out what 'prog rock' bassists were playing and trying to fit in more notes than was actually possible. I'd been turned onto Jaco and Stanley by this time which just made things worse. By the 80s just about every bass player was forced into slapping by seeing the success Mark king had with level 42. Needless to say he was a big hero and I fell into the  same trap as everyone else which probably cost me more gigs than i got;-(  
Nowadays I'm more interested in how the whole band sounds and follow Bass players who might be hugely talented but still lay down the groove rather than indulge in pyrotechnics. I'm thinking of musicians like Jimmy Johnson, Tony Levin, 'hutch' hutchinson and the like. Special mention must go to Del Palmer, Andrew Powell and John Giblin who have laid down some superb basslines on Kate Bush's work. (Andrew Powell played bass on Wuthering heights which would be top of my 'desert island discs' list)
 
Graeme

[alembic76407]

what about Carol Kay, monster bass player

[kmh364]

H*ll, anybody that can play better'n me (which is just about EVERYBODY) has influenced me in one way or another! If you can play, regardless of style, good on ya!
 
My advice: Listen to as many different people play as you can, make up your own mind on which way you wanna go, and develop your own style and go for it! It's all good.
 
Cheers,
 
Kevin
 
(Message edited by kmh364 on December 01, 2005)

[jazzyvee]

I've picked up noticeable influences from these guys:  
Long term influences
Stanley Clarke
Aston Family Man Barrett
Bootsy Collins ( and other bass players from Parliafunkadelicment)
Jaco & Alphonso Johnson( very small doses )
In recent years ( last 2 or 3 )
Marcus Miller
Victor Bailey
 
I tend to pick up influences from the grooves in the music I hear regardless of the bass player so as  much as the named guys primarily are cited as influences they are not indicative of my current playing style (except maybe Clarkee ).
 
Jeff Lorber had some neat bass playing on his earlier albums and also some great bass lines from his synth bass parts in more recent years too, same for Chick Corea.  
 
The thing is all of the great bass players had great drummers to feed off and support their playing so thats gotta help with the freedom of expression, so I guess these drummers also deserve credit for supporting these fantastic bass players who's talents we love.
 
To be honest I've always had a bass kocking around but only since I have had my alembic in 2002 have I really started to play seriously and think about find my voice. The basses I had before were nice but I think with the alembic things have taken a very fast turn.  
 
In reality I'm primarily a guitarist who can play bass and get a few gigs here and there so I think a lot of my guitar playing influences and techniques and bad habits have contributed to how I play bass. Therefore I'd have to add Carlos Santana, Jimi, Robert Cray,Scott Henderson, Buddy Guy, and many other guitarists to that influence list.
I better stop now.
Jazzyvee

[gbarchus]

How about local heros? I'm sure many of us were influenced by the unsung. For me it was Greg Loeb of the Grapes of Wrath, Tom LaVarta of Mendlebaum, and Rolly from Oz. These were groups in Madison, Wisconsin in the '60s. I used to sit at their feet and listen all night, then go home and try to play what they were doing. My mother would make me stop playing in the early hours of the morning, but I was so inspired.

[precarius]

Hey- My main influences come in two classes:
Class #1-bass players i can possibly steal from. These include Geddy Lee(Rush- Hold Your Fire is one of my favorite bass albums),John Mcvie, Lee Sklar. I also like Henry Bogdan in Helmet. i love when the bass, drums, and guitar are playing the same thing for a driving rhythym. Also Bootsie and everyone associated with P-Funk. The first song I learned to play note-for-note was Stevie Wonder's Sir Duke.
Class #2- bass players that i can just watch with my jaw dropped.This includes Stanley Clarke, Victor Wooten, Jaco, and most recent addition- Trip Wamsley. I saw Trip a few months ago in a small coffeehouse/church in Pineville, NC. He was displaced after Hurricane Katrina and he was incredible. He was also playing his Alembic 8- string bass. Wow what a sound!  
Mike

[keith_h]

Speaking of Trip he seems to have remembered several of our members on his web page when he is saying thanks to folks for his visit to the UK.  
To quote:
The three guys that were disappointed about no Alembic 8.  I'll have the proper case next time and I'll bring it, I swear!  Correction:  They were and are Mike, Ian and Graeme!  Love to you guys!
 
(Message edited by keith_h on December 01, 2005)

[jacko]

That would be MPISANEK, myself and Ian Petch - he has a superb cocobolo Mark King but so far hasn't registered on here yet. Trip was a really nice guy - he took the time to chat and drink beer with the three of us whilst bemoaning the fact that he couldn't bring an alembic with him. His set was absolutely incredible. Of the 'loopers' on the day, he was by far the best - sounded more like a Bass player than the rest of the solo acts who seemed to spend far too much time trying to sound like a group of Flamenco guitarists. Nice of him to give us a mention on his site too.
 
Graeme

[bracheen]

Simon
As for Jack Bruce, Paul mentioned starting with his Cream period.  I'll agree with that and would suggest starting with Cream's Wheels of Fire. Pressed Rat and Warthog is one of my favorite tracks. The live jams on disc two really show him, and the other two musicians, off.
 
Sam

[palembic]

Hi Brother Sam!
Is it possible that Jack Bruce started with King Crimson???
IFF that would be true the funny thing is that Buzz Burell (most known for his work with Bad Company)ALSO started with King Crimson
Weird huh?
 
Paul TBO

[bracheen]

Hi Brother Paul
How is everything?
No, Jack didn't play with King Crimson.  His first major gig was with Alexis Korner's Blues, Inc. along with Ginger Baker.  That lead into the Grahmn Bond Organization also with Ginger.  Cream came after that.  Then various solo projects and Ringo Starr's All Star Band.
I don't know about Buzz Burell.
 
Sam