Bass guitar greats

Discussion in 'Music and Recordings' started by JoshMorr, Jul 10, 2016.

  1. JoshMorr

    JoshMorr Friend

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,066
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Portland, ME
    I am a bass guitar player and wanted to appreciate the greats with others that enjoy the bass guitar greats. Lets share bass driven songs, debate the greatest of each era, and show that the bass is much more than just part of rhythm section. The bass has been there throughout most genres of music playing an intrigual part of music history. From jazz and fusion greats (Charles Mingus, Wilbur Ware, Ron Carter, Jaco Pastorius), early rock (Paul McCartney, John Paul Jones, John Entwistle, Geddy Lee), funk (Bootsy Collins), Metal (Steve Harris, Cliff Burton) to modern day bassists who are more than just the back end of the band (Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Flea).

    There are soo many introduction videos to post, but I am going to start with one of my favorites from Charles Mingus on the double bass, The Hatian Fight Song. His intro to his album "The Clown" perfectly illustrates the bass as the back bone, the soul, and the driving force. And as fast or as slow as the band is, no matter who has a solo on top, Mingus is the maestro letting everyone feel what he feels.



    Also thought this would be a good first post video - John Entwistle's isolated bass track from the classic Who track - Won't Get Fooled Again (skip to 1:10, silence beforehand). Here is a quote from the youtube comment section I found very appropriate - "I love how Ox's (John's nickname) bass lines sound like one long solo but when you bring the rest of the mix up they are just perfect for the song. He's all over the map (but precise) and still it works in context. I actually credit Pete for writing such great material that the rhythm section could just go beserk and it all hangs together beautifully."

     
  2. cardigan

    cardigan Facebook Friend

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2015
    Likes Received:
    73
    Trophy Points:
    43
     
  3. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

    Pyrate Slaytanic Cliff Clavin
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    5,345
    Trophy Points:
    113
  4. Stuff Jones

    Stuff Jones Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,790
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Stanley Clark.

     
  5. burnspbesq

    burnspbesq Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    152
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Cedar Park, TX
    Jaco was way too over the top for my taste. His best work was when he dialed it back, for example on Metheny's "Bright Size Life" and the live Joni Michell album "Shadows and Light." His spiritual succeesor is Tal,Wilkenfeld. Her performance with Jeff Back at the 2007 Crossroads Festival is justly legendary.

    If anyone has any doubts about Edgar Meyer, try this on for size.

     
  6. bazelio

    bazelio Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 16, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,417
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Great idea for a thread. Now I know why @JoshMorr favors the ZMF! My favorites have already been named in the original post. Those are Les Claypool, Steve Harris, and Geddy Lee.

    Les probably has top spot on my heart because I happened to discover Primus in tiny local clubs before they signed with a record label and was totally blown away by Les. (Yeah, I'm getting old)

     
  7. Deep Funk

    Deep Funk Deep thoughts - Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    9,028
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Amsterdam
    Home Page:
    The JB's with "Givin'Up Food For Funk."



    Now add The Meters with "Soul Machine"



    I feel like adding Kyuss or Pantera too tough...
     
  8. JoshMorr

    JoshMorr Friend

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,066
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Portland, ME
    I can't leave out my childhood idols - Steve Harris and Victor Wooten. Getting into Iron Maiden as a teen in the late 90's was f'ing awesome. I was into the hardcore / punk / metal scene and these guys were just over the top, guitars going every which way, faster drums, and this ridicioulus driving bass line. And they were doing it decades before anyone else. Unreal, even to this day, that Steve wrote most of the songs and was the band's leader (kind of like Mingus!). @Psalmanazar brought this up a long time ago, but in Ace's High the in your face bass line is mixed almost as loud as the screaming guitars.



    I first heard Victor Wooten as part of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones and he redifenied what a bass player could do. He was like a jazzy, funky, folky Flea who played a headless bass and wasn't confined by rock stardom and big record labels. Nothing this guy couldn't do, or wouldn't do. First bass player I had seen who not only used effect, but had 10 different pedals, but used delay and loop pedals to sound like a whole band himself.

     
  9. bazelio

    bazelio Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 16, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,417
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Very nice. And while some of you were still plopping mustard pancakes in to your pampers, I was saving my allowance and sneaking out of the house to concerts with the neighbor kid who was old enough to drive. :punk: Among my first was the Peace Of Mind tour. Though one of the great Steve Harris bass lines in my book came from a much earlier album....

     
  10. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

    Pyrate Slaytanic Cliff Clavin
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    5,345
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Don't forget the wailing Budgie guy, Geezer Butler, and the Angel Witch guy whoever he was. His name was Kevin something but not Kevin Heybourne, the guitar god/mediocre vocalist. 70s bands tend to have ridiculous rhythm sections.
     
  11. Wfojas

    Wfojas Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    848
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    CA
    I've almost always remember this great duet record with Jim Hall and Ron Carter. Some people think that Jim Hall isn't emotionally engaging, but his live recording with Ron Carter Is a watermark for jazz duets.

     
  12. Kolohe

    Kolohe Facebook Friend

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2015
    Likes Received:
    98
    Trophy Points:
    33
    Location:
    CC of HNL
    Brian Bromberg. He's equally at home on the acoustic and electric bass. Came across him while searching for music to show off my subwoofers a few years back.

    BB plays electric and picolo bass.


    BB plays acoustic solo.
     
  13. Koth Ganesh

    Koth Ganesh Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,637
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Chennai, India


    Jack Bruce, my favorite bassist.
     
  14. Stuff Jones

    Stuff Jones Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,790
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Foley.



    Pino Palladino

     
    Last edited: Jul 10, 2016
  15. Deep Funk

    Deep Funk Deep thoughts - Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    9,028
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Amsterdam
    Home Page:
    This is Kagrra, one of my favourite bands. The bassist and drummer are exceptional together. Yes this is J-Rock, thing is this bassist grooved like a veteran...



     
  16. JoshMorr

    JoshMorr Friend

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,066
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Portland, ME
    Royal Blood is a 2 pc band, just a drummer and a bassist. The bass certainly ins't played in traditional fashion, but man does he get a lot of sound out of that thing.



    Edit: Maybe this doesn't belong in the "Bass Guitar greats" catergory, but its awesome and I created the thread, so I can break any rules I want to.
     
  17. DrForBin

    DrForBin Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    710
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    The Great NorthWet
    hello,

    this:
     
  18. tuxbass

    tuxbass Acquaintance

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    34
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    USA
     
  19. tuxbass

    tuxbass Acquaintance

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    34
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    USA
    Staying with the chicken theme :)
    Steve Swallow at work ... listen and judge for yourself.

     
  20. Deep Funk

    Deep Funk Deep thoughts - Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    9,028
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Amsterdam
    Home Page:

Share This Page