Logging onto the all-knowing eye in the corner of the room this morning I was caught by a clickbait headline, namely, The best bass players of all time according to Rolling Stone. Well, I thought, It’s got to be more credible than if it was a Smash Hits poll so I clicked through and the top ten were revealed as: -
10. Ron Carter
9. Paul McCartney
8. Jaco Pastorious
7. Larry Graham
6. Jack Bruce
5. Carole Kaye
4. Bootsy Collins
3. John Entwhistle
2. Charles Mingus
1. James Jamerson
I think there’s
some good names on that list. If your ears take you outside the jazz world you
will have heard music by the non-jazzers, even if you didn’t know it was them.
For example Jamerson anchored the Motown Sound and Kaye played on nearly every
session recorded in California in the 60s. I think Entwhistle is on there for
his contribution to My Generation and
for keeping the music going whilst the rest of the Who were playing silly
buggers on stage. Graham and Collins get the nods for being the foundations of
some of the best (and most sampled) funk (a music that is built on the bass) of
all time. You can make up your own mind about McCartney as you’ve probably
heard of him. Myself, it’s Jaco first, always. Dave Sayer
7 comments :
It's all about the bass, isn't it!
Jaco Jaco Jaco!….saw him with Weather Report in the 70s at Newcastle City Hall …and Word Of Mouth is always on my play list!
Carole Kaye for her work with The Wrecking Crew
Paul who?
Jaco, it's as simple as that.
https://jazzfuel.com/best-jazz-bass-players/
I recall in the seventies a work colleague describing Paul McCartney as the best bass player in the world. Then Stanley Clarke played Whistle Test with George Duke and he was forced to say that Clarke wasn't a bass player but a lead guitarist who played bass.
For bass guitar it's between Jaco and Stanley Clarke. For bass, there's only Mingus. Quincy Jones told us all we need to know about Macca and his playgroup. James Jamerson possibly on the list but not number one - a bit of sixties worship I suspect.
Personally, I'd say Larry Graham and Bootsy should be the only non-jazzers, though I'd swap them round. If you're gonna have rock guitarists, it should be Jack Bruce and Chris Squire, though it could be argued Jack Bruce is jazz (in later life, Ginger Baker said Cream were never a rock band but a jazz group).
If we need a token lady, for more recent inclusions, there's Esperanza Spalding (who's great) or Meshell Ndegeocello (who was disappointing at Cheltenham).
Apart from Macca and Entwistle (John Who?) it could have been much worse. Jimmy Blanton and Paul Chambers and we've cracked it.
Notable mentions: Michael Henderson (Aretha, Stevie Wonder, Chilites, Miles, Norman Connors, himself), Miroslav Vitous (original Weather Report bass player) and Alphonso Johnson (bass player in Santana's (and many other people's) favourite lineup of Weather Report)
Ten great jazz string bassists
From Swing to Bop
Jimmy Blanton - Duke's early choice
Milt Hinton - Steady as a rock, great notes, liked by peers.
Israel Crosby - SO under-rated Formidable member of Ahmed Jamal Trio
Oscar Pettiford - not so well known but a fine player.Somewhat 'prickly' as a
character.
From bop to modern & beyond.
Ray Brown - my Greatst Of All Time. Tone, sound, technique, stamina,ideas.....
Red Mitchell - a stalwart of West Coast groups.
Scott LaFaro - first player to elevate the bass to equality in a trio (B.Evans)
Gary Peacock - only bass player who could challenge Keith Jarrett.
Ron Carter - what a great servant to jazz
Special category
Charles Mingus - bandleader,composer,motivator,several chips on both shoulders !
Dave Brownlow
By the end of the funk age, Louis Johnson had become my favourite bass player, in a group you may have heard of with his brother. Mates with Q, MJ etc.
Don't discount the thunderous bass of Mark King. Level 42 began life on the British jazz-funk scene and I still like their first and third singles (and don't mind their second and fourth). Last time I saw him he joined Larry Graham on stage at the Camden Jazz Cafe and would do his thing every so often. Larry Graham would turn round and look at him as if to say what the fvc£ you doin' man? You started it!
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