Bassists that have a distinct voice

[Twistad]

Hey Janek,

I know when you talk about transcriptions, you often say how it's better to transcribe horn players, pianists, and guitarists, and not bassplayers.

While I agree that it is better for an improvisator to avoid the clichés of his instrument, I was wondering if you actually consider any bassplayers to have a vocabulary as deep and complex as guys like Wayne Shorter, Coltrane, Pat Metheny, etc.

Basically, I'd like to know which bassists you like mostly for their soloing voice.

[JimmyM]

While we're waiting for Janek's response, let me chime in and say that there are plenty of bassists who have that kind of vocabulary, and almost all of them got it by studying people like you mentioned and not just bass players. I don't know of any musician on any instrument who got good simply by studying people who play their instrument exclusively. Gotta broaden your horizons past your own instrument.

[janekbass]

tough question.

there are a few guys who undoubtedly have a unique voice as a soloist.

The ones that spring to mind are:

John Patitucci
Gary Willis


okay, that's about it.

those are guys who paly melodic lines to my ear. there are of course players who have a totally unique voice as a bass player.

My absolute favorite bass player in the world - Meshell N'degeocello

John Paul Jones, Flea, Dave Elefson, Matthew Garrison, Tony Levin, Pino Paladino, Abe Laboriel, Victor Wooten, Andrew Gouche, the list is fairly crazy. And it's late, and I've drunk too much beer tonight to remember all my friends and bass players I love in this list.

But to answer the question, I guess it's a no. There are so few humans in the world that want to take the time to build a vocabulary to the level of Wayne and Pat, and bass players are busy musicians. We generally work all the time, and once you start having a career, you start working and therefore practicing less.

I'm fairly crazy about the language of improvised music. I work as hard on it as I possibly can, and I know few other musicians who do that. It's a big life choice that I made, and I'm sticking with it in a big way. It's what I love. I'm not saying that it's the only thing, just that it's what I truly love and want to learn more about.

I hope I can play some small part in the addition to the language of improvised music through my bass playing. I thank you all for checking out what I have to say, and I hope there is much more to be said.

Easy,

Janek