Favorite Fretless Jazz/Fusion/Funk Recordings

[kopio]

Hey Guys,

I'm relatively new here, but not new to bass or jazz. I'd like to know your favorite fretless bass jazz recordings. I know the basics....Jaco, Tribal Tech, Pat Metheny stuff with Egan, but what are other groups and bands that I just HAVE to check out. Interested to know what you think. Thanks for the input in advance.

[Modern Growl]

Bent - Gary Willis

[gre107]

UZEB! Or any Alain Caron. Michael Manring esp with McGill Manring and Stevens or Attention Deficit.

[Barkless Dog]

Anything with Mick Karn, Ralphe Armstrong (JLP) or Percy Jones (Brand X)

Fernando Sanders with Lou Reed - New Sensations

Les Claypool Primus- Any of his fretless , but Jerry Was a Race car Driver & My name is Mudd
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=953PkxFNiko

[ChrisDieci]

Power Job - japanese, they have only have one eponymous album, fretless goodness courtesy of Toshimi Nagai!

[kopio]

Thanks for the advice guys.....

I've checked out most of those guys...but I've never really checked out Alain Caron. I've also never checked out any of Gary Willis' solo stuff....just loved the heck out of him in Tribal Tech. I'm also a JLP fan....so I've got some Armstrong too!

As far as Power Job....it's hard enough finding a reference to them, let alone finding an album in the US! Thanks for the heads up though guys.....there are a few names there I've never heard before...looks like I'm gonna be adding to my playlist!

[ACalbass]

Bunny Brunnel stuff is great too.

[jerry]

Alphonso Johnson.

[JimK]

...just picked up Montreux Summit, Vol. 2 with Alphonso Johnson.
Vol. 1 is worth the $ just for AJ's "Bahama Mama"...I did not even know Vol. 2 was available until last week (domestic pricing, too)...anyway, nice somewhat obscure AJ recording(s).

Volume_2-
http://www.amazon.com/Vol-2-Montreux...x+summit+vol+2

[jerry]

Originally Posted by JimK

...just picked up Montreux Summit, Vol. 2 with Alphonso Johnson.
Vol. 1 is worth the $ just for AJ's "Bahama Mama"...I did not even know Vol. 2 was available until last week (domestic pricing, too)...anyway, nice somewhat obscure AJ recording(s).

Volume_2-
http://www.amazon.com/Vol-2-Montreux...x+summit+vol+2

Blues March on volume one has a killer Alphonso solo too, I'm glad they re-released those titles.

[jerry]

Originally Posted by JimK

...just picked up Montreux Summit, Vol. 2 with Alphonso Johnson.
Vol. 1 is worth the $ just for AJ's "Bahama Mama"...I did not even know Vol. 2 was available until last week (domestic pricing, too)...anyway, nice somewhat obscure AJ recording(s).

Volume_2-
http://www.amazon.com/Vol-2-Montreux...x+summit+vol+2

I should also mention that Jimmy Johnson's brother Gordon swings his butt off on the songs Alphonso is not on.
Thirty five years later and I still dig those albums.

[JimK]

...I bought Vol. 1 as an Import a few years ago. Ouch. Always liked it, though. Just stumbled upon Vol. 2 last week...and also saw the Havana Jam cds have been re-issued domestically. I paid big bucks for those as Imports, too.

Anyway, yes Gordon Johnson swings his ass off...nice examples for those always asking about electric bass walking/swinging in a Jazz setting.
George Duke's synth on the Montreux discs certainly brings back a '70s vibe.
Noticed Focus' Thijs van Leer makes an appearance on Vol. 2

You know anything about The Atlantic Family Live at Montreux?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Atl...ve_at_Montreux


...I do know AWB's 2 tunes ("McEwan's Export" & "Pick Up Pieces") were included on the somewhat recent re-issue Warmer Communications...And More.

[jerry]

Wounded Bird has re released a bunch of cool old stuff. I recently picked up some Sonny Fortune and speaking of fretless the first Matrix album with Randy Tico.

[pkstone]

Esperanza Spalding does some nice work on fretless electric (as well as double bass, of course).

[JimK]

Originally Posted by jerry

...and speaking of fretless the first Matrix album with Randy Tico.

Wow...had no clue (as usual).
I have Harvest on LP...always liked that particular album by Matrix. No cd, though...right?

[bassybill]

I know Percy Jones has been mentioned already, but I just had to post this in here.

"Noddy Goes To Sweden" - Brand X

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6TmqLY_bGY

I just noticed they got the track title wrong on the video. Heh.

[JimK]

Originally Posted by jerry

Wounded Bird has re released a bunch of cool old stuff. I recently picked up some Sonny Fortune and speaking of fretless the first Matrix album with Randy Tico.

Just picked up Tale Of The Whale by Matrix...caramba!
Listened to 2 of the tracks coming into work this morning-
Track_1 has a horn section that sounds like the Jaco Pastorius Big Band.
Track_2 would not sound out of place on Heavy Weather...at all.
Back in the day, I only had Harvest by these guys. Tale Of The Whale (so far) is a bit more in the Weather Report-vibe than Harvest.
...will be picking up their 1st one soon.

[jerry]

Originally Posted by JimK

Just picked up Tale Of The Whale by Matrix...caramba!
Listened to 2 of the tracks coming into work this morning-
Track_1 has a horn section that sounds like the Jaco Pastorius Big Band.
Track_2 would not sound out of place on Heavy Weather...at all.
Back in the day, I only had Harvest by these guys. Tale Of The Whale (so far) is a bit more in the Weather Report-vibe than Harvest.
...will be picking up their 1st one soon.

Great stuff, Randy Tico always deserves mention in these fretless threads.

[Corporate Boy]

I think Yo Miles with Henry Kaiser and Wadada Leo Smioth is mostly fretless stuff by Michael Manring. Filled with killer in the pocket grooves. I unfairly grouped Manring's playing in with the over the top solo bass albums. He plays the perfect bassist role on this album. He holds down Ife forever!

http://www.amazon.com/Yo-Miles-Henry.../dp/B000009PZP

[klaus486]

Check out Robertino Pagliari"s work with OHM. Great stuff! The albums Amino Acid Flashback and Circus Of Sound are awesome.